Middle Row: Reed Donenfeld, Brooke Marino (JV Coach), Mary Luhrs (FS Coach)
Front Row: Isaac Wulff, Jake Hexberg, JP Wollam, Lucas Capobianco, Cameron DePfyffer, Adam Lythgoe, Troy Thomas, Zack Bekken, Cole Paxson
Photo by Robert Campbell
The Breakers defeated ninth-ranked Saddleback Valley Christian 25-13, 25-15, 23-25, 25-11 to capture their fourth enrollment based state regional title in six seasons this past Saturday, May 31, at Cerritos College.
Laguna’s crown is the most by any school in this event and put the Breakers all-time record at 10-1 in five post-season appearances.
The first set was close early on but sharp passing by senior JP Wollam helped setters Alec Wulff and Cameron DePfyffer deliver the ball to Jack Wyett and Noah Blanton for a string of kills for the win. The second set was just a easy as Jake Hexberg’s serving and hitting broke a 6-6 tie to cruise to the set win. Laguna suffered two meltdowns in the third set with unforced errors falling behind by six points. A late rally just fell short with an unforced hitting error handing SVC the win. In the fourth set, Breakers came out focused with the blocking by Wyett and Blanton intimidating the Warriors from the start as Laguna left no-doubt who would win. The victory was the Breakers 21st in a best of five set match for the season tying the 1975 team for the most best-of-five match wins. Jack Wyett concluded his career at Laguna with 20 kills, Noah Blanton added 18, and Jake Hexberg 14. Saddleback Valley ended their season at 33-4.
Previously, Laguna advanced to the finals with a 27-25, 25-13, 25-23 sweep of Bishop Montgomery (20-10) on Thursday, May 29 at Dugger Gym. Laguna recorded a season high eight solo blocks and five tandem blocks to stifle the Knights. Jack Burgi, Wyett, Hexberg, and Blanton were on-fire with their hitting recording a combined 39 kills on 65 attempts. Bishop was able to stay in the match due to the Breakers making too many serve receive and passing errors.
In 2015 Breakers return a core of talented players and will be gaining a group of very skilled JV players to fill in the departing senior class. Expect next year to be another successful run.
Top Games in 2014
Kills – 21 Jack Wyett vs Esperanza, 5/24
Kills per set – 8.0, Jack Wyett vs El Segundo, 5/1
Aces – 6, Nick Rieckhoff vs Estancia 4/1, Jake Hexberg vs La Sierra, 5/15
Rotation Points 19, Lucas Capobianco vs Saddleback Valley Christian, 5/31
Solo Blocks – 4, Jack Wyett vs Bishop Montgomery 5/29
Block Assists – 7, Tyler Alter @ Lakewood, 5/19
Digs – 28, P Wollam vs Saddleback Valley Christian, 5/31
Serve Receive per Set – 11.5, Jack Wyett vs El Segundo, 5/3
Set-Assists per Set – 16.0, Alec Wulff @ Dana Hills, 4/25
Team Awards:
Frosh Soph (15-5-1), James Alonso–Most Improved, Connor Brashier–Most Inspirational, Bruce Knill–Breaker Award
Junior Varsity (31-2-1), Ford Brian–Most Improved, Jordan Watkins–Most Inspirational, Dane Olson–Breaker Award
Varsity (27-6), Alec Wulff–Most Improved, Jake Hexberg & Troy Thomas –Most Inspirational, Jack Wyett–Breaker Award, Noah Blanton–Offensive Player of the Year, John-Paul Wollam–Defensive Player of the Year, Zack Bekken – Big Tiney Scholarship
ALL – ORANGE COAST LEAGUE
MVP – Jack Wyett – 12, Outside
FIRST TEAM
Noah Blanton – 12, Middle Blocker
John-Paul Wollam- 12, Libero
Jake Hexberg – 12, Outside
SECOND TEAM
Alec Wulff – 12, Setter
Tyler Alter – 10, Middle
Jack Burgi – 11, Opposite
