NEW PORT RICHEY - For years, it has been the county's best rivalry, perhaps in any sport: If you want a close, hard-fought match, it is hard to beat River Ridge-Mitchell in volleyball.
Last year, the rivals were tossed into a three-team district with Land O'Lakes, and the schools stayed close in the cozy confines, splitting two regular-season meetings and battling in the district championship. Both saw their postseasons end at the hands of state champion Plant, but their rivalry picks up a new twist this fall.
Joining the Class 5A, District 5 ranks is Clermont East Ridge, which reached the Class 4A semifinals last season, knocking Wesley Chapel and Hudson out of the playoffs along the way. Now, there's a possibility that one of the county's elite programs won't be making a trip to the playoffs.
That won't take anything from the head-to-head rivalry, which added another chapter last week when River Ridge rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win in five games.
As was the case last year, the first meeting is the one that counts toward the Sunshine Athletic Conference standings, giving the Knights an early edge toward a crown they shared with Mitchell and Hudson last season.
For Mitchell, the game showed coach Joe Dixon one area he wants to address: getting his team to find that killer instinct to close out games when they have the chance.
The Mustangs were up 2-1 in games, then had an 8-4 lead in the fifth game, only to lose.
"I've got a list of things about five sheets long to work on," said Dixon, who was unable to practice for almost a week because of Hurricane Frances. "I've found that these girls know how to play, but they have to learn how to finish."
Mitchell is establishing a new identity after the graduation of Katelen Dixon, the county's dominant hitter over the past three seasons.
River Ridge's Tricia Thomas might have that title now, and coach Heidi Castelamare was pleased with the way her players rallied against Mitchell, as they did from a 2-1 deficit in the first meeting last year.
"My girls just stepped up a little bit more," said Castelamare, who will have a conference showdown with Hudson on Oct. 12. "Mitchell is a big game for us, and when it was close, I just told them that they had to dig deeper, and they did."
For Mitchell, senior Kari Wiedinger, who showed promise as a complement to Dixon last season, is now a primary attacker, tallying 25 kills against River Ridge.
The Mustangs played a group of freshmen extensively last season, and those players are now sophomores Dixon will count on. Kelli Wiedinger and Layne Spencer have stepped in at setter, and Ashley Stager and Heather Zappacosta will be major factors at outside hitter.
Some of Castelamare's best additions are players returning from a year off. Her daughter Brittany missed last season with a knee injury but is back healthy at setter, and Stephanie Seaman, an all-state selection in softball, has rejoined the team at middle blocker. The county is loaded with stars emerging from their older sisters' shadows, and junior Tarah Bigger, like sister Ali, will be a force at outside hitter.
The teams meet again Oct. 7 in a match that will be key to seeding in the district tournament at Mitchell.
How they'll line up, and how East Ridge factors into the equation, remains to be seen, but it's a safe bet this one will go to five games and test both teams to their limits.
"I think this is the most skilled team, player for player, and the deepest team I've had," Dixon said.
