LAPLACE — It may be hard to believe, but the 2016 volleyball season already is winding down.

There are only three weeks remaining to the regular season. Coaches are checking their power rankings and perhaps drawing up imaginary brackets.

Players are gearing up for the final stretch toward the post-season.

Riverside Academy coach Margot Frederick is trying not to look too far ahead, even though her team is in a good spot at No. 3 in the Division IV power rankings.

“It’s funny because, as the State Tournament looms in just three weeks, your expectations for your team’s play get higher,” Frederick said.

“You want them to look ready. We have been tough on them so they don’t take anything for granted.”

Although they are taking this weekend off from tournament play, the Lady Rebels still have challenges ahead.

One of those is a showdown against cross-town rival St. Charles Catholic in a key District 5-IV match.

Riverside will travel to St. Charles Thursday.

The junior varsity is scheduled to play at 4:30 p.m. with the varsity following at approximately 5:30. The teams will meet again Oct. 24 at Riverside.

Frederick said matches like these help prepare players for the “big stage,” the annual State Tournament at the Pontchartrain Center, which begins Nov. 10. The playoffs begin Nov. 1.

“It’s always hard-fought and emotional,” Frederick said of the rivalry match-up.

She doesn’t want the Rebels to coast.

Riverside Academy finished this week with a record of 23-3 following three-game sweeps of Lutcher, St. James and Haynes Academy.

The Rebels have had only three matches go to four games and only one match go to five.

Sydney Joseph led the win over Lutcher (25-19, 25-13, 25-10) with 17 kills and eight digs.

Briley Becker had nine kills and Maddie Duhon had 12 digs. Abby Bourgeois had 33 assists and six aces.

Joseph added 13 kills against St. James (25-16, 25-12, 25-15) and served 11 aces.

She had 20 kills and 13 digs against Haynes Academy (25-17, 26-24, 25-16).

Haley Madere had six aces against St. James. Becker had 15 kills and nine digs against Haynes.

Frederick is feeling good about her team’s play.

“This past week I left the gym a tad worried because we weren’t quite as polished,” Frederick said.

“But I woke up (Friday) and realized, in the second set against Haynes, we took a timeout down 18-23 and actually roared back with senior Maddie Duhon serving and Sydney and Carli Hymel had some big kills to win 26-24. Creating a momentum swing like that is impressive and is a credit to our team leaders for digging in their heels and grinding it out.”

St. Charles coach Meghan Ericksen was feeling frustrated after her team dropped a five-game loss to Haynes Academy and a four-game loss to Curtis.

The Lady Comets (12-11) lost to Haynes 16-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-21, 14-16. They lost to Curtis 20-25, 16-25, 25-20, 23-25.

Grace Mohon had 15 kills, two aces and seven digs against Haynes; 15  kills two aces and eight digs agains Curtis.

Caroline Julian had 24 digs and two aces against Haynes and 32 digs against Curtis.

“It is definitely discouraging when you fight so hard to turn around and lose the match, but in another way it is also encouraging because we know that we have to work on ourselves before we can win a game,” Ericksen said.

“That should be an easy fix. I have no doubt that we will bounce back quickly. This group of athletes is one of a kind, and I know how badly they want to win.”

The Comets are playing in the Lutcher Tournament today.

The teams at East St. John High and West St. John High continue to struggle. The Lady Wildcats are 0-20; the Lady Rams are 0-4.

ESJ travels to Destrehan Tuesday.