Pali Tennis Aces Westchester, 7-0

Having endured its toughest stretch of the season, the Palisades High boys’ tennis team got a breather of sorts last Wednesday against Westchester. Glad to be back on their home courts at the Palisades Recreation Center after a week battling nationally-ranked programs, the Dolphins made short work of their Western League rivals, winning 7-0 and dropping only nine games in 14 sets in the straight-up City Section format. Oliver Thornton won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, Brett Alchorn won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles, Max Licona won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 and Robbie Bellamy won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4. Bellamy won easily despite an ailing shoulder that forced him to have to serve underhand the match. “I can’t serve normally but I still wanted to play,” he said. The Dolphins (12-5 overall, 5-0 in league) were almost as dominant in doubles. Spencer Pekar and Joseph Silvers won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1, Robert Silvers and Kyung Choi won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 and Jee Moon Woo and Myles Rodgers won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3. The Dolphins edged host Beverly Hills 10-8 in a intersectional round robin match last Tuesday in a rematch of their match the previous week at the National High School Invitational when Palisades won 6-2. The Normans were anxious to avenge their loss but Thornton won a crucial set in a tiebreaker, 7-3, to notch the clinching point. “That was a good win for us because the pressure was on in several sets and we came through,” Palisades Coach Bud Kling said. “It didn’t look good after the first round but by the end we had the lead in games even if it would’ve gone 9-9 [in sets].” Palisades players will try to keep their games sharp over Winter Break at this week’s Dudley Cup Junior Tournament in Santa Monica. The Dolphins wrap up Bay Area Classic competition April 13 against crosstown rival Santa Monica. “All of these matches against good teams will help us in the City playoffs,” Thornton said. “We’re the favorites for sure and we know we should win it again but we don’t want to underestimate any team.” Lacrosse Palisades’ varsity boys lost 3-2 to visiting Harvard-Westlake last Friday, despite 17 saves by goalie Turner Hanley. Warren Satz scored in the first quarter and Charles Black scored in the third quarter for the Dolphins (6-2 overall, 3-0 in City). On Friday, the girls’ varsity (6-2) blanked host Manual Arts 16-0 in its second game against a City opponent, having routed host L.A. Jordan 17-0 last Monday. Softball Hannah Fagerbakke went 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and five runs batted in as the Dolphins (4-6, 1-3) trounced Fairfax, 10-4, for their first Western League victory last Thursday at Stadium by the Sea. Fagerbakke improved her batting average to a team-high .600. Amber Flores had a hit and two runs batted in, Jenna Paul scored three runs and Reyna Zaragoza pitched a complete game, allowing nine hits with two strikeouts. Boys’ Volleyball Kene Izuchukwu had 15 kills, 11 digs and eight aces in last Wednesday’s 25-17, 25-11, 25-19 sweep over visiting Westchester, moving the Dolphins to 4-0 in Western League matches and a perfect 12 for 12 in sets. It was Palisades’ first best-of-five match since going 1-2-1 at the Dos Pueblos Invitational, where the Dolphins beat Saugus 2-0, lost to Agoura 2-0, tied Oxnard 1-1 and lost to Harvard-Westlake 2-0. The Dolphins traveled to Las Vegas for the Easter Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, taking on Chula Vista Otay Ranch and Woodland Hills Taft in their first two matches. Palisades hosts reigning league champ Venice next Monday. sports@palipost.com * * * * Garrett Nevels, a 6-3 senior wing, was one of 12 players named to the 2009-10 All-City boys’ basketball second team. As Palisades’ captain he led the Dolphins with 20.7 points per game. Donae Moguel, a 6-2 sophomore center, made the All-City girls’ basketball second team after averaging 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds for Palisades this season.