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Slow Starts Plaguing River Ridge

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A Tribune staff report

Published: November 1, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - It was slow-going for the first portion of River Ridge's bid to advance in the playoffs.

Before collecting a 25-23, 25-13, 25-18 victory against Armwood, River Ridge showed signs of a labored pace, which has hampered the squad the past few matches.

Even so, the squad has battled through the slow start to collect victories. The next test comes Nov. 6 when River Ridge (23-5) hosts Class 5A-District 8 winner Brandon (20-3), a 20-25, 25-28, 25-21, 10-25, 15-11 winner against Land O' Lakes.

'We haven't played great the last few matches, so we need to pick up our intensity in practice, the focus of the girls in general,' River Ridge coach Heidi Castelamare said.

In Game 1, the Hawks (13-4) mounted a 7-1 advantage, forcing a Royal Knights timeout. Out of the break, the squad went on a 8-3 run, tying the game at 10.

After scoring a sideout on a free ball by Alex Laton, River Ridge was induced into another mental mistake when a pass fell to the floor before being put over the net, which netted a second Royal Knights timeout.

Prior to taking control of the game, River Ridge tallied six hitting errors before evening Game 1 at 21. From that point on, play picked up.

Game 2 was never close as River Ridge bolted ahead 13-4. The problems with the serve and serve receive evaporated and defense picked up as well.

'I think it was mostly we came in a little nervous,' River Ridge setter Kelly Hughes said. 'We started out slow and it might have been because we really didn't know this team. It's a team we've never seen before.'

Solid serving by Lauren Sansonetti, Brooke Castelamare and Emily Lehman earned the victory in Game 2. Lehman served out the game and the final five points.

Game 3 was much closer and featured three lead changes. No one had more than a 3-point advantage until River Ridge went ahead 22-17.
Brittney Frey led the squad in blocks (6), while Brooke Castelamare and Leah Mitchell led in kills with seven each. Castelamare also collected 16 digs, followed by Emily Lehman's 15.

'They're a good team,' Armwood coach Mike Wyatt said. 'They scrapped, they covered everything we hit and then we started pressing a little bit and didn't hit like we did at the beginning. We were nice and loose at the beginning and played loose and when we tightened up, it hurt us a little.'

Eddie Daniels

Gators Can't Pull Off Win Against Brandon

BRANDON - It was bittersweet way to end the season as Land O' Lakes came up short in the 5A region quarterfinal match against Brandon on Tuesday night. The visiting Gators put up a valiant fight but couldn't quite pull off the win, losing 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 10-25, 15-11.

Land O' Lakes had to claw back into the first game, but managed to overtake the Eagles with a 8-0 run to end the game.

Brandon soared back in the next two games, and had a 2-1 advantage before the Gators evened things up in the fourth game, capitalizing on almost every mistake the Eagles made.

Land O' Lakes couldn't sustain any kind of run in the fifth and final game and was eliminated by the Eagles.

'I just let them know that this team had done something that hasn't happened in Land O' Lakes in over 10 to 15 years, and that they should be proud of themselves,' LOL coach Michelle Griffin said. 'And I told them I was proud of them, getting as far as they have, and working as hard as they have. These girls deserve everything in the world, and it didn't happen tonight.'

The team as a unit was also very easy to coach, according to Griffin, and they showed a lot of ambition throughout the season, which enabled the Gators to get as far as they did in the playoffs.

'I would say these girls are nothing but heart,' Griffin said. 'That's what makes (the loss) so sad, because you have this great group of girls that aren't just athletes, they're well rounded young ladies, and you basically just want what's best for them.'

'They're dedicated, they work hard. We've we got girls that play all the time in the off season. They work for days like this, moments like this'.

One of those girls is senior Kayli Keough, who leads the team in kills (212), kills per game (3.1), hitting percentage (.305), and has been a major reason the Gators have been so successful this season.

'(Kayli) is definitely the heart of the team,' Griffin said. 'She's one of those players, where it doesn't matter what sport, she's always going to have a positive attitude.'

'Our senior class has been so great, all of us have been together for so long,' Keough said. 'It sucks to lose, but looking back, it was definitely our best season by far.'

Senior players include middle hitter Danielle Priest, who, according to Griffin, is one of the smartest players on the team, outside hitter Jessica Bryant, Bianca Basulto, Kristina Moehle, Lauren More
, and middle hitter Kayla Blackport.

'We're a big group of seniors that really care about the game,' Keough said. 'That's what made it one of the best seasons; regardless of win or loss, we really did have a great time.'

'It was definitely one of the best memories of my life.'

Jeffrey Jones

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