LAGUNA BEACH — The Laguna Beach girls volleyball team came into the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs with a record well under .500. But records can be deceiving, especially for the Breakers, who played several teams throughout the season who qualified for the playoffs in higher divisions, including two in their own league.
So, it shouldn’t be too surprising that the Breakers cruised through their first four playoff matches and went on to sweep St. Paul 25-9, 26-24, 25-19 in the Division 7 championship match Saturday at Laguna Beach High School. The Breakers (11-25) swept four of their five opponents in the playoffs.
“It’s definitely really special,” Laguna Beach senior middle Sadie Holmes said. “Especially my senior year, my last time playing high school volleyball, I really had that drive to want to win the whole thing.” Three kills from Layla Kollock, an ace from Sienna Lee and two blocks by Blake Borquist helped the Breakers jump out to a 15-5 lead in the first set, and then closed out the set on a 10-4 run.
For Laguna Beach coach Sinan Cem Tanik, who also coaches the Santa Margarita boys volleyball team and guided the Eagles to a CIF SS Division 2 title in 2023, the Breakers’ championship was his first in his four years at the school. “This was a little lower division than what I was hoping for,” Tanik said. “But we have the chance to show our true quality and abilities in state against tougher opponents.
” The Breakers captured their sixth Southern Secti.
