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Royal Knights Move Step Closer To State Finals

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

It was all smiles for Leah Mitchell (7) and Brianna Rish (4) of River Ridge High as they sent Armwood packing in a regional quarterfinal match Tuesday evening.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: November 1, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - NEW PORT RICHEY - It was not exactly all around domination in a three game sweep of Armwood High Tuesday night, but the favored Royal Knights of River Ridge pulled it together in fighting their way to another regional volleyball semifinal appearance.

River Ridge won at home in straight sets, 25-23, 25-13, 25-18, to set up a Nov. 6 meeting with Brandon High, who edged out Land O' Lakes Tuesday night, 3-2.

The winner will move one step closer to a state championship berth in Lakeland.

The Royal Knights briefly stumbled as the night's match began, seeing themselves fall into an initial 7-1 hole largely because of defensive mishaps.

Head Coach Heidi Castelamare called a time-out after going down by six to rally her troops.

"(I told them) just to be focused, wait for the ball to come to them," she said of the in-huddle conversation.

River Ridge responded well and regained the focus Castelamare said they lacked.

Charging back to a 10-all tie, the game seesawed until the Royal Knights took their first lead at 22-21, eventually winning 25-23.

Strong offensive and defensive play up front from sophomore Leah Mitchell and junior Alex Laton, along with strong services all around, helped propel the victory.

Following the match, that same issue of team focus is what Castelamare singled out as to why her girls have needed to dig themselves out of early holes lately.

"I know when we want to play, when we're ready to play, when we're focused; we come out strong the whole time," she said. "But the last few matches we've come out pretty slow.

"If they want to make it to the next level, we're going to have to pick it up a little bit more."

After displaying their grit in game one, River Ridge showed how they can dominate from the opening serve as well.

Armwood never got closer than six points as Mitchell continued to pound key balls to the floor and the defensive backcourt – led by libero Brianna Rish, Brooke Castelamare and Emily Lehman – began hitting the floor and playing the impressive defense that is usually expected from them.

Rish, Castelamare and Lehman combined for 40 digs, with the latter two recording 16 a piece.

Mitchell finished with seven kills to go with five blocks. River Ridge also turned away 15 Hawk kill attempts at the net as a team.

"Leah just goes up and swings, and she does a great job," Castelamare said of her rangy and powerful middle hitter. " She's not intimidated by anybody. If the ball's there, she'll just go up, swing, and swing hard."

Almost toying with Armwood in the third and final game – letting them score seven unanswered points for a 17-16 lead – the Royal Knights came storming back with a nine-point scoring run of their own and eventually shut the door on the Hawk's season.

At 23-5 on the year now, River Ridge will play host again for next Tuesday's semifinal match. The 21-3 Brandon, another strong Hillsborough County team, representing Class 5A District 8.

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