Volleyball Sweeps Venice

The Palisades High boys volleyball team had already clinched the Western League championship heading into last Wednesday’s final regular season match at Venice. However, the Dolphins treated it like a playoff match and the result was a 25-10, 25-18, 25-19 victory that not only kept them unbeaten against league opponents under Coach Carlos Gray but also secured the No. 1 seed in the City Open Divison playoffs.   

Palisades is the favorite to repeat as champion and will host No. 8 Cleveland in the first round of the eight-team draw tonight at 7. The Cavaliers finished fifth out of six teams in the West Valley League but still made the top bracket. If seedings hold they will be the first of three West Valley opponents the Dolphins must beat on their way to the title.

If victorious tonight, Palisades will host No. 4 El Camino Real or No. 5 Eagle Rock in the semifinals next Tuesday. Three of the four teams in the bottom half of the draw are from the West Valley, including second-seeded Chatsworth, which lost a close match to the Dolphins at the Dos Pueblos Invitational in March. The City championship match is Saturday, May 19 at Birmingham High.