Breakers denied on the road

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Newport Beach Breakers will now have to look to gain some type of momentum with Pete Sampras’ return on Tuesday. That’s because the Breakers suffered their second straight loss, as the Kansas City Explorers defeated Newport Beach, 23-19, on Sunday at Barney Allis Plaza in Kansas City.

Newport Beach’s Lauren Albanese will most likely welcome Sampras with the hopes he will cause distraction. The 17-year-old was playing in the final set, women’s singles, just as in the Breakers’ 20-19 loss to Springfield Saturday.

This time, the Breakers (1-2) were up 18-17, but Albanese lost to Jarmila Gajdosova, 5-2.

Despite reports of a strained right knee, Newport Beach’s veteran Ramon Delgado played on Sunday. He teamed with Rick Leach for a 5-4 win over Jason Marshall and Dusan Vemic in the opening set of men’s doubles.

Vemic struck back with a 5-3 victory over Delgado. The Breakers’ mixed doubles team of Leach and Michaela Pastikova returned the favor with a 5-4 win over Marshall and Corina Morariu.

Morariu and Gajdosova scored a 5-4 triumph against Albanese and Patikova before Albanese fell in the finale.

Newport Beach returns to Breakers Stadium Tuesday when Sampras, the tennis great, will join the team against the Sacramento Capitals at 7 p.m.

— From staff reports