2007 LAGUNA BEACH GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW:Looking to build on past success

Lance Stewart doesn’t like to make comparisons.

Case in point: Although he acknowledges last year’s stunning success for his Laguna Beach High girls’ volleyball program, he doesn’t want to hold it up to the 2007 Breakers, who held tryouts on Tuesday and held their first practice session Wednesday.

Here goes, anyway: A year ago, a magical season saw Laguna compile a 29-6 record, capture four of six tournaments it entered, win Orange Coast League, CIF Southern Section Division II-AA and Southern California Regional Division II titles and play in a state title game for just the second time in school history.

But, as Stewart will point out, that’s all history.

“Last year was great, but last year is done and gone,” he said. “I’m just focused on what’s at hand.

“Every year is a challenge, and this year is no different. Last year was a challenge, too. All I’m interested in is that every day, we are working to get better individually and as a team. We’ll be working on making the simple plays”

Twelve players comprise the varsity roster, led by five who were starters a year ago.

In that group are senior outside hitter Dana Hutchinson, junior setter Alex Palmer, senior libero Paige Obradovich, junior outside hitter Piper Obradovich and senior middle blocker Laurielle Hofer.

Hutchinson returns from a junior year that included being named player of the year in both the Orange Coast League and CIF Division II.

Palmer was all-league and all-CIF and Hofer and the Obradoviches were first-team all-league.

The squad also consists of senior outside hitter Rebekah Farrar, junior right-side hitter Kameron Combs, sophomore setter Alex Reickoff, sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Paulette Grand Pre, senior outside hitter Meaghan Flynn, junior middle blocker Ari Palmer and junior defensive specialist Chanel Wyett.

There’s plenty of needed experience, too, as Hutchinson, Hofer, Farrar and Paige Obradovich enter their fourth year playing varsity and Palmer and Piper Obradovich are in their third year.

“These players have experience at a very high level, and we need to call on that experience,” Stewart said. “It’s one thing to have the experience, but you need to take advantage of it and go to that next level.

“We’ve got some talented players. Serving is going to be a big plus for us this year.”

As usual, Laguna won’t shy away from the competition in 2007. Among the nonleague games on another formidable schedule are clashes with Mira Costa, Santa Margarita, Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar, the latter a team they swept in last year’s Division II-A title match at Cypress College.

Add to that mix matches at the Dave Mohs Tournament (Orange County Championships) at Edison High in mid-September, the Capistrano Valley Tournament in late-September, and the stacked Torrey Pines Challenge in mid-October.

Stewart said that Prepvolleyball.com has Mira Costa ranked in the top five, Santa Margarita is No. 11 and Newport Harbor in the top 35, in its preseason national poll.

The Breakers, he said, were ranked 93rd nationally.

“Nobody plays a tougher nonleague schedule than us,” Stewart said.

The Breakers scrimmage Dana Point at home on Sept. 5 and officially open their schedule with a Sept. 11 date at Newport Harbor.

Laguna begins Orange Coast League play on Oct. 5 at Calvary Chapel.