Undefeated Riverside comes back from deficit, defeats rival St. Charles in five

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Riverside’s Marci Millet tallied 31 kills in the Rebels clash with rival St. Charles on Tuesday. None were more important than her last.

The Comets had just scored two consecutive points to draw within one, 14-13, in the tiebreaking fifth game between the teams.

But Millet delivered in the clutch. Her kill at the net ended the game – and the match. Riverside won in five, 25-20, 15-25, 26-28, 25-18, and 15-13.

&#8220It feels so good,” said Millet, Riverside’s only senior starter. &#8220You get so excited. Riverside and St. Charles games are always close, we knew it was a big game.”

Jessica Price notched 41 assists to lead the Rebels. Ashley Forstall had 42 digs, and Millet and Heidi Garcich had three aces each.

Lauren Coniglio notched 15 kills, four blocks and an ace for St. Charles. Katie Tregre had six kills. Meg Gustafson had five kills.

&#8220Our overall teamwork was very good,” said St. Charles coach Brandy Ryan. &#8220We played with emotion, and found some leaders out there.”

While the two teams are no longer district foes, as the Comets have moved up to the 3A classification, the game still carried a district game-like intensity. St. Charles (0-2) appeared to have Riverside on the ropes midway through the fourth game. St. Charles had just won the second game 25-15 and a close third game, 28-26, to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Comets then took a 16-12 lead on Riverside (5-0) in the potential clinching fourth game.

But the Rebels showed the explosiveness that allowed them to notch 30 victories and a district crown last season. Millet made two consecutive kills, kick-starting a 13-2 run for the Rebels to end the game, a 25-18 victory. Jessica Price’s ace clinched the final point and the victory.

The final game was a back and forth affair. Riverside took an early 4-2 advantage, but the Coniglio notched three straight kills to give St. Charles a 5-4 advantage. Riverside scored the next three points to make it 7-5.

The teams were knotted up at 10 later in the match, when Riverside scored four consecutive points to come within one of clinching the game. St. Charles scored two straight before Millet’s game clinching kill.

&#8220I was surprised after the game to hear ‘good comeback’. I never thought we were out of it,” said Riverside Coach Toni Miano. &#8220It was a battle against a good team and local rival. We fought for five long games to close the match.”

Millet said that the Rebels found the right energy level for the contest, and that it’s something that Riverside needs to hold onto going forward.

&#8220We can bring this momentum with us into the coming games,” Miller said. &#8220We were communicating with each other and energetic. It’s no good if it’s quiet out there.”

Riverside defeated Destrehan on Thursday to up its record to 6-0 on the season, 25-15, 25-10, 25-19.

Millet again led the team in kills with 15. Garcich had 12 kills. Price led in assists with 24. Forstall led in digs with 14, while Garcich had 12. Stephanie LeBlanc and Kaitlyn Millet each had three aces.

&#8220The key points to out success this year are consistency and learning how to close matches. Tonight, we had a short fall in the third game but were able to finish very nice,” Miano said.

St. Charles is currently competing in the Dutchtown tournament, which started on the fifth. Full Comets results will be in the next issue.