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A season sweep of Mitchell cements River Ridge's claim as Pasco County's best.
By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 9, 2002
TRINITY -- Mitchell has been the closest challenger to River Ridge's Pasco County supremacy this season, but on Tuesday night, for the second time in three weeks, the Royal Knights put the Mustangs in their place.
River Ridge, ranked 10th in Class 4A, fended off two game points in the first game, then rallied in the second for the final seven points, finishing a season sweep of Mitchell with a hard-fought 16-14, 15-12 victory.
"We were play-for-play, point-for-point, very evenly matched as far as points were concerned," said Knights coach Heidi Castelamare, who improved to 6-0 against the up-and-coming Mustangs.
The Knights (17-2, 8-1 Class 4A, District 8) have all but clinched the top seed in the district tournament. Mitchell (16-4, 9-2) is likely second.
The two teams, both undefeated against the rest of the county, had traded pregame jabs leading up to their second meeting, but the Knights were glad to get the last word in on the court.
"I think we proved that we're the best team in the county. We beat them, and it's over," said senior Dawn Conner, who had a team-high nine kills.
Mitchell hurt itself with 11 service errors, one with a 14-12 lead in the first game and another to end a run of six points with a 12-8 lead in the second.
Their next chance to serve came after River Ridge rolled off six points on Krystal Dennis' serve, but the Mustangs misfired on their final serve.
"They were able to finish the games and we weren't," Mitchell coach Joe Dixon said. "We had a lot of young girls serving the ball in times that counted, but they did a great job to get us there."
Mitchell spread its offense out in the first game, getting its first six kills from five hitters. Junior Katelen Dixon had seven of her match-high 10 kills in the second game, and sophomore Kari Wiedinger finished with three kills and two blocks.
River Ridge had five aces to offset five service errors, and its winners came in the clutch. Down 14-12 in the first game, the Knights got back-to-back aces from Tricia Thomas, who later added a third. Dennis added one in her seven-point run that finished off the match.
The rivalry isn't necessarily over. As the district's top two teams, they could easily meet again in the championship Oct. 31.
Castelamare, whose Knights have reached the playoffs six times in seven years, said such a rematch would be appropriate, given the teams' regular-season success.
"Mitchell's the second-place team in our district, so to meet them in the finals would be a true district final," she said.
Dixon, whose team would clinch its first playoff berth by reaching the district final, said he'd like another chance at an upset.
"We're not that far away," he said.