Photo: Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Aware that the playoffs are fast approaching, the Palisades High girls tennis team prepared for that challenge by traveling to Newport Coast on Sept. 27 and 28 to participate in the annual Lightning Classic. Not only did the Dolphins take first place, they broke the tournament record for points, racking up a total of 236 in singles and doubles to beat host Sage Hill (183), Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas (146) and Redlands (128). In singles, freshman Emery June Martin went 3-0 but was unable to play in the final, settling for second place, while Ella Engel took third and fellow junior Anais Israels tied for fifth. Juniors Nicole Nguyen and Anne Kelly took first place in doubles.
The Dolphins continue to roll through the Western League undefeated and last Friday they traveled east on Sunset Blvd. for an intersectional match against Brentwood and suffered their first loss since a 12-6 defeat at Mira Costa on Sept. 10.
Engel, Israels, sophomore Maya Goldenson and freshman Misha Heindel played singles while Kelly, fellow seniors Sashi Goncheva, Reese Trepanier and Dori Jamehdor, junior Alexandra Dahlberg, sophomore Penelope Michal and freshmen Charlie Roberts and Remy Trepanier all played doubles.
Palisades wraps up the regular season with four league matches against Hamilton, University, Fairfax and Westchester before competing in the four-team City Open Division playoffs, which start Oct. 28. The Dolphins want to regain the title they lost last fall to Granada Hills.
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