Tennis Rolls into Semifinals

Even without two of its best singles players, the Palisades High girls tennis team had little trouble against an all too familiar foe last Friday afternoon in the City Section quarterfinals at the Palisades Tennis Center.

The second-seeded Dolphins (13-2) beat Western League rival Venice 6-1 — their third victory over the Gondoliers this season, and moved one win away from their third consecutive finals appearance.

Sophomore Morgan Swan set the tone by breaking serve to open the match and cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 win against Gondoliers junior Jennifer Chew at the No. 1 singles spot. Freshman Abby Schleichkorn won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 and junior Honour Norman dropped only one game at No. 4 singles.

“I hadn’t played this girl before but I noticed her serves were short, so I tried attacking them,” said Norman, who fired four aces in one game and finished with over twice as many winners as unforced errors. “If there’s one shot I’ve improved most it’s my backhand. I think I’m the only one on the team with a one-handed backhand and I’ve practiced it so much that it’s effortless now.”

Seventh-seeded Venice (10-5) lost to Palisades by scores of 5-2 and 6-1 in the regular season and altered its lineup Friday in an attempt to steal some singles points. Miranda Robinson notched the Gondoliers’ only win at No. 3 singles but by then the outcome had long been decided.

Doubles has been one of the Dolphins’ strengths under Coach Sean Passan and this season is no different. Julie Takakjian and Maddy Prins did not lose a game at the No. 1 spot Friday and Katie Vincent and Elizabeth Belokonnyi lost only one at No. 2.

Vincent, who lives in the Highlands, is one of the team captains and enjoys playing doubles her senior season after three years of singles. The change also makes the Dolphins strong at every position.

“Doubles is way more fun and it’s really improved my game,” said Vincent, who became friends with Belokonnyi at a Pepperdine tennis camp over the summer. “It’s about angles and I’m better on volleys and overheads. We’re also both strong servers and that leads to a lot of quick points.”

Alexandra Kugler and Izzy Guterson were well on their way to a decisive win at No. 3 doubles when Kugler smacked a forehand volley and the ball struck Venice’s Aries McLaughlin in the forehead. She was unable to continue after receiving the 10-minute injury timeout on the changeover and the Gondoliers duo was forced to retire.

“We were up 5-0 in the first set and it’s unfortunate because that’s probably the best we’ve played together all season,” said Kugler, whom teammates call “Koogz” — a nickname given to her by doubles partner Caitlin Roshani when she was a freshman. “I didn’t mean to hit her but sometimes that can happen when both players are at the net. I feel terrible. It’s an unsatisfying way to win.”

The Dolphins hosted third-seeded Cleveland on Tuesday while defending champion and top-seeded Granada Hills hosted No. 4 Carson in the other semifinal. The winners meet for the title at 11 a.m. Friday at Balboa Sports Center in Encino.