Briefs: Laguna Open starts Saturday

The 59th annual Men’s Laguna Open, sponsored by The Deck on Laguna Beach, Pacific Edge Hotel, Driftwood Restaurant, Bud Light and Wilson and in partnership with the California Beach Volleyball Assn. and City of Laguna Beach, opens Saturday at Main Beach.

The double-elimination tournament, which runs through Sunday, will include a maximum of 28 teams playing on six courts. The prize purse is $4,000.

For more information on the 59th Men’s Laguna Open, visit https://www.cbva.com, or https://www.lagunabeachcity.net, or email kirkmorgan@cox.net.

Additionally, the Girls’ 16-Under Laguna Open Volleyball Tournament will be held July 10, and the Girls’ 14-U Laguna Open will run July 11, also at Main Beach.

For more information on the girls’ 16U and 14U tournaments, visit https://www.lagunabeachcity.net, or email kirkmorgan@cox.net.

— From staff reports

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U.S. men take gold

The USA Water Polo Men’s Senior National Team, which includes Nolan McConnell of Laguna Beach, won the gold medal at the FINA Intercontinental Tournament by defeating Brazil, 11-7, in the championship game Sunday at Shanghai, China.

By reaching the medal round of the tournament, Team USA clinched a berth in the upcoming FINA World League Super Final set for June 14-21 in Dubai.

USA Men’s Senior National Team Head Coach Dejan Udovicic has announced the roster for the upcoming four-game series with Serbia in Northern California on June 4-8. The 16 athletes feature some currently competing with Team USA in China at the FINA Intercontinental Tournament, while others will be making their debut at the senior team level. Competition rosters will be selected before the start of each game.

McConnell, an attacker now at Long Beach St., and Team USA currently is in Northern California hosting a four-game exhibition series with Serbia. The series continues Saturday at Cal Berkeley and concludes Sunday at Stanford University.

— From staff reports

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Duo on U.S. roster

USA Water Polo has announced the roster for the USA Women’s Senior National Team that will compete at the upcoming FINA World League Super Final in China. Laguna Beach athletes Annika Dries and Makenzie Fischer were two of the 13 players selected for the roster.

Team USA will open the tournament Tuesday. The tournament runs through June 15.

Fischer was part of Team USA that last week won the silver medal at the Women’s FINA Intercontinental Tournament in Riverside.

2014 USA Women’s FINA World League Super Final roster: Annika Dries (attacker, Laguna Beach/Stanford); Makenzie Fischer (attacker, Laguna Beach/Laguna Beach High); Sami Hill (goalie, Santa Barbara/UCLA); EB Keeve (goalie, Naperville, Ill./Arizona St.); Kami Craig (center, Santa Barbara/USC); Melissa Seidemann (defender, Walnut Creek/Stanford); KK Clark (defender, Menlo Park/UCLA); Alys Williams (attacker, Huntington Beach/UCLA); Maggie Steffens (attacker, Danville/Stanford); Kiley Neushul (attacker, Goleta/Stanford); Rachel Fattal (attacker, Seal Beach/UCLA); Jillian Kraus (attacker, Santa Ana/UCLA); Kaleigh Gilchrist (attacker, Newport Beach/USC). Head Coach: Adam Krikorian. Assistant coaches: Dan Klatt, Chris Oeding.

— From staff reports