Pali High Tennis Third at Coast Cup

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Having rolled through the first round of Western League play like a knife through butter the Palisades High girls tennis team was itching for some better competition at last weekend’s Coast Cup in Newport Beach.

The Dolphins got what they wanted. Playing a format unfamiliar to them they placed third out of five teams in the round robin tournament hosted by Sage Hill.

Matches consisted of five singles sets and four doubles sets over two days, with players allowed to participate in both singles and doubles. The first school to five points head-to-head was the winner.

Palisades finished 2-2, beating Anaheim Canyon (9-0) and Sage Hill (7-2) and losing to Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas and Murrieta Valley, both by 5-4 scores.

“It was a little bit confusing at first because we were playing some singles and some doubles and it was all split up,” senior co-captain Lizzie Belokonnyi said. “However, I think we adjusted to it pretty well and it was a great bonding experience –we had so much fun.”

Belokonnyi and doubles partner Madeline Prins, the reigning City Section champions, told Coach Bud Kling they would play singles if needed but preferred that other girls be given an opportunity.

“We have a lot of freshmen who are eager to play and don’t always get the chance,” Prins said. “Our goal is to make the teams as even as possible throughout the lineup and since we’ve both played one or two doubles for four years it made sense to split us up.”

Playing in their customary  No. 1 doubles spot, Prins and Belokonnyi beat two of the three teams they faced, including a 6-3 victory over the best tandem from Bishop Gorman, the top-ranked team in Nevada. Each also played Canyon with different partners, Prins pairing with Caroline Goldberg to win 6-0 and Belokonnyi teaming with another freshman, Ireland Amato, to win 6-2.

“I like being able to play both singles and doubles,” said Amato, who was named to the All-Tournament team along with junior Calypso Peraticos. “It was tiring sometimes, though, having to play one right after another.”

At No. 1 singles, Goldberg won by 6-0 scores against Canyon and Sage Hill, lost 6-3 against Murrieta Valley and lost 7-5 against Bishop Gorman.

Morgan Swan lost three of her four sets at No. 2 singles, but won two doubles sets with Sophia Amato. Peraticos won her singles and doubles sets versus Bishop Gorman, Sage Hill and Murrieta Valley and teamed with Abby Schleichkorn to win in doubles against Canyon after being subbed out of singles. Taylor Barfield, Caroline Ross and Madeline Goore also posted victories.

“The girls haven’t done this in seven years so I promised them one tournament,” said Kling, who joined his players for burgers at a nearby In ‘N’ Out afterwards. “It was strange playing half the match one day and half the next day, but we got to play some strong teams and that was the whole idea.”