HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL CITY FINALS : Venice Fashions a Win Over Van Nuys on Prom Night

John Tripp, along with the 10 other seniors on the Venice High volleyball team, were a little late to their prom after making a detour to Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday night.

However, there were no complaints for the delay from Tripp and his teammates as Venice defeated Van Nuys, 15-9, 15-13, 17-15, in the City Section 3-A volleyball championship.

“(The prom) has already started, but the limosines are waiting outside and we have our tuxedos with us,” said Tripp, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter who had a match-high 26 kills, including 13 in the third game.

“We had to come here first, but we’re now we’re ready to go to the prom and have a great time.”

Ian Fawcett added 20 kills and Wayne Takeda had 12 kills and 33 assists for Venice.

It was the first title for Venice (15-2), which lost in the semifinals last season and in the first round in 1989. Van Nuys, the Valley Pac-8 Conference runner-up, is 12-5.

The Gondoliers did not lose a game in the playoffs and outscored opponents, 135-37, in three matches leading to the championship.

“I think it was kind of overwhelming for them to play on prom night,” Venice Coach Myra Einberg said. “I think that was on their minds and it was hard for them to keep a focus.”

Venice came from behind in all three games.

A familiar trend for Palisades continued in the 4-A final as the Dolphins won their eighth title in 17 seasons, defeating Granada Hills, 15-12, 15-3, 16-18, 15-13.

Palisades has advanced to the championship match 12 times since 1974.

Morgan Chapman and Erik Pichel led top-seeded Palisades (17-1) with 17 and 15 kills. Danny Asaoka had a match-high 24 kills and Josh Henderson had 49 assists for third-seeded Granada Hills (15-2).

Seemingly beaten in the third game, Granada Hills rallied from a 9-2 deficit. The Highlanders closed to 14-9 and proceeded to withstand five match points to force a fourth game.