Reader Submission: Breakers' Girls Tennis Team Takes on Tough Opponents

Reader submission from Kristine Michaels:

Thursday, Sept. 1 -- Laguna Beach High's girls tennis team, led by Coach Don Davis, defeated Mater Dei in its first and only scrimmage of the season at Los Caballeros Tennis Club. More sets were played than in regulation play, however this year, the Breakers came on top with the victory avenging last years loss to Mater Dei in preseaon play.
 
Wednesday, Sept. 7 -- Laguna Beach defeats El Toro, 11-7

As the first week of school began and an extreme heat wave passed through Southern California, the Breakers continued their run in their first nonleague regulation match against El Toro at the Breakers' home courts. The lineup had veteran players and co-captains Lauren Michaels and Claire Jaeger playing at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.  Both Lauren and Claire are seniors who joined the varsity squad four years ago as its only freshman. At No. 3 singles was freshman Kira Hamilton, who is no stranger to the courts at LBHS. All three singles players have had their elder siblings play for LBHS varsity tennis and all play on the Southern California Sectional tennis circuit as well as in USTA National events.
 
Singles results:
 
No. 1 singles – Lauren Michaels – 1-6, 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 singles – Clair Jaeger - 1–6, 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 singles – Kira Hamilton - 0–6, 6-1, 2-6
 
Together the singles lineup took five of the nine sets played.
 
The doubles side played very strong, winning six of their nine sets with two of the losses coming down to very close finishes.  Each of the three teams won two of its three sets.

Doubles results: 
 
No. 1 doubles Brooke Michaels (So) and Bailey Jaeger (Fr) - 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
No. 2 doubles Chloe Mansour (Jr) and Kate McMahon (Sr) - 6-7, 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 doubles Sarah Nederlander (So) and Katelyn Bo (Jr) - 6-2, 6-4; Shawna Yang (So) and Nicole Dorion (So) - 6-7
 
Michaels also plays year round on the Southern California sectional circuit as well as USTA National events.

Thursday, Sept. 8 -- Laguna Beach falls to Division 1 Newport Harbor, 16-2

The LBHS girls played fiercely as they fought for every point. The first round of sets took two hours to complete.  Although the Breakers fell to Division 1 powerhouse Newport Harbor, 16-2, the final score does not reflect the quality of play on the courts of LBHS. The Breakers' wins came from No. 1 singles Lauren Michaels against Newport Harbor's No. 1 in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-4 TB) and from No. 3 doubles team of Katelyn Bo and Sarah Nederlander, 6-4.  Both matches went back and forth in an amazing battle as the Breakers refused to give in.  Lauren was forced to withdraw in her second round against Newport Harbor's No. 2 because of severe muscle cramping in her calves.
 
The results:
 
No. 1 singles – Lauren Michaels - 7–6, Default – Inj,
No. 2 singles – Nicole Doiron - 1–6
No. 3 singles – Claire Jaeger - 4–6, 1-6, 3-6
 
No. 1 doubles – Bailey Jaeger/Brooke Michaels - 4–6, 1-6, 3-6
No. 2 doubles – Kate McMahon/ Chloe Mansour - 3–6, 2-6, 0-6
No. 3 doubles – Katelyn Bo/Sarah Nederlander - 4–6, 1-6, 6-4

Tuesday, Sept. 13 -- Breakers fall to Corona Del Mar, 13-5

Coach Davis is still working with his lineup to find the right recipe for success. Against Division 1 CdM, he tried out a heavy doubles lineup to see how the Breakers would respond.

The strategy produced some very competitive doubles matches that could have gone either way. Unfortunately for the Breakers, they were only able to come out on top of two of them. At No. 2 doubles were sisters Claire Jaeger and Bailey Jaeger, who won one of their three sets, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4.  Brooke Michaels and Kira Hamilton played at No. 3 doubles and were able to win one of their three as well, 6-1, 4-6, 4-6.  At No. 1 doubles, Kate McMahon and Cloe Mansour were unable to overturn the strong CDM doubles force and fell, 1-6, 0-6, 2-6.
 
In singles, No. 1 Lauren Michaels played very steady and strong, winning all three sets with dominance, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. Coach Davis also tried out several girls in the singles lineup. Playing No. 2 singles was sophomore Sarah Nederlander, who fought in three very long and hard sets but lost, 1-6, 0-6, 2-6.  At No. 3 singles was Katelyn Bo, who lost, 2-6, 0-6, 1-6.

The Breakers continue to improve daily.  The chemistry between the girls and Coach Davis is a very good one and positive results are sure to come in the future for this energetic and positive team.

Laguna Beach continues its season on Friday in a nonleague match against Sage Hill at the Tennis Club at Newport Beach. Matches start at 3 p.m.  

###

If you have results of your favorite team, please send them to OC Patch sports editor Bob Rohwer at bob.rohwer@patch.com.