Pali High Tennis Matches Mira Costa

It has been four years since Palisades High won the City Section girls tennis title -- and that is an eternity for a program as steeped in tradition as the Dolphins. 

However, with most of his starters returning and several promising newcomers added to the mix, Coach Sean Passan is confident this season will end with a championship.

"We're going for it all this year," said Passan, an assistant to longtime coach Bud Kling when the Dolphins won the last of their 20 City crowns in 2007. "We're not only going after a City title, we want to qualify as many players as possible for the Individual tournament."

The Dolphins are off to an impressive start. After crushing Marymount 6-1 in a practice match on Sept. 6 they opened the season last Thursday in Manhattan Beach against CIF Southern Section powerhouse Mira Costa and, after three hours of scintillating tennis, the result was a draw.

Palisades thought it had won on total games after the teams tied 9-9 in sets, but a recount revealed that the game score was 77-77. Had it been a playoff match, tiebreakers would've been played to decide the winner, but Passan and Mustangs Coach Joe Ciasulli mutually agreed to call it even.

"I didn't want to look at the scores during the match, but this is by far the best we've done against them since I've been here," Passan said. "They beat us 17-1 two years ago and 13-5 last year, so it shows how much better we are."

The Mustangs' top player, junior Maegan Manasse, played only one set before being subbed out. Ranked in the top 10 in California in her age group, Manasse had the best season in school history last year, going 68-1 in singles and making it all the way to the CIF semifinals.

“As Maegan goes, we go,” Ciasulli said of his top player. “When she plays, we're very tough to beat because you can almost guarantee that she'll get three points.”

While the Dolphins don't have a player of Manasse's caliber, what they do have is depth--and it was on display in Thursday's match. Passan jumbled his lineup for the round robin format, moving singles player Perri Zaret to doubles with freshman Jesse Zand and playing another freshman, Diana Silvers, at No. 1 singles.

Silvers, from Paul Revere Middle School, has two brothers (Robert and Joe) on Palisades' boys team and their sister Elizabeth (Class of 2010) also played for the Dolphins.

Senior Jessie Corneli, who has been either No. 1 or No. 2 singles the last two seasons, played No. 3 against the Mustangs and won two of her three sets.

"We have some new girls who are very good and overall I think we're a stronger team," said Corneli, a four-year varsity starter who made second team All-City last year and won the Sportsmanship Award at the Individual tournament. "We've come close the last two years and this is my last chance, so I'm hopeful we'll win [the City title] this time."

Katie Vincent, who excelled at No. 4 singles as a freshman last fall, played in the No. 2 spot against Mira Costa, beating No. 3 player Taylor Klein.

"We don't have an all-star like them, but we've got a well-rounded team," said Passan, who booked a 37-13 record in his first three seasons. "I'm glad the girls showed faith in a lineup that was probably uncomfortable for some of them. I still haven't solidified certain positions. I'm still experimenting." 

Sophomore Julie Takakjian teamed with junior Katie Pfannkuche to sweep at No. 1 doubles. Emily Wettleson, who captained the junior varsity two years ago and paired with Takakjian last season, played No. 3 doubles Thursday with Melody Wilkenfeld.

Two sets, one in singles and one in doubles, went to tiebreakers and had Palisades won either set it would've won the match 10-8.

Since taking the reins from Kling in 2008, Passan has piloted Palisades into the playoffs three straight times--including back-to-back semifinal appearances--and the roster this season is the best he's had from top to bottom.

The Dolphins lost top singles player Samantha Kogan to graduation along with doubles partners Katie Takakjian (Julie's older sister) and Charlotte Farrant, who were undefeated in team competition two years in a row.

"We have an influx of talent at the singles position, which will make it harder to decide who to play and where because there's only so many spots," Passan said. "I'll try to factor in a lot of things while following my instincts as a coach. I reward seniority, but I also reward success."

Having passed their early-season litmus test, the Dolphins can now focus on defending the Western League title, starting Wednesday against Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, which returns last year's City Individual singles runner-up Yvonne Likomanova.

MATCH SUMMARY

Palisades 9, Mira Costa 9 (tied 77-77 in games)

SINGLES

(1) Diana Silvers, Palisades, lost to Maegan Manasse, 6-0; lost to Hanna McGuire, 6-2; d. Taylor Klein, 6-0.

(2) Katie Vincent, Palisades, d. Klein, 6-2; lost to McGuire, 6-1; lost to Sidney Ascher, 7-6 (2).

(3) Jessie Corneli, Palisades, d. Ascher, 6-3; lost to McGuire, 6-1; d. Klein, 6-4.

DOUBLES

(1) Julie Takakjian-Katie Pfannkuche, Palisades, d. Carly McGuire-Mai Nojima, 6-4; d. Alex Waller-Juliana Hoft, 6-4; d. Erin Murphy-Lauren Watts, 6-3.

(2) Jesse Zand-Perri Zaret, Palisades, d. McGuire-Nojima, 6-1; d. Waller-Hoft, 6-0; lost to Claudia Fellows-Jill Sternthal, 6-3.

(3) Emily Wettleson-Melody Wilkenfeld, Palisades, lost to McGuire-Nojima, 7-6 (1); lost to Waller-Hoft, 6-1; lost to Murphy-Watts, 6-3.

Records: Palisades 0-0-1; Mira Costa 3-1-1.

2011 PALIHI GIRLS TENNIS SCHEDULE

Thursday, Sept. 15 -- at Mira Costa (Palisades 9, Mira Costa 9)

Wednesday, Sept. 21 -- vs. LACES (at Pali Rec Center), 2:30 p.m.*

Thursday, Sept. 22 -- at Beverly Hills, 3:15 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 26 -- vs. Venice (at Pali Rec Center), 2:30 p.m.*

Wednesday, Sept. 28 -- at Hamilton, 2:30 p.m.*

Friday, Sept. 30 -- vs. Fairfax (at Pali Rec Center), 2:30 p.m.* 

Monday, Oct. 3 -- vs. University (at Pali Rec Center), 2:30 p.m.*

Wednesday, Oct. 5 -- at Fairfax, 2:30 pm.* 

Friday, Oct. 7 -- vs. Westchester (at Pali Rec Center), 2:30 p.m.*

Wednesday, Oct. 12 -- at LACES, 2:30 p.m.*

Friday, Oct. 14 -- at Westchester, 2:30 p.m.*

Monday, Oct. 17 -- at Venice, 2:30 p.m.*

Wednesday, Oct. 19 -- vs. Hamilton (at Pali Rec Center), 2:30 p.m.*

Friday, Oct. 21 -- at University, 2:30 p.m.*

* Western League match