But with a 1-0 lead in games, Corona del Mar, which is the No. 2-ranked team in Division II-AA, appeared to self destruct. It dropped the second game, but won the next two to polish off the Breakers, 25-20, 20-25, 25-11, 25-22.
The Sea Kings (9-2) have already surpassed last season's win total of seven and a victory over Laguna Beach further cemented that this is not the same team as last year.
CdM senior Juliane Piggott recorded a team-high 25 kills and senior Kelly Christian had 19 of her own. Junior Ashley Pries contributed 15 digs and senior Kasey Kipp added five blocks.
"They're the best two outside hitters in the state, the two of them together," Corona del Mar Coach Bill Christiansen said of Piggott and Christian.
Christian said the win over Laguna Beach was important for a variety of reasons.
"It was really big to get revenge," Christian said. "It was also big for CIF."
In the semifinals of the Dave Mohs Tournament, Laguna Beach took advantage of a Corona del Mar team which minutes earlier had finished a tight match against Newport Harbor. But, the Sea Kings were the ones with the edge on Wednesday.
The Breakers were without 6-foot-3 middle blocker Zoe Garrett, who is playing with the U.S. women's national team in the Azteca Cup.
The Breakers still had junior outside hitter Dana Hutchison, who finished with a team-high 18 kills.
"Dana Hutchison is their best player," Christiansen said. "We only lost, 25-22, in the Dave Mohs five minutes after we played a grueling match with Newport Harbor when [the Breakers] had Zoe Garrett."
With Corona del Mar opening league play next week, Piggott was happy to enter it with momentum.
"This is our biggest competition all year," she said. "It was really important for us to win this match."
