Millet notches 29 kills, Price 31 assists as Riverside dispatches St. James to advance in playoffs

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Riverside Coach Toni Miano told senior Marci Millet exactly how her last play in her home gym would go.

Millet, in her final home match, would deliver a game-winning kill right down the line, and it would be burned into her memory forever.

Turns out, Millet was quite fond of Miano’s script.

Millet’s 29th and final kill of the match was indeed a game winner down the line, vaulting No. 3 seed Riverside past bi-district opponent St. James and to the state quarterfinals at the Pontchartrain Center on Thursday. The Rebels downed the Wildcats in three games, 25-10, 25-13, and 25-12.

&#8220I’m just really excited,” Millet said. &#8220Last year was the first year we didn’t make it (to the Pontchartrain Center) and we really wanted to make sure we got back. It’s really overwhelming.”

Heidi Garcich tallied 19 digs and five aces for the Rebels (36-3). Jessica Price notched 31 assists.

Ironically, after defeating the district rival Wildcats for the third time this season, Riverside might have another very familiar foe waiting in the next round – the Rebels will meet the winner of No. 6 seed – and district rival – John Curtis and No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas.

Miano did not know who would make the next round between the two teams, but recognized that a matchup with Curtis would be a rematch from not only district, but last season’s bi-district match when Curtis upset Riverside.

&#8220If it comes to that, we’re ready,” Miano said. &#8220We’re determined not to let them put us out again.”

Millet said that Riverside started the match off slow, but regrouped.

&#8220We pulled together,” Millet said. &#8220We realized that this wasn’t just another district match.”

Riverside jumped out ahead early on in each game. The first ended after a St. James serve went long and out of bounds, ending the game at 25-10.

In the second game, St. James would score its thirteenth point to make it 20-13 before Riverside closed the game on a 5-0 run, capped by a Millet kill and ace to win.

The third game ended in similar fashion. St. James scored its twelfth point to cut the Rebels’ lead to 21-12. Riverside scored the final four points – the 23rd on a Millet kill, the 24th on an ace by Ashley Forstall, and the 25th on Millet’s final kill at home – right down the line.

Before the St. James win, Riverside faced Destrehan as both teams attempted to tune up before the postseason.

Destrehan opened the match hot, getting the better of the Rebels with a 25-14 win in the first game. But Riverside fought back, winning the second game convincingly, 25-8, then a nip and tuck third game 30-28. Riverside clinched the match in the fourth game, 25-18.

Millet had 26 kills and four blocks. Price had 32 assists and three aces. Garcich added 31 digs.

No. 20 seeded Destrehan will travel to No. 13 Lafayette on Monday for their bi-district match.