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Knights Still Hope To Make Progress

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By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2008

HUDSON - Don't expect the River Ridge volleyball team to be the victim of the swollen head/ego syndrome.

As happy as Royal Knights coach Heidi Castelamare is with the team's 8-0 record and its victory Thursday night against traditional powerhouse Hudson, Castelamare believes her group has some work to do.

"We made seven hitting errors in the first game, which is not what we typically do," Castelamare said after the 25-23, 25-15, 25-18 victory. "That's showing me they're still a little mentally weak on stuff they need to work on and refocus when they're doing something off or how to readjust their game. Those are things we need to work on to get to the next level we want to be at."

The Royal Knights program is used to not just challenging for the Sunshine Athletic Conference crown, but contending for the district title and making deep runs in the playoffs.

Senior outside/right-side hitter Alex Laton understands that pursuit of perfection.

"Even though we're on our winning streak and we haven't lost a game yet, we still need to focus and work harder at practice and keep up our intensity," said Laton, who had a team-high 17 kills Thursday night against Hudson.

Things aren't all gloom and doom when it comes to River Ridge, which has won six consecutive district titles and 11 total.

There were times during those three games when the contest was separated by either a thin margin or Hudson was making serious moves to threaten the Royal Knights' advantage. River Ridge withstood each challenge.

"We have a great offense. We really do," Castelamare said. "We have some great, strong hitters, good setters, they do a great job in the front row and we have decent passing. All we need to do is make a little adjustment on the serve receive or on our defense and make opponents think we're doing something different and hopefully we'll get in their heads as well."

On the opposite side of Thursday's net, Hudson (6-2) will look for some development.

Cobras coach Linda McQuade says she has a young group that includes two players with varsity experience.

She still believes as the season progresses and her team participates in the two tournaments on the schedule, they'll be back to their normal selves, which means challenging for both SAC and district titles.

"I think they do all right for what's out there playing," McQuade said. "It will get better.

"Twenty games down the road, it'll be better. I know it will. We go to our tournaments and it's going to make them sharper."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or

edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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