Spikers Win Venice Tourney

One week after beating San Pedro in its season opener the Palisades High girls volleyball team made an even stronger statement last Saturday by winning the Venice tournament without dropping a single game in eight matches. Better yet, the Dolphins beat Venice in the final, giving their beach rivals a little something extra to think about heading into next Monday’s Western League meeting. What made Palisades’ triumph even scarier for future opponents is that it was accomplished without one of the Dolphins’ top players, Alex Lunder, on the floor. Setter Jenna McCallister was named the tournament’s most valuable player. “This was an excellent gauge of where we stand because a lot of the top City teams were there,” Pali Coach Chris Forrest said. “The team has really picked it up since Alex got injured [in the Gahr tournament]. We really feel like we’re the team to beat.” After pool play victories over Franklin, Foshay, Cleveland and Carson, the Dolphins beat Narbonne, 25-11, to set up a semifinal showdown with undefeated Granada Hills, one of the strongest City programs in the San Fernando Valley. Palisades spotted the Highlanders an early lead before rallying to win, 25-19. In the championship match, Palisades reeled off seven of the last nine points to beat the Gondos on their home court, 25-17. “Knowing the caliber of teams we played, this definitely makes you feel like you can beat anyone,” PaliHi senior hitter Jennifer Donohue said. “We were on Cloud Nine.” Palisades followed its tournament triumph with a 25-8, 25-16, 25-21 sweep of LA Hamilton in its first Western League match Monday. Forrest was pleased with the results considering several players were in new positions. Girls Tennis Led by singles players Samantha Kogan, Kathryn Cullen, Audrey Ashraf and Genna Rochlin, Palisades blanked Malibu, 7-0, in the second round of the Bay Area Classic on Thursday. Using the City’s head-to-head, eight-game pro set format, the Dolphins won 32 out of 38 games in singles to improve to 6-1. Palisades opened Western League play Monday with a forfeit win over Fairfax, which did not have enough players. Girls Golf Palisades finished last in its second City 1 League match with a total nine-hole score of 317 at Penmar Golf Course. Venice (228) was first, Narbonne (269) second and LACES (272) third.