Breakers get a head start

The end of summer volleyball is approaching for the Laguna Beach High boys’ and girls’ teams, with one week to go in their offseason training program.

Coach Lance Stewart said summer conditioning has been a success for both groups, with up to 54 total athletes taking part in the three-week camp.

Daily, 2 1/2 -hour workouts began Aug. 4 and continue through Aug. 22.

Stewart said that 34 girls, including all of last year’s returning varsity players, came out for the summer session and between 18-to-20 boys were regular attendees.

“We’ve worked on a lot of ball control, a lot of serving and on individual fundamentals,” he said. “But we also have had some fun with some games, like ‘King of the Mountain.’ We haven’t done a lot of team-type stuff yet. We’ll get into that in our final week next week.

“We strongly encourage the kids to come out to summer practice. The girls are working real hard and we’ve had a great turnout, numbers-wise. On the guys’ side, there still is a lack of total commitment to the high school program. We only require they come out for 10 days during the summer, although we’d prefer 15. Their season isn’t until the spring, so a lot of them might think that summer practice isn’t necessary. We’re working to change that perception.”

In previous years, a CIF mandate of a three-week “dead period” in August that banned teams other than football from holding workouts, was in affect. This year, Stewart was able to switch the volleyball program’s “dead period” to July.

“In the past, they (CIF) didn’t give you the choice,” he said. “Starting last year, I spelled it out for them as to why a change was needed, and for good reason.

“My theory is that I want kids healthy and fresh at the end of the high school season.”

With the girls’ fall season just weeks away, Stewart is eager to see what the new season holds for Laguna.

Tryouts will be held on Aug. 25, and fall practices begins the next day.

The future, he said, does look bright.

“I’ve never been more excited for the girls’ program,” he said. “This is the biggest incoming freshman class in my five years. There are 20 girls out and they have the deepest talent I’ve had in a freshman class since I’ve been back here coaching.”

Laguna’s girls have won consecutive CIF Southern Section Division IIAA championships.

“We lost a lot of great players from last year’s team,” Stewart said. “This year, it might be tough to win CIF again because there are a few teams who have dropped down into our division. Still, the girls are working hard.

“The boys’ season is still months away but we have some really strong returners on varsity and an unbelievable JV team.”

The Laguna girls’ team will launch its season Sept. 11 at home against JSerra.

Also in September, Stewart will head the 900 Square Feet Volleyball Club. The new program, under the United States Volleyball Assn., will operate year-round and is for offseason players ages 10 to 18. Stewart’s program will accommodate the schedules of Laguna Beach girls’ and boys’ volleyball, to allow proper recovery time before players begin offseason training.

Practices will be held at both the Laguna Beach High gym and Thurston Middle School.

Stewart said he’s wanted to start this type of club for a long time.

“Now that the [CIF] Association Rule has been eliminated, I can finally do it,” he said.