Palisades High‘s girls volleyball team had one of the most spirited and competitive matches it is likely to play all season.
The Dolphins opponent? Well… the Dolphins.
In the end, Team White (coached by JV coach Laura Smith) defeated Team Blue (coached by varsity assistant Anthony Elizondo), 28-26, 25-16, 14-25, 25-19, but it was really about preparing Palisades for next week’s season opener at reigning City Section Division II champion Taft. Palisades fell to the Toreadors in five sets in last year’s opener.
“It was my idea,” junior libero Olivia Zelon said of Thursday’s intrasquad scrimmage, which was played under the watch of referee Bob McCarthy (a sanctioned CIF official) and Pali High teacher John Lissauer, who agreed to serve as the on-site administrator. “I thought it would be a fun way to kick things off. It’s easier playing your teammates because you know what they like to do. We needed one more hitter. Team Blue just didn’t execute.”
Zelon led Team Blue along with setter Delaney Arth and outside hitter Bella Edwards. Team White was led by opposite hitter Isabel Kelly, outside hitter Sadie Gray and setter Lucky Drageset.
“The coaches picked the teams and made them pretty even,” Kelly said. “We wanted it like a real match… we even had music between games. I didn’t find it hard to play them. We’re competitive even though we’re all on the same team.”
— Steve Galluzzo
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