BREAKERS ROUNDUP: Laguna is still superior in league

The Laguna Beach girls’ volleyball team served up a big win in its Orange Coast League opener Tuesday at Dugger Gym, and in doing so, served noticed to the rest of the league that the Breakers are the favorite to win a third consecutive league championship.

Godinez, a newcomer to the league, found out the hard way.

Laguna took care business with a 25-6, 25-4, 25-5 victory over the visiting and outmanned Grizzlies.

In a match where all 12 Breakers saw extensive action, Paulette Grand Pre paced a balanced attack with eight kills, 10 aces and seven digs.

Alex Reickoff came up with nine aces and Alexandra Palmer finished with 15 assists and six digs.

Prior to opening league play Tuesday, a Laguna squad not at full strength due to injuries or absences still went on to a runner-up finish Saturday at the Aloha Cougar Classic tournament hosted by Capo Valley High.

The Breakers finished second among 30 teams after winning five matches before losing to San Clemente in the tournament final.

Laguna fell to the Tritons in the title match, 25-18, 25-18.

En route to reaching the final, the Breakers “” seeded first in its pool “” swept Ayala, Campbell Hall and JSerra.

They went on to earn two more two-game sweeps with wins over Rancho Buena Vista and then Temescal Canyon in the quarterfinal round.

In a semifinal match against Santa Margarita, the Breakers, who were without starters Grand Pre and Piper Obradovich “” two players who combine to make up 90% of the Laguna offense “” in the third game, still won that decisive game to earn a 25-21, 20-25, 15-13 win over the Eagles.

Laguna begins competing today at the California Challenge, hosted by Torrey Pines High in San Diego. The tournament concludes Saturday.

On Monday, the Breakers visit rival Corona del Mar in a nonleague match and return to league play Thursday with a home match against Estancia.

? Girls’ Tennis

Laguna stepped out of Orange Coast League play Monday to take on Sage Hill in a nonleague girls’ tennis match, and the Breakers came away with a 12-6 decision over the host Lightning.

The Breakers secured the match after the second round of play by winning 11 sets. Claire Jaeger and Lauren Michaels played a strong match at No. 1 doubles. Megan Marolf also turned in a strong performance, subbing for Jaeger at No. 1 doubles.

Alex Tachovsky, No. 1 singles for Laguna, missed the match after competing at a national tournament.

In singles play, Maddie Jaeger swept at No. 1, winning by 6-1, 6-0 and 6-0 (default) scores. No. 3 Haley Moss won two of three sets.

Michaels picked up two wins in doubles play, once each with Claire Jaeger (6-3) and then Marolf (6-3).

At No. 2 doubles, Heather Tran and McKenna Nokes won two of three (1-6, 6-4, 6-3) and the No. 3 team of Bianca Sganga and Alison Azera dropped their first set before winning their final two (4-6, 6-3, 6-1).

In previous action, Laguna defeated host Calvary Chapel, 14-4, in an Orange Coast League match on Oct. 2.

Through Monday, the Breakers were 2-0 in league and 8-1 overall.

? Cross-Country

Ninety Breakers left Laguna Beach at 5:30 a.m. Saturday on a long bus ride that took them to the Pepperdine Invitational in Malibu.

Laguna boys’ Coach Dave Brobeck said the trip was a “new experience for everyone.”

Laguna’s boys competed in the Small Schools races and did well. Brobeck said he chose not to run a full varsity team “” he ran four team members and a school needs five runners to field a team “” so the Breakers didn’t figure into the varsity standings.

“This was unconventional on my part and there were several reasons for it,” Brobeck said.

“Most importantly, a few of my key runners were taking the SAT that morning and I didn’t want to put an inferior squad out there. Had I thrown in a JV runner to make a team, varsity would have easily won the race.”

Individually, Laguna sophomore Matt Neev led the team and the race, winning it overall in an impressive time of 15 minutes 54 seconds over a “very slow and challenging” course, Brobeck said.

“He ran his best race yet strategically,” he said of Neev. “He was patient and waited for the correct moment to distance himself from the lead pack.”

The trip did include the Laguna JV boys’ team winning its division with 23 points to defeat 15 other schools. At the frosh/soph level, Laguna placed third overall.

Laguna doesn’t run competitively this weekend, but Brobeck said that his squad will be logging some big miles up in El Morro Canyon.

“Race times are not my big concern right now,” he explained.

“Perfect daily training is. This week and next are our big mileage weeks. These are the weeks that determine how well we peak in November.”

MIKE SCIACCA covers sports. He can be reached at (949) 494-4321 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.