Pali High Boys Volleyball Stays Tournament Tough

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The race for the No. 1 seed in the City Section boys volleyball playoffs is entering the home stretch—and Palisades Charter High School is still very much in the running.

The Dolphins reached the Elite Eight at the Chatsworth Invitational last Friday and Saturday and, more importantly, won all five of their matches against City opponents.

After sweeping City foes Mendez, Sylmar and South East to take first place its pool Friday, Palisades then downed both Calabasas and Harbor City Narbonne two sets to none to set up a meeting with surging Woodland Hills Taft on Saturday in a high noon showdown. The schools had clashed in pool play at the Venice Invitational on March 4 with the Dolphins prevailing, 25-19, 25-17.

This time, the teams split the first two sets, and the Toreadors built a 7-2 lead in the decisive third set. However, the Dolphins rallied to win 15-12 to clinch first place in the second round of pool play and earn a berth in the Gold Division as one of the 12 best teams.

The elimination phase began with a crossover match against Chino Hills, which had finished second in its pool Saturday morning. Palisades prevailed 25-21, 25-13 to advance to the quarterfinal round at Chatsworth High.

The Dolphins suffered only their third loss of the season, falling 25-20, 25-20 to Sanger of Fresno, the third-ranked team in the Central Section. Sanger would go on to capture the championship, ousting host Chatsworth, 25-20, 18-25, 15-9 in the final. The Apaches dropped two sets in nine matches over the two-day tournament that featured 48 teams.

La Jolla took the Silver Division title, Granada Hills Kennedy won the Bronze Division and Panorama City St. Genevieve won the Copper. Palisades setter Blake Pecsok made the All-Tournament team.

Palisades lost in the Gold Division semifinals to eventual champion Burbank Burroughs last season.

On Monday, April 17, Palisades beat University 26-24, 25-17, 25-27, 25-20 for the second time to all but wrap up first place in the Western League standings. The Dolphins are a lock to be among the eight teams selected for the City Open Division bracket.