Boys’ volleyball: Semifinal showdown could decide City champion

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Yes, I know it’s only the semifinals but tonight’s match between Palisades and Granada Hills might as well be for the City Section title. After all, these are the two highest seeds remaining in the 32-team tournament and the winner will be an overwhelming favorite against whichever team emerges from the upper half of the draw -- either No. 4 Sylmar or No. 9 El Camino Real.

Second-seeded Palisades got a scare from 18th-seeded Marshall in the second round before holding on to win the decisive game, then dispatched Taft in four games in the quarterfinals. The Dolphins are the only City team not to lose a best-of-five match this season and were the last team outside of the San Fernando Valley to win the City championship, beating Taft in 1998.

Third-seeded Granada Hills, meanwhile, enters tonight’s contest playing its best volleyball of the season. The two-time defending champion Highlanders have won 13 consecutive playoff matches and are the only one of the four remaining teams that hasn’t dropped a game in the playoffs. They also swept top-seeded Chatsworth on its home court in their West Valley League finale.

Palisades will be playing in its own gym in front of a home crowd, so you have to give the Dolphins a slight advantage. The Highlanders have postseason experience on their side but it remains to be seen whether they can cope with their opponents’ depth and athleticism. These teams are too good to be swept so conditioning could be a factor if the match extends to the maximum five games.

The first serve is about two hours from now and if you’re able to make the drive through rush-hour traffic to Pacific Palisades, you should be treated to an exciting contest between two evenly matched squads. Tonight’s winner advances to Saturday night’s final at 5 p.m. at Cal State Northridge.

-- Steve Galluzzo