Dolphins Dominate City Semis

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Last year the Palisades High boys tennis team made history by winning the City Section’s inaugural Open Division title.

The goal this season is to defend the championship and the top-seeded Dolphins moved within one victory of achieving that  Tuesday with a 28.5-1 semifinal rout of fourth-seeded North Hollywood at Rancho Park.

Palisades earned 13 of a possible 14 singles points. Playing at the No. 1 spot was senior Danilo Milic, who won his first three sets 6-1, 6-0, 6-0 before being subbed out in the final rotation. 

Junior Lincoln Bellamy won his two sets 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 2 spot before being subbed out, sophomore Atticus Parker won his three sets, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1 before being  subbed out and freshman Noah Zaret won all four of his sets, dropping only two games.

Palisades took all nine doubles sets, each worth one and a half points. Nick Arvin and Souma Hayakawa won 6-3 at No. 1 before being subbed out; Landon Cronin and Michael Kaplan won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles before being subbed out and Matt Webber paired with Peter Sims to win 6-1 at the No. 3 spot before splitting up for the last two rotations.

Palisades (20-2) will try for its 11th straight City crown against second-seeded Granada Hills at 11 a.m. next Tuesday at Balboa Sports Center in Encino.