By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
After watching his team squander several leads in its first match Friday at the Redondo Classic, Palisades High boy volleyball coach Carlos Gray reminded his players they still had a lot to play for.
“We can’t just have wins and losses and be okay,” Gray said following the Dolphins’ three-set loss to Calabasas. “It’s all about our level of play and we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard.”
Palisades responded by winning its last six matches to win the Gold Division championship and establish itself as an early frontrunner for the City Section title. The Dolphins swept Long Beach Millikan, 25-18, 25-16, then outlasted Notre Dame, 25-27, 25-22, 15-13 to finish second in their pool Friday and earn a berth in the upper bracket Saturday. They survived against Servite, 25-15, 19-25, 18-16, swept San Marcos and Orange Lutheran, then exacted revenge with a 25-17, 25-17 triumph over Calabasas in the finals.
Akhil Tangutur earned Most Valuable Player honors while Marcus Partain and Justin Howard also made the All-Tournament team.
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