City Section

Friday, Nov. 21
at Occidental College

CITY SECTION FINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Palisades d. Granada Hills, 25-19, 25-13, 18-25, 25-19
Two years ago, Palisades High won the first two games of the City Section girls’ volleyball finals, only to lose the last three to Van Nuys.

This time, the Dolphins didn’t let the opponent off the hook, finishing off Granada Hills, 25-19, 25-13, 18-25, 25-19, to win their 22nd City title--and first since 1999--since the sport was sanctioned in 1973.

Allison Houpt led third-seeded Palisades (16-1) with 13 kills, while Anne Marie Barrette and Natasha Vokhshoori each added six.

“We just tried to play our game, play it smart and make the right adjustments,” said Palisades setter Diana Grubb, who finished with 28 assists, three kills and two aces. “After losing the third game, we got fired up. We knew it wasn’t going to come easy.”

Under the new rally scoring format, Houpt used two six-point serving runs to give the Dolphins a commanding lead, and they eventually one on a lift call against Highlander Stephanie Takamatsu. Another lift call on Lana Wilhelm gave Palisades a two-game advantage.

Kelley Kaplan led the fourth-seeded Highlanders (15-2) with 16 kills, three aces and two blocks. Wilhelm added eight kills for Granada Hills, which took a 13-6 lead en route to winning the third game.

“In the first two games, they beat us on tipping,” Kaplan said. “It wasn’t so much on hitting. We didn’t really pass well enough to win. That was a major problem on our part.”

Stephanie Vaughan used crisp cross-court serves to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 12-5 lead in the fourth game for Palisades. And Palisades never looked back.

“One thing I learned from two years ago is to never give up,’’ said Palisades senior defensive specialist Tracy Takemura, who had 22 digs and two aces. No matter how far ahead you get you have to keep playing hard. I’ve been wanting this for two years.”
--Steve Galluzzo

INVITATIONAL DIVISION

Verdugo Hills d. Chatsworth, 25-19, 26-24, 25-22

Tuesday, Nov. 18

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS

Semifinals

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Palisades d. Taft, 27-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-15
Anne Marie Barrette had 11 kills and Allison Houpt added eight kills to lead visiting third-seeded Palisades (15-1). Danielle Fernandes paced second-seeded Taft (14-2) with 18 kills and five blocks and Michelle Byrd added 15 kills.

INVITATIONAL DIVISION

Chatsworth d. Valley Alternative, 25-13, 25-17, 25-15
Lauren Durell had nine kills and Jackie Tomas added 27 assists to lead top-seeded Chatsworth (8-8) against visiting Valley Alternative (12-2).

Verdugo Hills d. Reseda, 25-18, 25-21, 21-25, 25-4
Gina Pinon had seven kills and eight digs and Bianca Larranaga had 32 assists for host Verdugo Hills (13-3).