Highlander Duo Wins City Title

Shannon Slotnick and Caryn Linder of Granada Hills High completed a season of domination by defeating No. 2-seeded Jennifer Lin and Setarah Safii of Palisades, 6-2, 6-0, to win the City Section doubles championship Monday at the Warner Center Tennis Club.

The Highlanders’ junior tandem finished the season 25-0 in matches and 44-1 in sets.

“Not only is she my really good friend, she’s also a really good player,” Linder said of Slotnick. “It’s been an honor to play with her.”

The victory was especially gratifying for Slotnick, who lost in the final with another partner last season.

“I can’t ask for more than winning the [City] team title and now this,” Slotnick said.

Slotnick and Linder, seeded No. 1 in the 32-team draw, lost only 12 games in five matches. Both players will return next season to defend their title.

“We know each other’s shots, we know where we’re going to hit the ball,” Linder said. “It’s almost like we can reach each other’s mind. I was expecting this match to be a lot closer.”

A far more competitive match was the battle for third place between Granada Hills’ other two doubles team. No. 7-seeded Andrea Blieden and Jennifer Steinberg upset No. 6 Michal Zeituni and Robin Meselson, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-1.

In a rematch of their meeting in the City team finals, Jasmin Dao of Granada Hills again lost to Carson’s Judith De Vera, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1, in the third-place singles match.

Top-seeded Jessica Roland of Hollywood repeated as the City singles champion with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over No. 2 Yelena Olshanskaya of Fairfax.