Even without its newest player, the Palisades High girls varsity tennis team defeated crosstown rival Santa Monica in its final nonleague match last Friday at the Palisades Recreation Center. Sophomore Katie Nikolova, who transferred to Palisades from Burbank this semester, will bolster the Dolphins’ singles lineup and could make Pali the team to beat in the City playoffs. According to head coach Bud Kling, Pali’s newest player was ready to make her debut on Wednesday against Hamilton. Because Palisades was the home team, the intersectional meeting against the Vikings was played under City rules using a straight-up, head-to-head format. Playing No. 1 singles, Pali’s Krista Slocum won 8-1 to notch the Dolphins’ first point. Lotte Kiepe lost 8-4 at No. 2 singles, Andrea Walton lost 8-6 at No. 3 singles and Kathryn Cullen won 8-2 at No. 4 singles. In doubles, Dolphins co-captain Yasmir Navas teamed with Lauren Pugatch to win 8-4 at the No. 1 position. Audrey Ashraf and Sarah Jurick won 8-5 at No. 3 doubles and co-captain Brittany O’Neil and Mary Logan lost 8-6 at No. 2 doubles. Palisades is undefeated in league with three matches remaining. If the Dolphins win out, they could be awarded the No. 1 seed in the City playoffs, ahead of Granada Hills and Carson.
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