Rebels best Vandy in 5 games, now 9-4
Published 11:45 pm Friday, September 19, 2014
By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur
RESERVE — Riverside added two more victories this week to move their record to 9-4 thus far this season, downing Vandebilt Catholic and South Terrebonne.
The Rebels defeated perennial Division II contender Vandebilt Catholic in a five-game set, winning 25-15,16-25, 25-17, 18-25 and 15-12.
“It was a big win for us, over a team always ranked very highly in its division,” Riverside coach Chelsey Lucas-Nicholas said. “It’s encouraging and really shows our players they can be a great team when they raise their game.
“A lot of people realize we’re a young team, but the heart and fight the girls are showing are opening a lot of eyes.”
Haylee Eldridge had 16 kills, six blocks and 11 digs. TyJah Greenup had 14 kills, 15 digs, four blocks and four aces. Maddie Duhon had 20 digs and four aces. Abby Bourgeois had 39 assists and 16 digs and Briley Becker had eight kills and 16 digs.
Riverside controlled the fifth and final game throughout, something Lucas-Nicholas credited to her team almost flawlessly executing the gameplan.
“You’ll always have minor mistakes, but we can clean those up,” she said. “But as far as attacking the areas we wanted to attack, our hitting and our passing, we did what we set out to do. We were very disciplined.”
Against South Terrebonne, the Rebels took a three-game sweep.
Eldridge had 12 kills and five blocks. Greenup added 11 kills. Bourgeois had 18 assists, while Duhon had 12 digs. Toni Perrin had 10 assists and three aces, while Becker served four aces.
Lucas-Nicholas said one aspect of the team she’s been pleased with have been its hitting. Greenup, Eldridge and Becker are all off to strong starts this season.
“They’re understanding their roles and performing extremely well,” Lucas-Nicholas said.
The Rebels return to action at 11 a.m. today at St. Katharine Drexel. Tuesday, Riverside is set to host Hannan, then Thursday the team opens district play with a key match against John Curtis. Each of those matches will see the JV play at 4 p.m. with the varsity to follow.
