By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

KENNER — On the verge of elimination, just as it was a day earlier against De La Salle in the Division IV state volleyball quarterfinals, Riverside traded blows with Newman Friday, seemingly refusing to accept anything less than a chance to play for a championship.

But the Greenies showed no less resolve. Newman outside hitter Jamie Hawkins proved unstoppable down the stretch of the match’s fourth and deciding game, slamming kills on four of her team’s final five points as Newman eliminated Riverside, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22 and 25-23.

The match result propelled Newman into the Division IV state final. The third-seeded Greenies finished as state runner-up Saturday after losing in five games to Notre Dame, which captured its third consecutive state championship.

The semifinal result ended a tremendous run for Riverside (29-12) that saw the Rebels begin the season 1-6 before going on a 29-5 tear leading into the semifinal round.

Hawkins finished with a team-high 30 kills. Teammate Avery Rowan added 26.

“Our whole game plan was to limit (Hawkins). She’s their heart and soul,” said first year Riverside coach Chelsey Lucas-Nicholas. “We lost our focus on that as the match went on and we didn’t do the job.”

Kendra Turner led Riverside with 30 kills, while Danielle Sharp added 17. Turner also had 13 blocks. Toni Hebert had 36 assists, six blocks, 22 digs and four aces. Katie Bailey also had 22 digs, while Taylor Terrio had 10 assists and two aces.

For Newman (31-7), Rowan and Hailey Becker each had four blocks. Rachel Leader had two aces. Kristen Parker had 28 assists, while Tyler Edell had 25 and Leader 13.

Riverside led 14-10 in the fourth game before Newman went on a 5-0 run that included two Hawkins kills and a tip by Becker, giving Newman a 15-14 lead. Turner then tied the game with a spike.

From there, the teams traded points four times, with Riverside taking a lead and Newman tying at 16, 17, 18 and 19.

With the score tied at 19, Turner spiked home two kills to give RA a 21-19 advantage.

“We knew she’d have great kills,” said Newman coach Colleen Loerzel. “We just set up our defense to block what we felt her strengths were and funnel the ball.”

 But after a serving violation, Hawkins tied it with a kill, then slammed two more to make it 23-21. Riverside scored on a Turner block, but Newman earned the next point to set up match-point.

Turner made a kill to give Riverside life. But Newman was able to set up Hawkins one last time, and she made it count, drilling a ball between diving Rebel defenders in the middle of the floor.

“There was definitely some (adrenaline) on those toward the end,” said Hawkins. “We were just so close and it was exciting. I’m proud of how we fought today and all year long.”

Riverside won the first game of the match after running out to a 14-1 advantage early.

“We ‘re up 14-1, pounding the ball … but you’ve gotta stay up,” said Lucas-Nicholas. “You’ve got to keep that edge.”

The Rebels trailed throughout the pivotal third game, with the teams tied 1-1 in the match.

But the Rebels fought back from a 21-17 deficit to take a 22-21 lead; a Sharp kill ignited a 5-0 run. A Rowan block tied things at 22; two Rebel return errors made it 24-22, then Rowan capped things with a kill to give her squad a two games to one lead.

“We became one-dimensional,” said Lucas-Nicholas. “We depended on two people and that’s not how we’ve played all year. That’s not what I coach. It takes all six on the floor. It takes people coming in off the bench and playing a part.

“We were in the final four teams in the state. We did a lot this year. But when you get to this point, you think it’ll be easy? No, they’re coming after you. We have to learn from it.”