The long-anticipated City Section Division I finals rematch between Palisades High and Granada Hills proved anticlimactic, but none of the Dolphins minded one bit.
Displaying the same combination of talent and depth that had made it so formidable in the playoffs, Palisades captured its second straight City tennis title — and record 22nd overall — with a 6-1 victory Friday at Balboa Sports Center in Encino.
Senior Diana Silvers got the Dolphins off to a quick start, winning 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, sophomore Abby Schleichkorn followed suit with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles and junior co-captains Lizzie Belokonnyi and Maddy Prins prevailed 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles to move Palisades within one point of the title in the best-of-seven format.
“This one feels better because I won my match so I feel like I contributed,” Silvers said. “Also, I was able to get off the court first so I got to cheer for everyone else.”
The coronation began when seniors Jesse Zand and Izzy Guterson finished off a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles — making the score 4-0 and the outcome academic.
“I had no idea we were the clinching point,” said Guterson, one of the Dolphins’ captains. “Coach told us all to just worry about your one court because when you know what the score is you tend to get really nervous. Jesse is a really good player and keeps my intensity up.”
“This means the world to me — it’s exactly how I wanted to end my senior season,” added Zand, who rejoined the team during the season after earning the decisive point in last year’s 5-2 finals victory. “After joining late, with everything that’s happened, it’s all worth it.”
After prevailing in a first-set tiebreaker 7-5, the No. 2 doubles duo of Morgan Swan and Ally Williams took the second set 6-3 and just a few minutes later freshman Caroline Vincent wrapped up a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles.
Having secured back-to-back City titles, the Dolphins offered their support to No. 1 player Ilana Oleynik, who was trying to deal Highlanders senior Sarah Nuno her first career defeat in City competition. Oleynik, a senior who transferred to Palisades from Malibu in hopes of winning a section title, took the first set 6-4 but Nuno rallied to win the last two sets to earn Granada Hills’ only point.
The Highlanders gambled by moving No. 2 singles player Risa Fukushige to No. 1 doubles with Cassidy Pedraza, but Belokonnyi and Prins were up to the challenge.
“It set us off guard at first when we saw their lineup, but once the match started we didn’t let it get to us,” Prins said. “All the practice we put in and the USTA tournaments we’ve played have made us mentally tougher.”
— Steve Galluzzo
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