Reader Submission: Lightning Strikes to Beat Breakers, 10-8

Reader submission from Kristine Michaels:

In the midst of the most challenging portion of the Laguna Beach High girls tennis schedule, the Breakers, led by Coach Don Davis, met Sage Hill, a CIF Southern Section Division 3 semifinalist last season, Friday afternoon at The Tennis Club of Newport Beach.

After five hours of grueling competition, the nonleague match wasn't decided until the last round, when the Lightning finally prevailed, 10-8.

The first round of competition lasted 2 1/2 hours with the Breakers eventually sweeping in singles and Sage Hill sweeping in doubles. Senior captains Lauren Michaels and Claire Jaeger, at No 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, refused to go down and each prevailed in tie-breakers to win by final scores of 7-6. Neither player gave in to the extreme pressure brought by her Sage Hill opponent. Both matches brought exciting play for the the viewers as the momentum went back and forth between the players.  

Jaeger was the last one playing at the end of Round 1, battling in games that the crowd thought would never end, one of which was marked at 18 minutes. Freshman Kira Hamilton had an easy win at No. 3 singles, 6-0, against Sage Hill's No. 3 player.

The second round was the shortest of the three, lasting just over an hour. In it, the Breakers earned their first doubles win in a tough match by the No. 2 team of sophomore Brooke Michaels and freshman Bailey Jaeger that ended in yet another tie-breaker by a score of 7-6. Singles also picked up victories by Michaels and Jaeger. Once again, Michaels displayed relentless resolve and refused to fall, coming back from being down, 4-1, to win, 7-5. 

The Breakers needed four of the last six sets to win the match. The pressure was on all players in the third and final round, which lasted 1 1/2 hours. Laguna Beach was able to come up with only two victories, however, by Michaels, 6-0, over Sage Hill's No. 3 player, and by the No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Sarah Nederlander and junior Katelyn Bo against the Lightning's No. 3 team by a score of 6-3.

In singles, Jaeger found herself to be the last Breaker standing and in yet another tie-breaker, but this one went to Sage Hill, giving them the set to secure the match.

Today (Tuesday), Laguna Beach plays host to Edison, and on Thursday, the Breakers play host to the county's top team, University of Irvine.

Statistics from Friday's match:

Sage Hill 10, Laguna Beach 8

Singles:  Breakers 6, Lightning 3

No. 1 Lauren Michaels, 7-6, 7-5, 6-0

No. 2 Claire Jaeger, 6-7, 7-6, 6-0

No. 3 Kira Hamilton, 0-6, 4-6, 6-0

Doubles:  Lightning 7, Breakers 2

No. 1 Sarah Nederlander/Katelyn Bo, 0-6, 1-6, 6-3

No. 2 Brooke Michaels/Bailey Jaeger, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6

No. 3 Kate McMahon/Chloe Mansour, 0-6, 2-6; Kate Rogers/Madeline Loomis, 1-6