Catholic High was short-handed and hobbled for its volleyball match against Episcopal of Acadiana on Thursday, but you would have never known.

The Lady Panthers (2-0) were missing Saniya Raheem, one of the state’s best players, who is out with pneumonia. Setter Reese Molbert, who ranked near the top of the state in assists as a junior, was basically playing on one foot, according to coach Gary Westcott.

Molbert’s backup was also out. Middle blocker Madison Broussard, who had 10 kills and two blocks in the straight set win (25-17, 25-16, 25-20), is recovering from meniscus surgery.

“We kind of mixed things up and made adjustments,” Westcott said. “We had girls step up. Sophomore Caroline Meyer stepped in Saniya’s place and helped out. We threw in a few others who don’t always get to play (varsity). Almost the whole bench got in.”

The Lady Panthers haven’t lost a set, sweeping Sacred Heart-Grand Coteau and ESA heading into this weekend’s Celie LeBlanc Ulm Memorial Tournament at Ascension Episcopal, which Westcott helped organize in honor of the Blue Gators’ former coach who died of cancer in 2023.

“Our hitters did a really good job of attacking tonight,” Westcott said. “We had a balanced attack. I like that. Reese had an MRI for her foot injury, which was negative for a fracture. She sucked it up and worked through the pain. She did an amazing job with 20 assists in our first match and over 30 tonight.”

Molbert accounted for 35 of her team’s 36 assists and finished with a team-high 15 digs. In addition to Broussard, Amelie Trappey (11 kills, 11 digs) and Anna Kate Minvielle (10 kills, five digs, one block) had double-digit kills. Addison Delcambre totaled 14 digs. Addyson Derouen added five kills and seven digs. Gracie Neck served two of her team’s five aces and had seven digs.

“All my starters returned,” Westcott said. “We only graduated one senior. We’re ready to make a good run. We have the talent. We definitely have the leadership. Can we get over the mental hill we’ve stumbled on at the state tournament?”

The Lady Panthers are coming off a 37-win season and a semifinal appearance in the Division III playoffs. CHS, which lost to eventual champion Archbishop Hannan in the state tournament, moved down from Division III to Division IV after playing up in a higher enrollment class for two years.

“Our schedule is really, really tough,” Westcott said. “We’re going to play the (best) competition. We’ve played the competition the last seven years I’ve been here. It’s about getting over that mental hurdle. In the past, when a couple of players had a bad game, it would affect the whole team. When one player gets down, we need others to step up and bring one team together.”

Upcoming opponents include E.D. White, which finished as runner-up to Archbishop Hannan. CHS has faced the Lady Cardinals every year in Westcott’s tenure and never won. There are matches on consecutive days against three-time defending Division II state champion St. Thomas More and Lafayette Christian. That same week, CHS will participate in the New Orleans All-Catholic Tournament.

Westcott, who is also bringing his club to the inaugural Metairie Park Country Day Tournament, specially requested to face the eight-time defending Division V state champion Cajuns on their court.

“We’ve never played Country Day,” he said. “I want to put my kids up against those types of teams.”