In a nonleague match that could go a long way towards determining who is seeded where in the playoffs, the Palisades High boys vollleyball team put forth one of its best efforts of the season Wednesday and the result was a 25-22, 25-22, 27-25 sweep of visiting Eagle Rock.
The Dolphins (12-5-1) took a 24-20 lead in the second set and closed it out on Scott Stuart’s kill. The reigning City Section Division II champion Eagles (16-6) had a set point in the third but couldn’t close it out and Jeff Stuart’s ace barely creeped over the net to give Palisades a match point at 26-25 and the Dolphins converted.
It was the sixth consecutive victory for Palisades since a tournament defeat to Saddleback Valley Christian and Eagle Rock Coach Tim Bergeron said that if the seedings came out today he would make the Dolphins the No. 1 seed in Division I.
“I think right now you have to put Pali at the top,” Bergeron said. “They have a head-to-head win against Granada Hills and Carson lost to El Camino Real and Taft. Pali runs a 6-2, which gives them more balance, they can attack from the middle or the right side and their setter has maybe the best float serve I’ve seen in the City.”
Palisades Coach Carlos Gray knows there is still plenty of work to be done but liked the way his team responded to adversity.
“This is a big win,” he said. “We showed a lot of heart versus a tough opponent in Game 3. That’s a good team! I really want the No. 1 seed but no lower than No. 2.”
— Steve Galluzzo
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