Digging Deep

Pali High Girls Volleyball Falls in Five Sets in City Finals Thriller

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Entering the fifth and decisive set of last Saturday night’s City Section Open Division girls volleyball final, momentum was on Palisades’ side of the court.

After all, the Dolphins had taken the second and fourth sets handily and looked to be fresher  for the stretch run. What’s more, the Dolphins were determined to avenge their defeat in last year’s championship match.

However, Granada Hills was motivated to defend its title for senior middle blocker Lily Eaves, who had broken her leg in the semifinals and watched in a cast from the bleachers as the  Highlanders staged an emotional 25-19, 7-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-13 win at Roybal Learning Center.   

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the top-seeded Dolphins, who had not lost to a City opponent all season and let a commanding seven-point lead slip away in Set 3.

“What happened in the third set—you can’t do that,” Pali High Coach Carlos Gray said. “It’s a funny game. Bottom line is, I have to make better adjustments.”

Junior outside hitter Alex Laita almost willed the Dolphins to victory, pounding 21 kills, the last a crosscourt strike that edged Palisades ahead 13-12 in the fifth set.

Granada Hills answered with a touch kill by Carissa Bradford that landed inches inside the line and a block by Kristen Harwood.  A mishandled ball on match point sent the Highlanders into a frenzy.

“Lily’s injury was so heartwrenching it could’ve really deflated us,” Granada Hills Coach Tom Harp said. “Instead, it made us play harder. The one advantage we have being in the West Valley League is we’re used to tough matches. At times we were afraid to swing, but we pulled it off.”   

The Dolphins put on a clinic in the second set, racing to a 14-1 lead and winning it by 18 points behind libero Georgia Pappas, setter Chloe Uhls, opposite hitter Maddie Fowler, outside hitter Angelina Burton and middle blockers Carly Duffy, Chloe Pettigrew  and Abbey Kearney.

“We knew we were a little off in the first set so we came out on fire in the second—that’s the best we’ve played all season,” said Burton, who finished with 16 kills and three blocks. “I love this team so much. We get along so well.”

Kearney, who missed her entire junior year with an injury, was thankful for another chance in the finals and made the most of it with three blocks and 13 kills—one of which gave the Dolphins their first lead in the fifth set.

“We had to be ready for anything,” Kearney said. “Confidence isn’t enough. It didn’t end the way I wanted and I’d like to change the ‘what ifs’ but I’ll always remember how fun this season was.”