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Ridgewood beats River Ridge as focus returns to volleyball

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Normality was a welcome state inside the Ridgewood gym Wednesday night.

Unless you count the fact there were no students in the stands rooting for either Ridgewood or visiting River Ridge. The role of the boisterous fan was left up to parents and administrators in the aftermath of a brawl between fans of the schools Sept. 30.

As many as 60 people were involved in fisticuffs during their first meeting inside River Ridge's Jim Valentine Athletic Complex. As a result, one person was arrested and administrators decided to keep the students away from Wednesday night's match.

What they missed was a Ridgewood 25-15, 20-25, 25-16, 25-17 victory. It's the first time Ridgewood has beating River Ridge in the six seasons Amber Starkey has led the Rams.

"It was nice, the focus was on volleyball the entire night and that's what's important," Starkey said. "The girls played great on defense, all of the players. Having Lauren (Vanker) back, her presence at the net is big for us. She's 6-feet tall, so it's nice to have her back."

Game 1 got off to a favorable start for the Royal Knights (10-11) as a Jordan Garcia kill, Vashoula Kostogiannes ace and hitting error by Ridgewood gave them and early, 3-0, advantage. That didn't last long as a series of hitting errors gave the Rams (14-3) a 5-4 lead.

The teams went back and forth until a 5-0 run by Ridgewood gave the Rams some breathing room and momentum. A kill by Vanker, who returned to the team Tuesday after a lengthy bout with mononucleosis, ended Game 1.

Game 2 was a contest that played out in similar fashion, only this time River Ridge collected the 25-20 victory. River Ridge distanced itself in that game with a 9-3 run, during which Chelsea Babcock, Garcia and Kostogiannes collected key points. Kostogiannes' kill gave River Ridge the win.

Ridgewood received a huge dose of momentum to start Game 3 when setter Madison Pretto tallied eight service points. That 8-0 run was too much to overcome and provided the perfect cushion.

"We were able to go on a nice run in the beginning, get the momentum and keep it, which is important," Starkey said.

River Ridge played the match without senior setter Sarah Junot, who won't return to the lineup until next week. Additionally, the team added new faces to the starting lineup.

"If I had my normal starting six together," River Ridge coach Chrissy Brando said,
"I don't it would be that same situation."

Sarangeles Cruz led the Rams with 23 kills, while Vanker ended the night with seven kills and four blocks. Pretto dolled out 33 assists and Brittany Martin had 16 digs.

Mercedee Lindell led the Royal Knights with seven kills, followed by Garcia's six. Kostogiannes collected 15 assists and Ana Alberti had 10.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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