Dolphins Net All-City Honors

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

For the second time in three seasons, the Palisades High girls volleyball team reached the Southern California Regional finals. The Dolphins found themselves facing Central Valley Christian in Visalia last Tuesday with a berth in the CIF Division III state championship match at stake. The same two schools met in the Division IV regional final on the same court in 2022 and the host Cavaliers prevailed in three sets. This year was practically a carbon copy as the Dolphins’ suffered a season-ending sweep, but they got to host three playoff contests, downing Oak Hills of Hesperia in four, El Capitan of San Diego in three and Porterville in three.    

A second-place finish in the Western League earned the Dolphins the No. 3 seed in the eight-team City Open Division bracket and after eliminating defending champion El Camino Real in the quarterfinals they fell to rival Venice in four sets in the semifinals Nov. 5 to finish with a 30-12 record.

In recognition of their stellar play throughout the season, four Dolphins have garnered All-City Open Division honors. Selected to the first team are middle blockers Hazel Irving (a senior) and Annie Refnes (a junior). Making the second team are junior outside hitter Tulah Block and junior libero Lucy Neilson. Irving, a co-captain this season along with Neilson, was a first team choice last year as well.

Taft edged Venice in five sets in an epic final Nov. 9 for its first Open Division crown and Toreadors pilot Arman Mercado has been chosen Coach of the Year. Sharing Player of the Year accolades are Taft setter Francine Baltazar-Shine and outside hitter Aleiah Carr. Two other Taft players, libero Gianella Tijamo and outside hitter Eva Velarde are on the first team and senior middle blocker Colette Ejang is a second team pick.

Venice has three girls on the first team: outside hitter Gaia Adeseun-Williams, libero Pauline Lao and setter Kaya Richards. Junior outside hitter Samantha Lortie is on the second team.

Palisades captured the last of its record 30 section titles in 2020.