By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Riverside rebounded from an opening volleyball loss at Houma Christian on Tuesday to defeat Loranger at home Thursday, 26-24, 25-13, 14-25, 25-13.

“I thought the girls showed up ready to play. They know every game is important,” said Riverside coach Kristy Hebert, who made her debut coaching volleyball with the team this week. “We knew we hurt ourselves in that first game with mistakes. But in our first home match of the season, in front of a big crowd, we were able to grab the momentum early.”

Shea Lafountain led the Rebels with 11 kils and two aces. Kaitlyn Millet added eight kills and two aces of her own, along with 12 digs. Aimee Williamson tallied 34 assists and nine digs, and Shelby Deslatte totaled 22 digs on the day.

Hebert deemed the 25-13 final game as the Rebels’ top performance so far this season.

“I thought on especially the last 10 points we scored, we really flowed. I think the girls saw what they’re capable of when we execute,” said Hebert. “It opened their eyes a little bit.”

The Rebels also used a little precise execution to get the edge in a back and forth first game. With the score tied at 24, Aimee Williamson assisted Shea Lafountain for the 25th point. Kelsie Roussel finished things off with an ace for the game winner.

But after handling business in the second game by 12 points, the Rebels suffered a setback in the third game. The 25-14 loss was, Hebert says, perhaps the result of a relaxed effort.

“I think we took it for granted that we’d win after taking the first two. And they got the jump on us,” said Hebert. “We fell behind by eight, by nine, and never got out of the hole.”

That was rectified by the fourth game.

“We came out with a little fire under us,” Hebert said. “When you let them hang around, you can get burned. We had our best game of all four, and we put them away.”

On Tuesday, Houma Christian defeated the Rebels 25-13, 25-14, 25-21.

“They had two really powerful hitters,” said Hebert.

“I felt like we didn’t play our game. In a lot of ways we gave that match away.

“But aside from our three returning starters, our team is getting used to one another. I think they’re starting to build that chemistry with one another now.”