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Prep Notebook: PV tennis team has eyes on final

The Palos Verdes boys tennis team is swinging to reach its first CIF Southern Section final since the school reopened in 2002, and has a good shot to do so.

Bay League champion Palos Verdes beat No. 8 Brentwood 10-8 in the Division I quarterfinals on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2006, when it lost to Viewpoint in the Division IV semifinals.

Second-seeded Palos Verdes (17-0) hosts No. 6 Harvard-Westlake in the semifinals today. Harvard-Westlake surprised No. 3 Corona del Mar 10-8 in the quarterfinals.

Palos Verdes already owns an 11-7 victory over Harvard-Westlake earlier this season at Palos Verdes.

"I think both teams are playing better tennis now," Palos Verdes coach Danny Moscovici said. "And it's nice to play at home after two playoff matches on the road."

Palos Verdes has had great success with seniors Jeffrey Hawke and Erik Lim and freshman Bay League singles champion Jake Douglas in its singles lineup. But there's always a chance one of them could be switched to doubles in the semifinals.

Palos Verdes' doubles play has improved greatly since the beginning of the season, with players like Brett Landon, Dylan Holt, Chase Ruth, Tony Dellovade, Elliot Solandt and Danny Miller giving the Sea Kings a boost.

"I feel like Harvard-Westlake has solid singles and doubles; they are pretty spread out," Moscovici said. "They are solid across the board. They might drop one of their singles into doubles to try to pick up more points in doubles. But basically our singles players have to step up and play well.

"Our three doubles teams have played very well late in the season to get us big wins against Corona del Mar and and Peninsula and have played well into the playoffs. I hope they continue that."

With a win, Palos Verdes most likely would face No. 1 University in the final on Wednesday, June 1 at noon at the Claremont Club in Claremont. University plays No. 5 Woodbridge in the other semifinal.

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Black Gay Men ’s Blog Contributor and Author Rafael Solece discusses acceptance: and over coming the hurtfulness that comes with not being accepted by his family. The Journey wasn’t an easy one, but he was able to find his way. But the questions remain: why do black gay men fight so hard to be accepted by their family and friends? Why is it so hard for the black families to accept their gay children? And why do black gay men feel the need to search for their approval? Is it possible for a black gay man to be truly content with himself despite being shunned by the people whose blood flows through his veins? I like to think that I am a strong, motivated, and self-sufficient individual; who doesn’t thrive on the approval of others. After all I’ve made my own way in the world. I have been working since I was sixteen years old, have several degrees, own my own business, and am a self-published author; and I did it all on my own. I paid my own way through college working a 128 hour work week while supporting a partner, and putting in overtime at night to finish my first book. All that and I am only twenty-eight years old. I honestly beam when I think of what I will accomplish by my thirtieth birthday.  One would think that with all that I have accomplished that I would be the shining jewel in my family’s eyes. After all, none of my siblings/cousins/peers have elevated themselves to the level of success that I’ve managed to garner; or even bother to strive for the same success that I do. In fact, they live quite menial lifestyles, and while it sounds a lot like I am bragging, stick with me because I am trying to make a point. The point is, that between my brother and my six first cousins, I am the only one who has completed college and conquered two careers. On top of that neither my brother nor I have any children (out of wedlock), are in jail, or are facing criminal charges.