MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 9, 1998

RESERVE – In a match of spurts, St. Charles Catholic had the final ones ineach game to take a 15-13, 15-13 victory over Riverside in the playoff for the District 5-IV title Wednesday night in the East St. John gym.The Lady Comets, 26-6 overall, will head into the state volleyball tournament Wednesday in the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner as the top seed in the district. The Lady Comets are scheduled to play the secondplace team in District 2-IV Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the bi-districtplayoffs. Riverside, 17-7 overall, will play the District 2-IV champion atthe same time Wednesday.

St. Charles Catholic jumped out to a 6-1 lead to open the match. A block byShannon Dolive and an ace by Nicole Scontrino made it 2-1. One servelater, a kill by Cristin Clement, an ace by Dolive and two Riverside errors gave the Lady Comets the five-point advantage.

Riverside began to rally on its next serve as a block by Michelle Millet and two Lady Comet errors brought the Lady Rebels to within 6-4. After aservice break, four consecutive St. Charles Catholic errors gave the LadyRebels the lead at 8-6.

A kill by Dolive, an ace by Krista Danos and a Riverside error put the Lady Comets back on top two service breaks later at 10-9. After a block byJennifer Smith and a wide return by the Lady Comets regained the lead for the Lady Rebels, an ace by Scontrino and a kill by Clement into the back row made it 13-11, St. Charles Catholic.Riverside rallied behind a kill by Courtney St. Amant and an error by theLady Comets to tie the score. But the Lady Comets came back on kills byNicole Rome and Clement to take the game.

It was Riverside that took the early lead in the second game, using three Lady Comet errors and a kill by Millet to jump ahead, 4-1. St. CharlesCatholic tied the score on blocks by Dolive and Sarah Weber and a kill by Dolive before Riverside pulled ahead to an 8-5 advantage on a kill by Amie Graugnard.

St. Charles Catholic grabbed a 12-9 lead on two spikes by Scontrino, adink by Weber and a kill by Clement. But again Riverside rallied, usingkills by Graugnard and Jennifer Guidry to pull to within 12-11. One servelater, a Lady Comet error and a kill of a free ball by Smith put the Lady Rebels ahead by one.

Marci Martin broke the Lady Rebels’ serve with a dink and Scontrino followed with a kill to tie the score. Martin then delivered a dink to pullthe Lady Comets to match point. Riverside then held off three straightserves but could not pull any closer as spikes by Scontrino and Dolive broke Lady Rebel serves. The Lady Comets then got the winning point withDolive serving as a spike by Weber was deflected out of bounds.

“That was the best we have played throughout the season,” St. CharlesCatholic coach Michelle Dearmitt said. “We came through at the right timeand didn’t make errors at the wrong time.”Scontrino had seven digs and three aces for the Lady Comets. Scontrinodelivered nine kills while Martin provided 23 assists. For the Lady Rebels,Millet had eight kills and also provided top defense.

Both teams will have tune up games before heading into the playoffs. St.Charles Catholic plays Thibodaux and Vandebilt Catholic while Riverside has games against John Curtis, Country Day and East St. John.”It was a tough game,” Riverside coach Gina Centanni said. “St. Charlestried to give it to us at the beginning but we couldn’t take advantage. But Icouldn’t have asked more from them. I am proud of the way we played.”This doesn’t detract from the good season we have had. We have moregames to play. This is not the end of the season.”

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