Palisades' McCallister named City player of year

Jenna McCallister, a senior setter for City champion Palisades, has been named girls' volleyball player of the year in the City Section.

Joining McCallister on the All-City first team are fellow Dolphins Teal and Tait Johnson, Alex Lunder and Laura Goldsmith; Sara and Katie McCabe of runner-up Venice; Samantha Potter of Taft; Chelsea Umana of Grant; Shannon Miller of San Pedro; Gennifer Brandon of Chatsworth; Michelle Venegas of Wilson; Kristiana Tuaniaga of Carson, Monique Powell of Birmingham and Ashley Streid of Granada Hills.

Palisades' Chris Forrest was named coach of the year in his first season after guiding the Dolphins to a 25-9 record and their first City title since 2003.

Second team selections were Fallon Shan of Taft; Kimberly Davis and Danielle Mestas of Venice; Ana Maricic and Marissa Bubica of San Pedro; Carmen Rodriquez and Guadalupe Arizon of Sylmar; Sinead Palmer of Birmingham; Min Oh of Van Nuys; Gracie Shedd of Granada Hills; Aliyah Hayes of Grant; Vicky Delgado of Eagle Rock, Abigail Villena of Carson and Alejandra De La Rosa of Bell.

Junior Brenda Salas of Elizabeth was named player of the year in the Small Schools Division and Bulldogs Coach Elias Gomez was named coach of the year. Rounding out the Small Schools All-City squad are Amber Fuentes, Jeanette Melendez and Jessica Salas of Elizabeth; Kashelle Wilkerson of Annenberg Prep; Samantha Seals and Nicole Nakhshekarian of Northridge Academy; Sara Kitpetnee of Valley Alternative; Guadalupe Garcia of Foshay Learning Center; and Denise Madrid of Maywood Academy.

-- Steve Galluzzo, guest blogger