Playing to Their Potential

Having coached the Palisades High girls volleyball team to the brink of the City Section Division I championship in his first season, Carlos Gray begins his second year knowing a return trip to the finals is no guarantee.

The Dolphins lost five players to graduation, including co-captains Jennifer Krems (Co-Player of the Year in the Western League) and Caroline Grande, both All-City first team selections. All-League first-teamers Brittany Schoellkopf and second-teamers Hannah Sharpe and Lucy Polhill also departed.

“Granada Hills is the favorite, but I won’t be surprised if we make it to the finals and if you get that far, you want to win it,” said Gray, who also heads the Pali High boys program and coaches for the Pacific Palisades Volleyball Club. “Physically, the talent is there, it just depends on how well we come together, how some of the younger players fill spots and whether we can stay healthy.”

In terms of setting, the Dolphins are in good hands with junior Delaney Arth (an All-League first team and All-City second team selection last fall), and senior Faylenn McDonough.

Krems and Grande combined for 135 kills last season and this year seniors Taylor Pecsok and  Domineque Jeffords and junior Isabel Kelly will be called on to lead the attack.

Granada Hills swept Palisades in the City title match last year and will host the Dolphins in a nonleague meeting in September. Also on the schedule is reigning City Division II champion Taft of Woodland Hills. Gray predicted the league race will again come down to Palisades and Venice.

“The usual suspects,” he said.  “We beat Venice both times last year, but the second one went five [sets]. We’re going to have to win the serve-serve receive battle and run our system a bit more consistently. The lineup will fluctuate, especially early as we tinker with where people fit best.”

The Dolphins have a three-team scrimmage with Burroughs and Saugus on Sept. 2 in Burbank.