Volleyball Second to None in Sylmar

As the winningest program in City Section history, there are precious few tournaments the Palisades High girls volleyball team has never won. Sylmar was among them, but the Dolphins crossed that one off the list with a thrilling 25-21 victory over Calabasas in the championship match Saturday night.

Palisades was the last team standing in a tournament that began at 8 o’clock in the morning and ended 12 hours later. The varsity’s triumph came two weeks after the JV team took first place at the same tournament,  also beating Calabasas in the final.

“I didn’t know that,” Palisades Coach Carlos Gray said when told it was the Dolphins’ first Sylmar title. “That’s hard to believe given the success Pali’s had but I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

The field featured 30 schools divided into six five-team pools, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the single-elimination playoffs.

Not only had the Dolphins never won, they had never even reached the finals of the tournament, which has been going strong for 25 years.

Several of the top City schools were not there, including West Valley League rivals Granada Hills and Taft, but the bracket did include defending tournament champion Venice, Eastern League frontrunner South Gate, Valley Mission League leader Sylmar and 12 Southern Section schools.

Determined to match the JV’s feat of going undefeated en route to the title, the Dolphins did not drop a  set in four pool play matches, sweeping Birmingham, Providence, South Gate and San Pedro. By far the toughest test was against   South Gate, a potential Division I playoff opponent, and only hustle defense by Olivia Zelon and timely blocking by Angel Echipue allowed the Dolphins to escape the first set, 26-24. The second set was also close, but Palisades prevailed, 25-21.

“We don’t win it without Olivia,” Gray said. “She went bonkers  and almost single-handedly took it over from the libero spot. She dug one ball left-handed right to the setter. Unbelievable get. Angel’s net play was also huge. That team is very good, they have a phenomenal  hitter and I won’t be surprised if they upset somebody in the [City] playoffs.”

Seeded third for the playoffs, Palisades received a first-round bye and took on Western League rival Fairfax in the quarterfinals. Outside hitter Isabel Kelly and setter Delaney Arth led the Dolphins to a 25-15 victory.

In the semifinals Palisades met Heritage Christian and won 25-14, with Sadie Gray ending the set on a crosscourt kill. While his players rested, Coach Gray watched the other semifinal, in which Calabasas rallied to beat Moorpark.

“If we play like we did today, I think we can win CIF,” said Zelon, who was named to the All-Tournament team along with outside hitter Domineque Jeffords. “It was important to do well here because there are a lot of City teams and this could help us get a higher seed in the playoffs.”

After falling behind 3-0 in the final, Palisades reeled off five straight points, but the Coyotes tie it. The Dolphins opened an 11-7 lead, but Calabasas used a 10-3 run to go ahead 17-14.

Milena Gorum’s kill put Palisades back in front 18-17 but a wide serve brought the score back even and it stayed that way until 20-20 when the Dolphins finally forged ahead for good.

“We came here hoping we’d do well and as we got further and further we realized we could win it,” said Jeffords, a senior captain and outside hitter. “I was just focused on doing my job. When we all do it together we’re more successful. In the last match, Carlos told us the line was open so we started attacking there.”

Palisades resumed league action Monday and swept host Hamilton, 25-9, 25-12, 25-10. The Dolphins host University today and wrap up league at second-place Fairfax next Tuesday.