Volleyball: Ursuline rallies past Ponchatoula and three defending state champs win openers

It is official. LHSAA competition has returned!

Prep Volleyball got underway across the state, including with several matches in the metro New Orleans area.

Ursuline Academy opened its 2020 season with a come from behind 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-16 victory over Ponchatoula in uptown New Orleans.

Giselle Pope led the Lions with 12 kills, Megan Pulizano finished with 13 assists, Sarah Roth served five aces and Annabel Beatmann produced 32 digs. Kaitlyn Abels added six kills for Ursuline.

Lions coach Jay Jay Juan admitted that his team was a bit rusty.

“We’re behind in preparation,” Juan said. “You are playing with lineups, you were rushed over the past month to get a system in play and you basically lost the summer. Everyone is in a mad rush. We just got the ruling to play earlier in the day. This was not easy and it is not easy for everyone playing. It’s almost like going from the seat of your pants the first few weeks.”

Still, Juan was pleased with his team’s effort.

“I’m pleased with the adjustment we made to turn the match around,” Juan said. “We will have to improve if we want to pick up a win in our next match.”

Ursuline returns to action Thursday at Ben Franklin while the Green Wave will host Springfield today at 5 p.m.

Three defending state champions also opened with victories Tuesday.

Mount Carmel Academy defeated always tough Vandebilt Catholic 25-13, 25-21, 18-25, 25-21 in Lakeview, Cabrini handled Haynes Academy 25-17, 25-17, 25-12 at home and Pope John Paul II traveled and defeated rival Archbishop Hannan 25-12, 25-18, 25-23.

Another defending state champion swings into action this evening as Country Day hosts Mount Carmel Academy in a matchup of defending state champions at 5:30 p.m. in Metairie.

Area Prep Volleyball Results from Tuesday, Sept. 8

Academy of Our Lady over Central Lafourche 25-20, 25-20, 25-19

Cabrini over Haynes 25-17, 25-17, 25-12

Dominican over John Curtis Christian 25-27, 25-21, 25-12, 25-22

Landry over East Jefferson 25-11, 26-24, 25-13

Mount Carmel Academy over Vandebilt Catholic 25-13, 25-21, 18-25, 25-21

Pope John Paul II over Archbishop Hannan 25-12, 25-18, 25-23

Ursuline Academy over Ponchatoula 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-16

Walker over Hammond 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-13

Area Prep Volleyball Schedule for Wednesday, Sept. 9

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

Central Catholic at Dominican, 5:30 p.m.

Christ Episcopal at Pine, 5:30 p.m.

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

Denham Springs at Hammond, 5 p.m.

Douglass at West St. John, 4:30 p.m.

Fontainebleau at Chalmette, 4:30 p.m.

Lakeshore at Northshore, 5:30 p.m.

Lutcher at Hahnville, 6:30 p.m.

Lutheran at Fisher, 4:30 p.m.

Madison Prep at Ben Franklin, 4:30 p.m.

Mount Carmel Academy at Country Day, 5:30 p.m.

Salmen at St. Thomas Aquinas, 4:30 p.m.

Springfield at Ponchatoula, 5 p.m.

St. Martin’s Episcopal at Belle Chasse, 5:30 p.m.

Patrick Taylor at Crescent City Christian, 4:30 p.m.

West Jefferson at Landry, 4 p.m.

White Castle at Donaldsonville, 5 p.m.