The depth is at all times excessive when Palisades and Venice meet on the volleyball court docket. This time, nevertheless, there was extra than simply neighborhood bragging rights at stake.
Within the fifth assembly this season between the Western League rivals, the second-seeded Dolphins introduced their ‘A’ recreation and received the Metropolis Part Open Division ladies’ championship with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 victory Friday evening at Southwest School.
It was the report thirty first part crown for Palisades (35-7), which had received its final title (all however two of which have been within the high division) 4 years in the past when the 2020 fall season was delayed till the next spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tulah Block’s seventh and remaining kill on match level despatched her teammates pouring off the bench to hug one another.
“Going up for that kill I just knew I had to do it for the team,” Block mentioned. “I’m so proud of the whole team especially with everything we went through and are still going through after the fire and not having a gym. We even had to go the beach to practice one day.”
Palisades’ Anabelle Redaelli, proper, tries to spike over Venice blockers Aubrey Pope, left, and Kaya Richards throughout Palisades’ Division II title win Friday evening.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
The West Valley League has dominated ladies’ volleyball during the last decade, however Palisades and Venice every vanquished two West Valley League opponents to achieve the ultimate. The Dolphins ousted Granada Hills and defending Open champion Taft whereas the top-seeded Gondoliers eradicated Chatsworth and El Camino Actual.
Venice (32-11) received Division II in 2012, Division I in 2016 and the Open Division in 2021. The final time a West Valley League faculty failed to achieve the Open Division remaining was 2019 when Eagle Rock beat Palisades in 4 units.
Venice was swept within the staff’s first league assembly on Aug. 28 however rebounded to take the rematch in 5 units on Sept. 25 and in the end took first place due to the Dolphins’ stunning five-set loss to College. The groups additionally met twice in tournaments, Venice profitable each instances in a best-of-three units format.
“Our slogan all year was ’no gym, no problem,” Palisades senior libero Lucy Neilson mentioned. “Today we came with a ‘leave it all out there’ mentality.”
Palisades rallied from a 19-16 deficit to win the primary set on a kill by Block that Venice’s Samantha Lortie dove for in desperation however couldn’t fairly dig. Venice’s final stand got here within the third set when it constructed a 13-7 lead however Palisades answered with a 14-point run on the serving of Phoebe Messiha.
Lortie, who teamed with Savannah Rozell to win the Metropolis pairs event on April 29 in Santa Monica and three days later led the Gondoliers to their first seashore volleyball title, traded kills with Palisades’ Anabelle Redaelli, who completed with a match-high 13. Lortie had 11 and Gaia Adeseun-Williams added eight for the Gondoliers.
“Winning it this season is special given the obvious circumstances and it had to be against Venice,” Neilson added. “It’s important for our program because we hadn’t won it in a few years and that’s our goal every year.”
Legacy gamers rejoice after profitable the Metropolis Part Division V ladies’ volleyball championship at Southwest School on Nov. 7, 2025.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
Within the previous Division V remaining, fifth-seeded Legacy swept No. 11 Sotomayor, 25-20, 25-18, 25-12. Each groups had been looking for their first Metropolis title. Legacy improved to 10-15 whereas Sotomayor dropped to 12-12.
“We’re here because we pushed for it,” Tigers libero Yahaira Ramirez mentioned. “Not all teams are going to have a 100 percent win streak. I love my position. I love to stand out. I save my team a lot of points.”
