Pali Spikers Back on the Brink

The decisive manner in which Palisades dispatched previously undefeated Van Nuys in the semifinals of the City volleyball playoffs Tuesday night left no doubt it was better. Now, the Dolphins need one more win to prove they are the best. Aided by 12 aces, top-seeded Palisades (16-1) survived a scare in the second game to serve the fifth-seeded Wolves off the court, 25-13, 26-24, 25-14, and earn its spot in Saturday’s final against #2 Granada Hills at 5 p.m. at Roybal Learning Center in Los Angeles. Granada Hills swept West Valley league rival Chatsworth, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17, in Tuesday’s other semifinal. Palisades defeated the Highlanders to win the City title in 2003, but that was then, this is now. “We beat Granada Hills in pool play at our tournament but they ended up coming back to win the whole thing,” Van Nuys Coach Dave Chae said. “Palisades is an excellent team too. It should be a great final. I won’t be surprised of it goes five.” Laura Goldsmith had 18 kills and Tait Johnson added 11 digs and three aces as the Dolphins overcame a 22-18 deficit to steal Game 2. “In the huddle we talked about not letting any calls get to us, not letting any mistakes get to us. Just play our game and we can come back,” Johnson said. Emily Cristiano’s crosscourt kill nudged Palisades in front, 25-24, and Goldsmith ended the game on the next point by smacking a winner down the line. So far, the Dolphins are making this title run almost as easy as last year’s when they reeled off 15 straight games en route to the championship. “Winning the first one was fun but it’s great the second time around too,” Johnson said. After easy wins in the first two rounds, Coach Chris Forrest expected a much tougher quarterfinal match. He was right. The Dolphins got all they could handle from Western League archrival Venice last Thursday but prevailed 25-16, 25-20, 19-25, 25-21. The ninth-seeded Gondos (12-4) became the first team to take a game off Palisades in the playoffs but their coach Allen Hunt predicted a Dolphins’ repeat: “Chris has a great team. The volleyball I.Q. of his girls is superior to everyone else in the City.” Junior Hannah Fagerbakke said it helped that the Dolphins were facing a familiar foe: “It’s an advantage knowing their strengths and weaknesses but I was both excited and nervous to play them. We needed to get huge leads and we dug too big a hole that cost us the third game.” Senior middle blocker Kelsey Keil made seven solo blocks, one of which gave Palisades the lead for good in Game 4. “We were a more experienced team last year but I think our passing and blocking are better this year.” Directions to Roybal LC: PCH south to 10 east. Merge onto 110 north. Take 101 north exit toward Hollywood/I-5/Santa Ana/I-10/San Bernardino. Take exit toward I-10/San Bernardino/I-5/Santa Ana, exit at Temple. Turn right onto Temple. Turn left onto Boylston. Boylston becomes Colton. School is at 1200 Colton Street.