Division IV top-ranked Catholic High split a pair of volleyball matches this week against a top five team in its division and the overall No. 1 team in the state.

The Lady Panthers, who sit atop the Division IV power ratings with a 7-1 record, knocked off No. 5 Lafayette Christian in straight sets at home on Tuesday.

“We passed well so we were in system most of the match,” CHS coach Gary Westcott said. “That enabled us to get sets for our two middles, Madison Broussard and Anna Kate Minvielle. Reese Molbert did a great job setting our hitters up for success.”

CHS defeated the Lady Knights (10-3) by scores of 25-16, 25-18 and 25-20. Broussard had 13 kills and Minvielle added 11. Amelie Trappey and Addisyn Derouen chipped in eight and five kills apiece. Molbert led the team in aces (three), digs (17) and assists (34).

“We came out and played extremely well in all phases,” Westcott said. “We passed the ball the best we’ve done all year. We served outstandingly, and our offense was really balanced.”

Addison Delcambre provided 16 digs, two aces and an assist. Trappey added two aces, a block and five digs. Gracie Neck contributed six digs and an ace.

In the most recent Varsity Sports Now Power 25 state rankings, St. Thomas More was no. 1, LCA was No. 15 and CHS No. 18.

The Lady Panthers, who are ranked No. 14 on MaxPreps, dropped their match at unbeaten STM in straight sets, but there were plenty of bright spots. In the second set, CHS rallied from an 18-14 deficit by scoring nine of the next 11 points.

Molbert (15 assists, 15 digs) assisted on a Broussard kill to begin the rally. DeRouen’s ace evened the score at 18. Minvielle, a 5-foot-11 senior, had a block to give CHS its first lead at 21-20. Sophomore MacKenzie Batiste’s kill, followed by a Molbert assist to Trappey, put CHS up 23-20, but STM responded with five straight points.

“Their defense is definitely outstanding,” Westcott said of STM. “I mean, there’s a reason why they’re the top-ranked team in the state, and they’ve been that way for a couple of years. When we had a good swing, their defense would come out of nowhere. They’re relentless.”

Stat leaders for CHS included Broussard (seven kills), Minvielle (four kills, two blocks, two digs, one assist), Delcambre (18 digs, one assist), DeRouen (nine digs, one assist, one ace), Batiste (two assists, three kills,, nine digs) and Neck (six digs).

“I don’t think we’ve played our ‘A’ game yet against St. Thomas More,” Westcott said. “We have some kids out there who really play hard. I think the effort was there. As good as STM’s defense was – it frustrated our hitters – we never stopped. They put their heads down and kept fighting.

“Every timeout I called, we felt like we were going to come back and make a run, but St. Thomas More answered the bell every time.”

Broussard and Minvielle are No. 1 and No. 2 in the state among all divisions in hitting percentage. Molbert ranks seventh in assists (169), and Minvielle is No. 17 with 23 aces.

Among Division IV programs, Trappey ranks No. 13 in hitting percentage. For kills, Broussard is No. 7 (59), Minvielle is No. 9 (56), Trappey 10th (54) and Derouen 14th (29).

Molbert is second in assists in Division IV. Minvielle, who is No. 1 for serving aces, ranks inside the top 10 for blocks along with Broussard. Delcambre, Molbert and Trappey are among the top 11 digs leaders, Derouen, Neck and Molbert are among the top 15 assists leaders.

This weekend, the Lady Panthers return to action at the All Catholic Tournament, facing St. Scholastica (3-1) and perennial Division I powerhouse Dominican (5-1) at 5:30 and 6:30 PM on Friday at Dominican.

On Saturday at Sacred Heart-New Orleans, they’ll take on Ursuline Academy (4-4), St. Louis Catholic (4-7) and Archbishop Chappelle (6-3).