Birmingham Girls to Face a Formidable Tennis Foe

Emblazoned on the powder blue uniforms are navy blue tennis balls that list the number of championships it has won. The Palisades High girls tennis team has the unmistakable look of a champion.

Palisades has won eight 4-A titles in 15 years, including the past three in a row.

And that is unsettling to Birmingham, which faces Palisades today at 2 p.m. in a City Section 4-A semifinal match at Universal City Racquet Center.

“Those shirts knock the wind out of you,” Birmingham Coach Irene Sipantzi said. “I think there are only two spots missing where they didn’t win the championship.”

Said Palisades Coach Bud Kling: “We don’t wear them for intimidation purposes. We wear them because we’re proud.”

Birmingham (8-2), which finished second in the West Valley League, is making its first appearance in the semifinals since 1979. The Braves edged Kennedy, 4-3, in a quarterfinal match.

Palisades (10-0) won the West City League and shut out North Hollywood, 7-0, in a quarterfinal match.

The Dolphins’ top player, Heather Willens, ranks in the top 10 nationally among girls 16 years and under. Birmingham’s top singles player is Amy Ruinroit.

“It would take a big, big upset,” Sipantzi said. “Our girls are very spirited. All we can do is play the best we can.”

In the other semifinal match, Granada Hills, last year’s runner-up, plays Hamilton.

Granada Hills is led by No. 1 singles player Alisha Portnoy, who ranks in the top 20 nationally among girls 16 and under.