Preps

Knights return more size than speed

By FRANK PASTOR
Published November 10, 2004

NEW PORT RICHEY - River Ridge did not lose a conference or district match. Its 24-5 record ranks among the best in school history.

The Royal Knights advanced to the region final for a fourth consecutive season and came within a tight, four-game loss to three-time defending state champion Plant of playing in the state semifinals.

So what do they do for an encore?

Get bigger.

With 6-foot-1 Autumn Lindsey, 5-10 Brittney Frey and 5-8 Christina Townsend expected to step into larger roles next season, River Ridge could abandon its quick offense for a 6-2, allowing it to put more hitters/blockers on the front line at the same time.

Of course, bigger doesn't necessarily mean better.

River Ridge loses three of its top players to graduation, including outside hitter Tricia Thomas, who set the school season record with 262 kills. Middle blocker Stephanie Seaman and outside hitter Kelly Bruce also will move on.

Together, they gave River Ridge one of its most balanced teams, one that could hit from either side and run quick sets to the middle as opposed to traditional high balls to the outside or the back set.

"We met all of our goals except for going to state; be undefeated in conference and the district as well as team unity things we accomplished," coach Heidi Castelamare said.

Thomas, on the left, and Seaman, in the middle, were strong hitters who brought quickness to the front line. Bruce might have been the best right side hitter in the area, Castelamare said.

Though they've exhausted their high school eligibility, they're not finished playing.

Thomas is considering North Alabama, Alabama-Huntsville and Troy Bruce is looking into Florida Gulf Coast and Eckerd. Seaman has offers from Florida Gulf Coast, Saint Leo and South Florida to play softball but is believed to be leaning toward Pasco-Hernando Community College.

In their absence, Lindsey and Frey likely will fill the middle with Townsend moving to the left side. Ashleigh Reams is expected to pick up some of the setting responsibilities, freeing Brittany Castelamare to hit more from the left.

If Heidi Castelamare had a rookie of the year award, she said it would have gone to back row specialist Joy Barquin. Cut from her eighth grade team two years ago, she provided strong serving and defensive play, as did Jackie Linville.

Tarah Bigger, a consistent hitter up front, will get stronger with time to work on her arm swing. Likewise, Townsend should have more opportunities to take advantage of her good reach and jumping ability.

In time, Heidi Castelamare hopes the group can do what its recent predecessors could not - reach the state semifinals for the first time since 1996.

"We either lose to Plant or Gainesville," Castelamare said. "We always have some tough teams in our region we have to get past. But to get to the state, we should be playing those kinds of teams.

"We have to play up and not just play our normal game. We have to be ready for that."

Will bigger be better? Only time will tell.

[Last modified November 10, 2004, 00:38:24]