Numerous postponements due to rain led to a mass exodus of Palisades High players from the City Section Individual Tennis Tournament, much to the disappointment of Coach Sean Passan.
Photos: Steve Galluzzo
Days before the first ball was even struck, the Dolphins’ No. 2 doubles team of Morgan Swan and Ally Williams dropped out, as did the No. 3 duo of Izzy Guterson and Alex Kugler. In singles, Palisades’ Ilana Oleynik (who was seeded No. 2) withdrew along with Abby Schleichkorn and Jesse Zand got sick the morning of her first match and couldn’t play.
However, there was no way juniors Maddy Prins and Lizzie Belokonnyi were going to pass on the opportunity to win the doubles title — it’s been their goal all year.
“We both want to play collegiate tennis and winning this would help us achieve that,” Prins said. “We both came close with different partners last year and we don’t want second place.”
Awarded the top seed, the duo lost one game in four sets Friday to advance to the quarterfinals.
“We’ve practiced every single day for this,” Belokonnyi added. “It would mean a lot to win it.”
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
In singles, senior Diana Silvers won a three-setter in the first round and took the next 6-0, 6-3.
“Like Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars I’m the only hope,” she said. “I’ve made the finals the last two years. I want to keep that up.”
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