All-Tournament pick Ashlynn Sells spikes against Pacifica Christian in the Gold Division semifinals Saturday. Photos by Steve Galluzzo
Izzy Drake goes on the attack in the finals against host Venice.
No rivalry in City Section volleyball matches the intensity of Venice versus Palisades. When the Western League foes met for the Gold Division title Saturday at the Venice Invitational, players on both sides raised their level. Riding a 13-match winning streak to open the season, the Dolphins lost the first set 25-19 but rallied from eight points down to even the second set at 23-all before falling 26-24. Hitter Ashlynn Sells and libero Lucy Neilson earned All-Tournament honors. Palisades had swept the first of the teams’ two league meetings nine days earlier.