Palisades Holds Taft at Bay, Wins 6th City Tennis Title in Row

Taft High might be gaining on Palisades in girls’ tennis, but the progress is painstakingly slow. Palisades defeated Taft, 5-2, at The Racquet Centre of Universal City on Tuesday to win its sixth consecutive City Section 4-A Division title.

The championship is Palisades’ 11th since City Section girls’ tennis began in 1975. The 10th also came at the expense of Taft, 6-1, in last year’s final.

“A lot of people said at the beginning of the year that this was the year to get Palisades,” said Palisades Coach Bud Kling, whose team featured only three returning starters. “But every player just worked real hard and improved. It’s funny, on the bus coming back home, I’m already thinking about next year.”

Karen Manson, Torrey Miller, Birdie Gessford and Sirsa Shekim won their respective singles matches for Palisades (18-1).

The Toreadors (15-2) earned both of their points in doubles.

Taft’s Pam Klosterman and Dawn Young defeated Anne Kwon and Yael Allswang, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. Stephanie Fontaine and Carrie Greenberg teamed to beat Palisades’ Courtney Lennard and Alice Bou, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).