Breakers see positives in loss

The 2016 season got underway Wednesday for the Laguna Beach High girls’ tennis team and although the final result didn’t favor the Breakers, Coach Don Davis was pleased with his team’s initial performance.

The Breakers fell to visiting JSerra, 12-6.

The doubles teams of sophomores Megan Mindte and Jessa Chaney, and senior Dani Conklin and junior Lina Gleizer, each won two sets. The doubles team of sophomores Deeba Saffarian and Amalia Huot-Marchand, playing their first varsity match, won one set.

“I was quite pleased in how they played, as everyone played to their potential and competed strongly,” Davis said. “And, I was especially proud in the singles play of [freshman] Jai-Lin Garrett and [sophomore] Laura Bianchi who played in their first varsity match. Although neither won a set, they played competitively until the last point of the last set.

“We have a very young team, as five girls played their first varsity match [Wednesday] yet I expect them to mature both individually and as a team as the season progresses.”

Net week, the Breakers travel Wednesday to face San Clemente, and host Mission Viejo Thursday. Both nonleague matches start at 3 p.m.

Boys’ Water Polo

The Breakers, under head Coach Trevor Lyle, star their season Friday with a 4 p.m. nonleague game at El Toro. The Breakers begin the season ranked fourth preseason in CIF Southern Section Division 2. The Tritons are the No. 2 team in the preseason Division 1 poll.

Next week, the Breakers start play Thursday at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.

Cross-Country

The Breakers begin their season Saturday at Cerritos Regional Park where they will compete in the Small Schools Division of The Great Cow Run. The event starts at 7:15 a.m.

The Laguna girls’ cross-country team starts the season with a No. 8 ranking in CIF-SS Division 4.

Girls’ Golf

The Breakers and new head Coach Jon Hendrickson launch their season Tuesday hosting Crean Lutheran at 2:30 p.m. at Ben Brown’s Golf Course in Laguna Beach.

Girls’ Volleyball

New head Coach Carson Tanner will lead the Breakers in their season opener Wednesday at Corona del Mar. The Breakers are ranked No. 3 in the preseason CIF-SS Division 2 poll, and the Sea Kings are No. 1 in Division 1.

Surfing

The Breakers will surf their first competition Sept. 14 when they go up against Aliso Niguel at 6:30 a.m. at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.

CIF Preseason Rankings (released Monday)

Boys’ Water Polo: No. 4, Division 2.

Girls’ Cross-Country: No. 8, Division 4.

Girls’ Volleyball: No. 3, Division 2.