Racquet Ready

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Having won eight of the last nine City Section upper division crowns, the Palisades High girls tennis team begins the season as the favorite to keep its dynasty going. However, the Dolphins have to make up for the loss of four starters—including No. 1 player Iris Berman, winner of the Palisadian-Post Cup Award in the spring as the school’s outstanding senior athlete.    

“We’re a young team with lots of enthusiasm and spirit, the girls just need to mature and be taught,” said longtime Coach Bud Kling. “We play our usual tough schedule and hopefully that’ll prepare us for the playoffs.”

Topping the singles lineup will be Jade Finestone, who in April won the 18-and-under doubles division at a USTA Level 5 Open event in Anaheim and won her match at No. 2 singles in the Dolphins’ 5-2 victory over Granada Hills in the City finals last October.  Fellow senior Anaya Ayanbadejo and juniors Sofie Szeder and Yulia Klokova also figure to play singles, with freshman Anais Israels and Nicole Nguyen both challenging for one of the four slots.

Simone McClary and Becca Rosenblatt paired to prevail at the No. 3 position at City finals, highlight a doubles lineup complemented by Ella Engel, Anne Kelly and Camryn Rowles, a co-captain with Szeder.

Pushing the starters in practice will be senior Giselle Belafonte, junior Eva Engel, sophomores Dori Jamehdor, Emma Yoffe and Sashi Gancheva and freshmen Erika Tontti, Ella Portugali.

Reese Trepanier (who teamed with Berman to win the City Individual doubles title in the fall) moved to North Carolina and Marlena Dobrowolski (who reached the semifinals with Klokova) chose not to play for the team this season, but Palisades’ depth still surpasses most programs.

The Dolphins open the 2022 season today at West Ranch. The nonleague slate includes Marlborough, Marymount, Mira Costa, Santa Monica and Brentwood along with trips to the State Classic Invitational in San Diego and Sage Hill Classic in Newport Beach.