Castelamare carries River Ridge to title

The Royal Knights need just three games to advance to the district final against Ridgewood.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published October 20, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - River Ridge setter Brittany Castelamare gets every second hit, so she can control where the ball goes and what a defense does.

She had her handprints all over the Royal Knights' Class 5A, District 7 semifinal Wednesday at the Jim Valentine Athletic Complex.

Dumping to open spots on the court, passing to the deep zone and even spiking on occasion, Castelamare led River Ridge to a 25-18, 25-23, 25-19 victory over Wesley Chapel.

She had eight of her team-high 13 kills in the tone-setting first game, and added 27 assists and nine digs to lift River Ridge into the championship game, where it plays Ridgewood at 7:30 tonight.

"She just controls the game," said River Ridge coach Heidi Castelamare, Brittany's mother. "She's got great court sense and drive. She's probably one of the most driven players I've coached."

Castelamare's teammates also showed desire, rallying from an 11-3 deficit in the second game.

Wesley Chapel was getting through River Ridge's middle block and attacking the Royal Knights' outside with cross-court hits, so Heidi Castelamare pulled her outside hitters away from the line to close the block and give her middles less ground to cover.

Middle blockers Christina Townsend and Brittney Frey finished with five blocks apiece, and Tarah Bigger played a strong all-around game, with 16 digs and six kills.

Heather Bradley's 10 kills led Wesley Chapel, which beat Land O'Lakes in Tuesday's play-in game. Sami Polston had nine kills, and Nicole Iouine added 22 assists.

"We played a tough game," Wesley Chapel coach Laura Lee Hawkins said. "I think we were up the whole time. I'm proud of them. I think we just made silly mistakes that gave the other team points."

Caitlin Morrison's 11 kills, five blocks and 26 digs led Ridgewood to a 25-17, 25-21, 25-19 win over Central in the other semifinal. Jessica Birchmeier and Ali Carli set the table with 13 assists apiece.

Ridgewood's hitting was near-flawless. The Rams had only 10 hitting errors and one service error after committing 15 in two games last week.

A playoff berth already in hand, Ridgewood seeks its first district title since 1990, when coach Amber Starkey was a freshman.

"It's great," Starkey said. "These girls that have been on varsity for four years, this is the farthest they've gone, so they're excited, and to be playing for the district championship, it can't be any more exciting than that."

Noemi Rivera had 52 assists for Central. Nikki Weaver was the Bears' leading hitter.

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 01:20:19]