Volleyball: Pope John Paul beats Mount Carmel for second time

There is little doubt as to who the best overall volleyball team in Louisiana is.

If it was not already understood by most observers, three-time defending Division IV state champion Pope John Paul II staked a solid claim to that description, handling three-time defending Division I state champion Mount Carmel 25-15, 19-25, 25-18, 25-21 in Lakeview in a battle of teams that are No. 1 in the latest power rankings in their respective divisions. It was the second win for Pope John Paul II over Mount Carmel this season. The Jaguars handled the Cubs 25-19, 25-13, 25-16 in Slidell on Sept. 26.

“To beat them twice is a pretty good accomplishment,” said Pope John Paul II head coach Danny Tullis. “We served well and we played pretty good defense and got the job done.”

Ansley Tullis led the way for the Jaguars (26-3) with 17 kills and 12 digs while Rachel Hartmann and Tyler Sanderson each added 15 kills. Sanderson also served three aces. Kendall Battistella produced 54 assists and had a pair of aces. Ellie Holzman led the Cubs (26-6) with 22 kills and five blocks, Tori Frught dished up 42 assists and Macie Matherne had 11 digs.

Pope John Paul II has still not lost a match in state losing to Mount Carmel last Oct. 15, winning 34 straight matches in Louisiana. The Jaguars will host Pine today at 3:30 p.m. in a District 4-IV contest while the Cubs will next play in the Vandebilt Catholic Tournament at The Pontchartrain Center beginning Friday in a prelude to next month’s state championship tournament at the Kenner Facility Nov. 9-11.

Area Prep Volleyball Results from Wednesday, Oct. 11

New Orleans Area

Academy of Our Lady over Terrebonne 25-19, ,25-18, 17-25, 26-24

Country Day over Assumption 25-14, 25-10, 25-18

St. Thomas Aquinas over Ascension Catholic 25-17, 28-26, 25-13

Baton Rouge Area

The Church Academy over Runnels 25-18, 25-27, 26-24, 25-22

East Iberville over LA School for Deaf 25-8, 25-13, 25-15

St. Joseph’s Academy over Central 25-14, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18

University over Port Allen 25-10, 25-19, 25-13

Bayou Area

H.L. Bourgeois over Thibodaux 25-20, 25-19, 25-8

Hahnville over Central Lafourche 25-22, 25-16, 25-17

Area Prep Volleyball Schedule for Thursday, Oct. 12

New Orleans Area

Academy of Our Lady at Helen Cox, 4:30 p.m.

Academy of The Sacred Heart (NO) at Fisher, 5:30 p.m.

Archbishop Chapelle at Dominican, 4 p.m.

Archbishop Hannan at St. Helena, 4 p.m.

Cabrini at Riverdale, 4:30 p.m.

Chalmette at West Jefferson, 4 p.m.

Christ Episcopal at Ecole Classique, 4:30 p.m.

Clark at Westminster Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Country Day at Crescent City, 4:30 p.m.

John Curtis at Riverside, 5:30 p.m.

De La Salle at Ben Franklin, 5:30 p.m.

Warren Easton at McDonogh 35, 4 p.m.

East St. John at Destrehan, 4 p.m.

First Baptist Christian at Varnado, 4 p.m.

Fontainebleau at Hammond, 5:30 p.m.

Franklinton at Salmen, 4 p.m.

Higgins at Bonnabel, 4 p.m.

Karr at Belle Chasse, 5:30 p.m.

Grace King at John Ehret, 4 p.m.

KIPP Renaissance at St. Mary’s Academy, 4:30 p.m.

Lakeshore at St. Scholastica, 4 p.m.

Landry-Walker at Sci Academy, 4:30 p.m.

Lutcher at Newman, 6 p.m.

Northlake Christian at Bogalusa, 4:30 p.m.

Northshore at Mandeville, 5:30 p.m.

Pine at Pope John Paul II, 3:30 p.m.

Ridgewood at St. Martin’s Episcopal, 4:30 p.m

Slidell at Ponchatoula, 5:30 p.m.

Springfield at Loranger, 5:30 p.m.

St. Charles Catholic at St. James, 6 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas at Independence, 4 p.m.

Sophie B. Wright at International High, 4:30 p.m.

Baton Rouge Area

Ascension Christian at Family Christian, 5 p.m.

Baker at Mentorship Academy, 5 p.m.

Baton Rouge at Runnels, 6 p.m.

Belaire at Live Oak, 5 p.m.

Broadmoor at Scotlandville, 5 p.m.

Brusly at Livonia, 5 p.m.

Lee at Plaquemine, 6 p.m.

McKinley at Zachary, 4 p.m.

Parkview Baptist at Glen Oaks, 6 p.m.

St. John at Episcopal, 5 p.m.

St. Michael at Madison Prep, 5 p.m.

Walker at St. Amant, 5:30 p.m.

Woodlawn (BR) at Tara, 5 p.m.

Bayou Area

Assumption at Ellender, 4 p.m.

Covenant Christian at Central Catholic, 4 p.m.

Franklin at Abbeville, 3:30 p.m.

Morgan City at Berwick, 5:30 p.m.

South Lafourche at South Terrebonne, 4 p.m.

West St. Mary at Patterson, 4 p.m.

E.D. White Catholic at Vandebilt Catholic, 5:30 p.m.