By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
As if the competition wasn’t tough enough, the Palisades High girls tennis team was without several of its best players last weekend for the California Classic in Fresno.
The Dolphins were expecting to compete in Division 2 but were moved down to Division 3 the night before Friday’s first match, yet they still finished 4-1 and won Level B of Division 3.
Using only eight players, Palisades edged Ponderosa 3-3 on games in its first match and lost to host Clovis on games in its second match before beating Turlock 5-1 to finish second in pool play.
One of the unsung heroes was freshman JV player Polina Dotenko, who drove up before the playoff phase Saturday so the Dolphins didn’t have to default a spot and won both of her matches as the Dolphins downed Garces 7-6 on sets in the semifinals and defeated Lodi 4-2 in the finals of their bracket.
“Given the circumstances, the girls stepped up and played very well,” Coach Bud Kling said. “The defaults Friday had us behind in all three matches, but our doubles won big, which offset that deficit and allowed us to win two out of three.”
Two days earlier, Palisades beat host Beverly Hills 12-6.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Caroline Goldberg swept, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 1 singles, Sophia Arvin won her second set 6-3 at No. 2 singles and the Dolphins won eight of the nine doubles sets. Gigi Feingold and Caroline Ross swept, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 1; Calypso Peraticos and Maddy Goore swept, 6-3, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 and Alex Miller and Kate Harrington won their last two sets, 6-2, 6-2.
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