Oleynik Gets Back in Swing

Palisades High Senior Dominates Her Season Debut Versus LACES

If there is any truth to the saying “good things come to those who wait,” the future is bright for  Ilana Oleynik.

The Palisades High senior tennis player had to sit out the first half of the season and when she did finally take the court for her first official match with the Dolphins it didn’t last very long.

Playing No. 1 singles against LACES last Thursday, Oleynik won her pro set 8-0 to set the tone in Palisades’ 6-1 Western League victory and aside from a few high-fives with her teammates she expressed little emotion.

“I take every match seriously and it feels nice to get out there and contribute,” said Oleynik, who boarded a plane to Spokane, Washington a few hours later for an official visit to Gonzaga University. “I would’ve liked to play sooner but you can’t change the situation and this is the first match I’ve been available to play.”

Oleynik, a Palisades Highlands resident, transferred from Malibu High and in accordance with CIF rules was not eligible to  play until October 6.

“I wanted to play Ilana the Friday before [against Westchester] but she had a national tournament,” Pali High Coach Sean Passan said. “She’s very sarcastic like me and I was happy when she e-mailed about playing here. We’re happy to have her. I just wish we had her all four years because it would’ve solved a lot of our lineup issues.”

Oleynik helped Malibu reach the Southern Section semifinals in each of her first three seasons, but opted for Palisades her senior year  in hopes of doing something she couldn’t do with the Sharks: win a CIF championship.

“Sometimes there’s drama on a high school team but we have to stick together in order to succeed,” said Oleynik, who has also been in contact with UC Irvine and Pepperdine. “[Teammate] Diana Silvers has been one of my best friends since seventh grade at Paul Revere.”

Although she’ll play singles for the Dolphins, when it comes to USTA junior events Oleynik has achieved better results in doubles, ascending to No. 2 in the nation in the 16s. In April, she made the Ojai doubles final with partner Otilia Popa of Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego.

“The first three games today were a great lesson for her because it’s hard to create pace and she had to play a more pattient style,” Passan said. “Ilana can definitely play Division I in college and I know that’s been her goal.”

Silvers played No. 1 singles when the Dolphins captured the City team title last season and she has made the finals of the Individual singles tournament two years in a row. She knows the addition of Oleynik greatly increases the Dolphins’ chance of repeating.

“It’s great having strong players like Ilana on the team,” Silvers said. “I met her in sixth grade at a tournament in Baldwin Hills and she won. She’s really good.”

Oleynik hopes to make a college commitment soon, but in the meantime she and her team have important business to attend to.

“I’m a senior and I’d like to go out a winner,” she said.