By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Riverside extended its red-hot start to the season with a pair of victories to kick off the Dutchtown tournament Wednesday.
The Rebels rallied to best Dutchtown after falling in the first game, taking the match 25-27, 25-20 and 15-9. Riverside also downed Episcopal in two straight, 25-12 and 25-16.
The Dutchtown tournament resumes Saturday.
Against Dutchtown, Kendra Turner logged 22 kills and four blocks. Toni Hebert added 11 assists and six digs while Jordan Duhon had 11 digs, four assists and two aces.
In the Westminster win, Turner had 14 kills. Cameron Hymel had five aces while Briley Becker added three aces and three digs.
The victories moved Riverside’s record to 10-2 this season.
Rebels coach Chelsey Lucas-Nicholas said that her team came out with more intensity Wednesday after suffering an unexpectedly one-sided loss to Ben Franklin one day earlier.
“The girls were saying after that Ben Franklin match that they never wanted to feel like that again,” said Nicholas. “When we step on the court, I feel like our team can be unstoppable, but everyone’s mind has to be right. The enthusiasm and energy has to be there along with the skill level. I thought at Dutchtown, they showed that they could use a loss as motivation instead of dwelling on it, and that’s a sign of maturity.”
Lucas-Nicholas said that Dutchtown came out with a purpose and tested her Rebels.
“They came with their A-game,” said Lucas-Nicholas.
While Turner and Hebert are two players that entered this season with much fanfare after their 2012 campaigns,  numerous players around them have taken a big step forward this season to help push the Rebels to their fast start.
One of those is Duhon, the Rebels’ libero, who Lucas-Nicholas said has been a steadying force for the team’s defense.
“Jordan has definitely stood out,” said Lucas-Nicholas. “She’s making tough digs and doing a great job keeping plays alive.”
RIVERSIDE SPLITS TWO TO START THE WEEK — The Rebels opened district play Monday with a successful outing at home, topping Haynes 25-15, 25-14 and 25-22.
Turner racked up 18 kills and two blocks. Toni Hebert had 15 assists, four aces and three digs. Dani Hebert added 13 assists while Hymel had seven aces, five kills and three digs.
But on Tuesday, the Rebels lost for just the second time this season, dropping a match in three-straight at Ben Franklin, 25-18, 25-16 and 25-23.
Turner had 20 kills to lead the Rebels.
Ben Franklin moved to 8-1 with the victory.