Five defending state champions in volleyball quarterfinals Thursday

All five defending state champions from a year ago are alive into the quarterfinals of the LHSAA state volleyball tournament which gets underway Thursday morning at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.

In Division I, four-time defending champion and top-seed Mount Carmel takes on No. 24 H.L. Bourgeois at 6:10 p.m. The Cubs are the prohibitive favorite to make it five straight titles.

Three other area teams are in the Division I quarterfinals as well as No. 2 Archbishop Chapelle battles No. 7 St. Amant at 8 p.m. while fifth-seed Mandeville takes on No. 4 St. Joseph’s Academy at 8 p.m. No. 6 Fontainebleau squares off with No. 3 Dutchtown at 6:10 p.m.

In Division II, five-time defending state champion and top-seed Teurlings Catholic takes on No. 8 Lee Magnet at 8 p.m. Three local teams are alive in Division II as well with two facing each other as No. 2 Cabrini takes on No. 10 Belle Chasse at 4:20 p.m. The Crescents downed the Cardinals in four sets back on Sept. 26. No. 5 Ben Franklin meets No. 4 South Lafourche at 4:20 p.m.

In Division III, defending champion Vandebilt Catholic is the top-seed and squares off with No. 9 Ursuline at 9 a.m. De La Salle is the fourth-seed and the Cavaliers meet No. 5 Westgate at 2:30 p.m.

In Division IV, Pope John Paul II is the four-time defending state champion and the Jaguars meet a familiar foe in district rival and No. 5 Northlake Christian at 9 a.m. The Wolverines beat Pope John Paul II on Oct. 23. Archbishop Hannan is the No. 1 seed and the Hawks battle Academy of The Sacred Heart of New Orleans at 12:40 p.m. The Hawks downed the Cardinals on Sept. 14. Haynes is No. 11 and the Yellow Jackets meet No. 3 University High at 10:50 a.m. and No. 7 John Curtis Christian takes on No. 2 Notre Dame at 10:50 a.m.

In Division V, two-time defending state champion Country Day is the No. 1 seed and the Cajuns face No. 9 Academy of The Sacred Heart of Grand Coteau at 2:30 p.m. No. 7 McGehee will meet No. 2 Ascension Episcopal at 12:40 p.m.

State volleyball quarterfinal schedule for Thursday, Nov. 8

Division I
#1 Mount Carmel vs. #24 H.L. Bourgeois, 6:10 p.m. Court 1
#3 Dutchtown vs. #6 Fontainebleau, 6:10 p.m. Court 3
#4 St. Joseph’s Academy vs. #5 Mandeville, 8 p.m. Court 3
#2 Archbishop Chapelle vs. #7 St. Amant, 8 p.m. Court 1

Division II
#1 Teurlings Catholic vs. #8 Lee Magnet, 8 p.m. Court 2
#4 South Lafourche vs. #5 Ben Franklin, 4:20 p.m. Court 1
#3 St. Thomas More vs. #6 Assumption, 6:10 p.m. Court 2
#2 Cabrini vs. #10 Belle Chasse, 4:20 p.m. Court 3

Division III
#1 Vandebilt Catholic vs. #9 Ursuline, 9 a.m. Court 1
#4 De La Salle vs. #5 Westlake, 2:30 p.m. Court 2
#3 E.D. White Catholic vs. #6 Morgan City, 10:50 a.m. Court 2
#2 St. Michael vs. #7 Parkview Baptist, 9 a.m. Court 3

Division IV
#1 Archbishop Hannan vs. #8 Academy of the Sacred Heart (NO), 12:40 p.m. Court 2
#4 Pope John Paul II vs. #5 Northlake Christian, 9 a.m. Court 2
#3 University High vs. #11 Haynes, 10:50 a.m. Court 3
#2 Notre Dame vs. #7 John Curtis Christian, 10:50 a.m. Court 1

Division V
#1 Country Day vs. #9 Academy of The Sacred Heart (GC), 2:30 p.m. Court 1
#4 Lafayette Christian vs. #5 Dunham, 12:40 p.m. Court 1
#3 Central Catholic vs. #6 Episcopal of Acadiana, 2:30 p.m. Court 3
#2 Ascension Episcopal vs. #7 McGehee, 12:40 p.m. Court 3