Riverside wins playoff match, set for quarter-finals

RESERVE – The Riverside Lady Rebel volleyball team has put itself on the verge of school history, heading into the state quarterfinals of the LHSAA volleyball playoffs on Thursday.

Riverside won their opening state playoff match on Monday against DeQuincy, and now move to the Division IV quarterfinals on Thursday at 10:45 against Episcopal High.

No Riverside team has ever gotten past the state quarterfinals, according to head coach Missy Martin.

Against DeQuincy, Riverside (15-12) won in straight games, 25-18, 25-17 and 25-12. It was the kind of performance that Martin hopes to see a repeat of on Thursday.

“I’m sure the girls were a little nervous, but they didn’t show it much in the way they played,” she explained. “If we keep playing together as a team like we did on Monday, we have a shot to win some more matches at state.”

Jenna St. Amant had a big all around game for the Lady Rebs, picking up eight kills, seven digs, two blocks and five assists, while Kelli Millet had seven kills, seven digs and two blocks.

Daphne Zimmer led the team with eight aces, while adding nine digs and seven assists; Erica Oubre had six kills and five assists; Nicole Poirrier had seven digs; and Sally Songy added three aces.

“I really thought we handled the pressure well for a state playoff game,” Martin said. “It will be even more intense at the Pontchartrain Center, but the way we handled things today was a good sign that we can do it again.”