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Breakers earn honors in girls’ volleyball

Hutchinson, Crawley take home awards; crosscountry awards prizes too.Sophomore outside hitter Dana Hutchinson was selected the Laguna Beach High girls’ volleyball offensive player of the year, the program’s top honor, at the 34th volleyball banquet held earlier this month at the Laguna Beach Women’s Club.

Coach Lance Stewart presided over a program that honored all three of the program’s teams -- varsity, junior varsity and frosh/soph.

All three teams won league championships this year, the first sweep by the program since the 1998 season.

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Stewart’s varsity squad went 24-7 and won its 14th league title -- the Breakers went 11-1 in league play -- in 20 seasons. The Breakers earned their 27th CIF-Southern Section playoff berth since CIF began sponsorship of girls’ volleyball in 1972.

The Breakers defeated four Southern Section CIF champions and 10 ranked teams and reached at least the quarterfinal round of the section playoffs for a record 30th time.

Laguna, which dropped a thrilling semifinal match to Marymount in November, loses only one starter to graduation in June.

Senior Stephanie Darnall was named co-MVP of the Pacific Coast League along with Stephanie Brandt of University. Hutchinson and Laguna teammates Mychaela Miller and Zoe Garrett were named first-team; Paige Obradovich was a second-team pick and Alex Palmer earned honorable mention.

Laguna’s junior varsity team, coached by Justin Westgaard, went 11-6 overall, won its first league title since 1999 and 26th overall. The frosh/soph team, coached by Jamie Swintek, went 14-3 overall and won its first title since 1999 and 16th overall since play at that level was established in 1981.

Varsity awards:

Most Improved: Brooke Kimball

Coach’s Award: Mychaela Miller

Captain: Stephanie Darnall

Defensive MVP: Alex Palmer, Paige Obradovich

Offensive MVP: Dana Hutchinson

Junior varsity awards:

Most Improved: Christina Lloyd

Coach’s Award: Lizzy Kieswetter

Captain: Meaghan Flynn

Defensive MVP: Tiffany Chen

Offensive MVP: Mariah Jakosky

Frosh/soph awards:

Most Improved: Arielle Palmer

Coach’s Award: Monique Thomas

Captain: Kameron Combs

Defensive MVP: Alyssa Linkletter

Offensive MVP: Kameron Combs

CROSS-COUNTRY:

At the Laguna Beach High cross-country awards banquet, junior Alex Crawley was named the varsity girls’ most valuable runner.

Varsity awards:

Most Valuable Runner: Alex Crawley

Most Inspirational: Avery Zoellner

Most Improved: Chanel Brooks

Coaches Award: Kady Tucker

Junior varsity awards:

Most Valuable Runner: Shelby Serra

Most Inspirational: Emma Thier

Most Improved: Heather Thomas

Coaches Award: Emma Cronin

Freshman awards:

Most Valuable Runner: Kelly McCarter

Most Inspirational: Melissa Lenker

Most Improved: Kendra Arnold

Coaches Award: Marguax Reckard

Other awards:

Four Year Award: Jamie Hancock

Eric Hulst Award: Jamie Hancock

Team Captain awards: Senior Jamie Hancock, juniors Alex Crawley and Avery Zoellner, sophomores Shelby Serra and Chanel Brooks and freshmen Kelly McCarter and Melissa Lenker.Laguna’s Dana Hutchinson digs one in a long rally in a game against Tesoro.20051223iomum9kn(LA)Laguna’s Dana Hutchinson digs one in a long rally in a game against Tesoro.20051223iomumoknPHOTOS BY DON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Stephanie Darnall rips a shot past Tesoro blockers. Darnall and two teammates were named first-team in a CIF poll.

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