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Castelamares square off in FACA all-star event

Daughter Brittany gets a glimpse of college-level play and faces a team coached by her mother, Heidi.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published December 6, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Hitters were consistently stronger. They played with more intensity. And they worked out of a quicker offense.

River Ridge senior setter Brittany Castelamare got a glimpse at the level of play she will face in college at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association all-star match Saturday in Gainesville.

"That's how it's going to be from now on," Castelamare said. "The higher level you get, the harder it's going to get."

Castelamare more than held her own, setting up teammates for powerful spikes and doing some hitting in the Blue team's four-game win over the Red at Buchholz High.

River Ridge coach Heidi Castelamare, who is Brittany's mother, coached the Red team.

"I never played against my mom before," Brittany Castelamare said. "It was weird."

In October, Castelamare was named the FACA District 8, Class 5A player of the year and a finalist for top state high school player for the second straight season. District 8 includes schools from Pasco, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus and Lake counties.

As one of 24 seniors from across the state invited to the all-star match (23 participated), she tested her skills alongside players who have committed to Division I schools such as Florida, Tennessee, Georgetown and William & Mary.

"I think just playing with so many upper level girls, it was good for her to be able to utilize a quick offense, with her having quick hands, and also playing at the level that's going to be consistent probably with college, (she can) see what she needs to work on to bring up the level of her game as well," Castelamare's mother said.

Castelamare even got to watch college players in person. She attended Friday's second-round NCAA tournament match between Florida and Kansas State at the O'Connell Center.

The experience capped a busy week for Castelamare. She was one of 25 players, including River Ridge teammate Ashleigh Reams, from Pasco and Hernando counties that participated in an all-star game Wednesday at Pasco-Hernando Community College. Castelamare also has been been practicing with the girls weightlifting team, which opens its season Wednesday.

Her future plans are up in the air. She is considering playing at West Florida but said she likely will not decide on a college until club season, which gets into full swing next month.

"We're not pushing it, not making her make any decision real quick," Heidi Castelamare said. "We're not in any hurry to get rid of her."

[Last modified December 6, 2005, 02:15:34]