Catholic High ran into a red-hot opponent in Thursday’s Division IV volleyball quarterfinal at the LHSAA state tournament in Lafayette at the Cajundome.

Northlake Christian, which won state last year and returned six-footer Abigail Bailey, extended its winning streak to 13 games with a straight set decision over the sixth-seeded Panthers (25-18, 25-23, 25-15).

“We didn’t pass well, which put a lot of pressure on our hitters,” CHS coach Gary Westcott said. “We’re out of system, trying to do something and making sloppy errors. They served well, and we really didn’t pass well to start the game off.”

CHS (27-13) took a brief 1-0 lead in the first set. Bailey’s kill, combined with three Panther errors, gave the third-seeded Wolverines a 4-1 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Bailey, a Southeastern Louisiana signee, finished with 18 kills.

“We didn’t do a very good job of getting in rhythm,” Westcott said. “I told the girls this is one of the toughest of the last eight years because we never had expectations to win it all. This year, in all honesty, anyone in the tournament can win Division IV.”

The Panthers performed better in the second set, shaking off a 2-0 deficit to take a 6-3 lead. Setter Reese Molbert, who had 29 assists, picked up six of them at the beginning of the set. When Northlake Christian went up 10-6, CHS answered with four points – two from Saniya Raheem, who had nine kills. 

“Saniya was sick at the beginning of the year,” Westcott said of the senior outside hitter. “She had pneumonia and basically missed the first half of the season. She’s been building her endurance and confidence coming back. When she’s in system swinging, she’s one of the best.”

Westcott estimated that his two star middle blockers – Anna Kate Minvielle and Madison Broussard – took 10 swings each while outside hitters Trappey and Raheem each took 30.

“We run our defense through our offense,” Westcott said. “If we’re executing and putting balls down and getting kills, that’s the strength of our defense. We’re a middle heavy offense. I want the middles getting the ball.”

Trappey led CHS with 10 kills and added 13 digs. Addison Delcambre collected a team-high 16 digs with five assists. Broussard and Minvielle combined for three blocks. 

“Every time we made a little run, it seemed like we gave it back to them,” Westcott said.