LITHIA — For Bloomingdale last season, it was all Karissa Rhoades, all the time. The outside hitter finished with a Hillsborough County-high 457 kills, more than three times as many as any Bull.
At the start of the new season, first-year coach Claudia Cabrera warned her team: "If Karissa is the go-to this year for all the hits, she’s not going to have any arm left when we get to districts."
But as the Bulls proved in a 3-0 district win against Newsome on Thursday, that won’t be a problem.
Rhoades still led Bloomingdale, which won 25-8, 25-15, 25-10, with 14 kills and three aces. But the senior had help from middle blocker Kaitlyn Grice’s nine kills and seven blocks. At 6 feet 2, Grice’s mere presence drew attention, but she had more to offer than just her size against the Wolves (3-2, 2-2 8A-7).
Grice’s play at the net was a big help to the defense of Bloomingdale (11-1, 4-0). She read the court well, Cabrera said, and always appeared to be in the right place at the right time.
After almost a full season away — Grice played in just two matches last season because of an ankle injury — Rhoades is just glad to have her back.
"Not having her … was a downer because she’s kind of that upbeat player that gets everybody else motivated," she said.
Against a team that is one of the best in Hillsborough County, Newsome didn’t put up much of a fight. It led just once — 1-0 in the second set. Later in that set, the Wolves went on a streak then traded points with the Bulls to come within six.
But Grice responded with a block to end the rally.
"I know there’s great hitters over there," she said, "and I just wanted to shut them down."
Bloomingdale has lost just one match, to Tampa Prep in the Academy of the Holy Names tournament final. Outside of that, it hasn’t dropped a set.
With a district match against rival Plant next week — the Panthers went 3-0 against the Bulls in 2013, including in the region semifinals — Rhoades couldn’t ask for better motivation.
"Everyone is really ready," she said. "We don’t want to give up our undefeated record."