Undefeated streak sneaks up on River Ridge

If River Ridge can make quick work of Pasco in its last conference match, the Knights will finish undefeated against county opponents for the second year in a row.

What's more, a sweep tonight will allow the Knights to complete the conference season having lost one game to a county foe during the past two seasons. That single loss, in a three-game victory against Land O'Lakes this season, came mostly with reserves on the floor, but coach Heidi Castelamare said her players probably aren't even aware of the streak they've put together.

"I don't know that they know, because they just go in and play and do what they have to do," said Castelamare, whose team will enter next week's Class 4A, District 8 tournament at Tarpon Springs as the top seed.

One reason the players might not be aware of the two-year undefeated streak is that most weren't around last season. Five seniors graduated from last year's conference champions, leaving four returning players on this season's roster.

LAST TUNEUP: Five county teams -- Gulf, Hudson, Pasco, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills -- will be among 16 in Lakeland this weekend for a tournament hosted by Lake Gibson High.

"It was a really good tournament last year, and we played some tough teams right before districts," Wesley Chapel coach Julie Marks said. "Just getting them used to playing more than one match in a day will help get them ready for districts."

The Wildcats wouldn't have to play more than one match in a single day until the region semifinals, which are played on the same day as the region finals Nov. 9. Getting there would equal last year's playoff success, and securing the top seed in next week's Class 3A, District 10 tournament -- played on their home court -- is a step in the right direction.

Wesley Chapel (13-3) will get to open tournament play against a team that played just hours earlier, because fourth-seeded Bartow and fifth-seeded Zephyrhills have a play-in game immediately before the semifinals Oct.29.

For now, the Wildcats can focus on two conference matches against Ridgewood and Hudson today and Thursday after losing to Mitchell last week. Marks said her team could use a boost in momentum from playing well against tough west-side competition.

"I told the girls we can end the season 13-5 or 16-2," said Marks, who has found a recent spark from junior Brenna Lane, who had 14 kills against Pasco and 11 against Bartow. "It's really up to them, and we're on the verge of going the other way, but hopefully we can turn things in the right direction."

DINKS: River Ridge's Mandi Petrella had six blocks in the Knights' victory against Hudson last week, including five in the opening game. ... Land O'Lakes beat Pasco and Zephyrhills last week and will likely do the same tonight at Springstead, which would give the Gators (8-12) a three-match winning streak entering next week's district tournament, where they would open up against Tarpon Springs. ... How tough are the Class 4A, District 8 ranks? Take a look at some of the teams' records against non-district opponents: River Ridge (9-1), Tarpon (8-3), Hudson (7-0), Ridgewood (9-1), Land O'Lakes (6-2).

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