Gold Standard

Pali High Volleyball Gets Better of League Rival to Win Venice Invitational

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Whenever Palisades and Venice meet on the volleyball court, stakes are raised a little higher. For a second straight weekend, the archrivals  faced off in a tournament and, once again, the Dolphins prevailed—this time inside the Gondoliers’ new gymnasium—to capture the Gold Division championship at the Venice Invitational for the fourth time in seven years.   

Yes, it was a statement to the rest of the City that if we play well we can beat anyone, but there’s a long way to go between now and the playoffs,”

Pali High Coach Carlos Gray said. “If anything, this gives Venice added motivation to beat us.”

Seven days earlier Palisades edged Venice in three sets in the semifinals of the Chatsworth Invitational in their first meeting since the Gondoliers snapped Palisades’ streak of 130 consecutive league victories last October on their way to winning the Open Division title. This time, the Dolphins prevailed in straight sets, 25-20, 25-14, after needing three sets to avenge their loss to Chatsworth in pool play one week before.

West Valley League schools Taft and Granada Hills were considered the preseason favorites with most of their starters returning, but Granada Hills typically avoids City tournaments and Taft fell to Venice at the Chatsworth Invitational, meaning the reigning Western League co-champs could end up in the No. 1 and 2 spots when brackets are released in November. On the first day of round robin action Friday, Palisades swept Le Lycee, Los Angeles and Malibu. On Saturday morning, it swept Banning, University’s JV and Kennedy. While Palisades was taking care of business on the Westside, Taft was 30 miles east winning the Gabrielino Fall Classic.

The most difficult decision Gray had to make all day had nothing to do with strategy or substitutions but rather who to name Most Valuable Player. Several girls were deserving but he ultimately decided on libero Erin Hogan for her clutch digs and well-placed jump serves.     

Though the victory was satisfying Gray noted league standings, not tournaments, determine playoff seeding, so he warned the Dolphins to turn the page quickly and focus on Tuesday’s first three-out-of five sets encounter with the Gondoliers.

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