HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Palisades Blunts Chatsworth’s Rally in Semifinals

6Chatsworth High’s rally from a two-game deficit came up short in a City Section 4-A Division semifinal volleyball match against host Palisades on Tuesday.

Top-seeded Palisades held on to post a 15-8, 15-4, 15-17, 10-15, 15-13 victory.

Fourth-seeded Chatsworth (10-5), which had made eight consecutive appearances in the 4-A final from 1983-90, gained momentum in the middle of the two-hour-plus match as its passing and serving improved. In the final game, Chatsworth led, 11-10, fell behind, 14-12, and finally lost, 15-13.

Gene Urcan led Chatsworth with 38 kills and 13 blocks. Setter Dan Choi had 70 assists and John Tuttle added 12 blocks.

In other City Section matches:

Van Nuys d. Grant, 15-17, 15-2, 15-12, 15-9--Brad Schultz had 33 kills and nine blocks and Igor Frayman added 13 kills and five blocks for Van Nuys (12-4) in a 3-A Division semifinal match at Grant.

Setter Manny Blachos had 42 assists and two blocks for the Wolves, who will meet Venice in the final Friday at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Venice d. Verdugo Hills, 15-7, 15-4, 15-7--The Gondoliers swept last year’s 3-A runner-up to advance to the title match against Van Nuys.

SOUTHERN SECTION

Royal d. Hart, 15-5, 15-3, 15-3--Royal had little trouble with visiting Hart in the second round of the 3-A Division tournament.

Kevin Hambly led Marmonte League champion Royal (17-1) with 10 kills and six stuff blocks, and setter Travis Ferguson had 31 assists and 11 service points.

Unseeded Hart (9-7) finished second in the Golden League.

Glendale d. Edison, 15-9, 15-8, 15-11--Unseeded Glendale (14-4) stunned fourth-seeded Edison (12-4) in a second-round 4-A match at Glendale. Paul Severns had 14 kills to lead Glendale.

Harvard d. Long Beach Wilson, 15-5, 15-6, 16-14--Eric Wells had 17 kills for Harvard (14-2) in a second-round 3-A match in Long Beach.

Long Beach Poly d. Crespi, 15-9, 11-15, 15-10, 15-7--Tom Black had 20 kills for Crespi (13-3) in a second-round 3-A match in Long Beach.