Different Strokes for Pali High Girls Tennis

The primary objective is the same every season for the Palisades High girls tennis team: win the City Section championship. This year, though, Coach Sean Passan has a loftier goal — to get past the first round in the Southern California Regional playoffs.

Having dethroned Granada Hills last fall, the Dolphins are determined to defend their City crown and Passan believes this is his deepest, most talented team yet. So deep, in fact, that he pared down the roster and told his players no one is guaranteed playing time. Every player must earn her spot, starting with challenge matches last week to determine who could be in the lineup for the season opener Sept. 9 at Southern Section rival Beverly Hills.

“The girls coming back are excited to go get another City title,” Passan said. “Our captains have been great leaders in the offseason and we have a few new ninth graders and a few transfers to help us win that first round in the So Cal Regionals, which no Pali team has ever done before.”

This season’s captains are senior Izzy Guterson and juniors Madeline Prins and Lizzie Belokonnyi, all three of whom will play doubles. Returners include seniors Diana Silvers, Alexandra Kugler and Honour Norman, juniors Morgan Swan, Natasha Bure, Olivia Stutman and Selin Sindel and sophomore Abby Schleichkorn.

“This is the most competitive team we’ve had in my four years,” said Guterson, who has been working with the practice squad on their conditioning. “As far as being captain, I’ve learned more off the court than on. As far as my game, I’ve improved at net the most. I love being there now because it ends points quicker.”

Guterson echoed her coach’s sentiment that winning in the regional tournament is high on the Dolphins’ list of priorities.

“We’ve been close the last two years at the regionals and all the matches were really close,” she said. “At the end of the day the goal is to win City and what’s great about Coach Passan is that he gives everyone a chance to play a varsity match. No matter what what, we win as a team or lose as a team.”

Silvers reached the finals of the City Individual singles tournament the last two seasons and is a four-year starter.

Adding to the Dolphins’ depth are Ilana Oleynik, a senior transfer from Malibu High who reached the 18-and-under doubles final at Ojai in April; Julia Holtback-Yeter, a sophomore who moved from Sweden a few weeks ago; and Ally Williams, a sophomore transfer who played No. 1 singles last season at Huntington Beach. Under transfer rules Oleynik will be eligible to play in early October. Williams, a new Highlands resident, said she prefers singles but knows she is playing on a more talented team.

“I’ve been playing since I was 7 years old and I used to play a lot of USTA matches,” Williams  said. “I did a summer camp here at the Palisades Tennis Center and I like living here. I like to move positions on a team and I’ve learned not to get down on myself. I think we can win City.”

Two new additions are freshmen Taylor Barfield  and Caroline Vincent, whose sister Katie was a captain last year and is now at BYU.

“My sister told me it was really fun and I should make the best of it,” said Vincent, who is ranked in the top 30 in Southern California in the 14s, grew up playing at the PTC and attended Calvary Christian School. “I don’t really care where I play. I’d be happy anywhere.”

Time will tell if the Dolphins live up to their coach’s high expectations, but he believes healthy competition in practice will only make them better by the playoffs.