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Mistakes prove costly as Ridgewood falls

Palm Harbor University takes advantage and wins the Class 5A, District 7 match 15-7, 15-6.

By JOHN C. COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 8, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Because the floor at the gymnasium of Ridgewood is being re-surfaced, the Rams took to the road Thursday night for a home match against Palm Harbor University, playing at Bayonet Point Middle School.

It was only fitting then that when the Rams should have been sending a message to the Hurricanes about this season's district race, it played like it belonged on their temporary home court.

Beset at the most critical junctures by receiving errors, serving errors, net violations, just-get-it-over love taps in place of hard kill attempts, the Rams made things all too easy for PHU in its 15-7, 15-6 win in a Class 5A, District 7 contest.

After a trio of relatively easy victories, it was Ridgewood's first test -- and loss -- of the season, and coach Marlyn Bavetta handed out a grade of "C" ... and then changed her mind.

"Make that a low "C,"' she said.

What was expected to be a competitive match lived up to its promise, for a while anyway.

The Rams proved feisty in the early going of each game and showed it can match up with PHU talent-wise. The Hurricanes, however, showed themselves to be a more consistent team in improving to 6-0.

In the opener, leading just 8-7, they reeled off the final seven points -- with none of the points coming via a kill -- to win going away.

In Game 2, the Rams actually led 5-3 before PHU outscored them 12-1 the remainder of the way.

Again, none of the points in the final run came via a kill.

Instead, Ridgewood imploded.

"They get down and stay down," Bavetta said. "We went into a defensive mode, trying not to lose instead of trying to win."

Brandy Krieg was called for two lifts on serve receives. Ashley Morrison and Tara Pagliaro were called for net violations. Alayna Sherwood stopped what had been effective rally by getting cautious. All in the span of eight consecutive PHU points in the second game, sealing the Rams' fate.

"We stopped communicating," Bavetta said. "I told them we can't be doing this against this kind of team. This was a good defensive team.

"But they just kept waiting for us to make the mistakes, and we did."

The poor late showing overshadowed some great play in the early going.

Jen Sessa ripped off two kills and some key blocks for points, and Pagliaro, Krieg and Sherwood had their moments with kills.

Until PHU began to press them, it appeared Ridgewood might emerge from the match as a district favorite. That will have to wait until the rematch.

"These were two strong teams tonight," PHU coach Karen Kreger said. "But we definitely outsmarted them and played harder. The girls were able to adjust and make the right reads, and our defense was really strong tonight."

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