With Nemesis Out of Way, Granada Hills Has Its Chance

Granada Hills High will be in hot pursuit of its dream today when it plays for the City Section girls’ tennis championship.

After spending the last few years trying to get past Palisades, the Highlanders will play Carson (15-0) for the City Championship at 12:30 p.m. at Warner Center Tennis Club in Woodland Hills.

Granada Hills lost to Palisades in the City Championship title match last season and lost in the semifinals the previous four seasons--to Hamilton in 1997 and ’96 and Palisades in ’95 and ’94.

But third-seeded Carson defeated Palisades, 4-3, in the semifinals.

When Palisades defeated Granada Hills, 4-3, last season in the City Championship final, the Dolphins earned their third consecutive and 12th title in 15 consecutive finals.

“This is a real golden opportunity,” Coach Ron Wood of Granada Hills said. “We would sure like to have it be our year.

“We’ve stood on the second-place side a number of times, so we would certainly like to take home a title this time.”

The top-seeded Highlanders (15-0) have rolled through this season with an experienced and balanced lineup.

“I definitely think we’re going to live up to our seeding,” said junior Caryn Linder, who has teamed with Shannon Slotnick for a 15-0 record at No. 1 doubles. “We’re very strong from our No. 1 singles through No. 3 doubles.”

Opponents have found that out the hard way.

The Highlanders have won every match, 7-0, against City Section competition except for a 6-1 victory over Van Nuys in a nonleague match when Diana Friedland defeated Jasmin Dao, Granada Hills’ No. 1 player.

The Highlanders have won 840 games against City teams this season and lost 84.

“It’s all about teamwork,” said senior Kelley Takeshita, Granada Hills’ No. 2 player. “The whole lineup’s strong throughout.

“It’s not completely depending on the singles or the doubles. Everyone contributes.”

Dao has a 14-1 record in individual matches this season, and every other singles player and doubles team has a 15-0 record.

Granada Hills has benefited from the experience of seven returning players and the talent of freshmen Yuka Otaka and Tracey Takeshita and sophomore Robin Meselson.

Otaka plays No. 3 singles, Takeshita is at No. 4 and Meselson, a former junior varsity player, has teamed with senior Michal Zeituni at No. 2 doubles.

Junior Andrea Blieden and senior Jennifer Steinberg play No. 3 doubles.

“We only have to do what we’ve been doing,” Wood said. “I think we’re a tad stronger than we were last year.”

*

Van Nuys High has made a successful run through the City Invitational playoffs, advancing to the final today against Fairfax, also at 12:30 p.m. at the Warner Center.

Fourth-seeded Van Nuys knocked off top-seeded Venice, 4-3, on Monday to advance to the final against second-seeded Fairfax, which was a City Championship semifinalist last year like Van Nuys.

The Wolves (11-4) have advanced thanks to the play of Friedland, their No. 1 player and the No. 15 player in Southern California in the U.S. Tennis Assn.’s girls’ 16 division.

“We were much stronger last season,” Coach Randy Chew of Van Nuys said. “But I always believed the team could do well.

“I thought we could beat Venice if we did play well, and we did. It was a huge win for us.”

Jane Han completed a singles sweep by Van Nuys with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Judy Choi at No. 4 singles.

The No. 1 doubles team of Marsha Kadze and Pal Suthipinijtham is 9-6 and the No. 2 team of Christina Chiu and Fontip Seeboonruang is at 10-5. Yury Park and Janice Chang are 5-3.

“Our other players, they’ve definitely improved,” said Friedland. “And we’re winning the close matches more now.

“Honestly, I didn’t think we’d do that well at all. I didn’t even think we would get to the playoffs, so this is really exciting.”