Since she became the Cedar Ridge volleyball coach, Fiona Cunningham has made it a priority to make the Red Wolves’ nonconfernece schedule as difficult as possible.
In the opening two weeks of the season, the Red Wolves played five of its first six games away from Hillsborough. But they haven’t lacked for support.
That’s because of a rambunctious group called “The Wolf Pack,” Cedar Ridge’s traveling volleyball cheering section that knows no limits in how to support the defending 3A State Champions, whether its distance traveled (a healthy number made the trek to Greenville last week for a match against D.H. Conley) or volume generated in an opposing team’s gym.
On Saturday night, Cedar Ridge faced a Wake County team inside a Wake County gym for an event sponsored by a Wake County website. Yet the Red Wolves volleyball team controlled the action on the floor while the Wolfpack made the most noise in the stands.
Cedar Ridge defeated the defending 4A State Champions, Green Level, 3-0 on scores of 25-21, 25-18 and 25-21. It concluded an impressive week where Cedar Ridge (now 6-1 after wins over East Chapel Hill and Person this week) captured three road matches over teams that all won state championships within the last five years. Last Tuesday, the Red Wolves swept D.H. Conley (the 2021 3A State Champs) in Greenville. The following day, Cedar Ridge defeated Carrboro (the 2017 2A State Champs) at Jaguars Gymnasium.
“I was happy with our poise tonight,” Cunningham said after the Green Level win at Garner High School. “We didn’t let little things impact us. We weren’t intimidated about facing the 4A champions because we have faith in ourselves. We have a group that’s played on the biggest stage before.”
Senior outside hitter Cameron Lanier, who has committed to play at Elon University, finished with eleven kills, three blocks and two aces. Cameron Lloyd, who has committed to play at Bucknell University, finished with nine kills, seven digs and three assists. Senior Julie Altieri, who is the all-time school leader in assists, finished with 25 assists and six digs as the Red Wolves won its fourth straight game. Libero Grace Young had 15 digs.
The cramped settings at Trojan Gymnasium created an unpredictable atmosphere where balls bounced off low-hanging lights, if they came down at all. In the opening set, Young received a serve. As Altieri positioned herself for the second hit, she kept waiting and waiting, only to find the ball got stuck on top of the lights. At various points, Young spilled into the “Wolf Pack” student section twice diving for loose balls.
With the opening set even 7-7, Cedar Ridge reeled off six straight points. Lanier had three kills and a block during the run. Junior Graylinn Serge served up an ace, which led to a Gators timeout. After Green Level reduced the Red Wolves lead to 15-13, Altieri got a kill at the net, which triggered a run that would carry the Red Wolves to the opening set, ending with a kill by Lanier.
The second set would prove to be the tightest of the match. With the frame tied 16-16, Cedar Ridge finished on a 9-3 run behind kills from Lanier and senior Anaya Carter. Lanier would notch a kill to make it 23-18, then got an ace. Cedar Ridge took the set after a Gator return went into the net.
Between sets, the Garner High Athletic Director asked the Wolf Pack not to make any noise while Green Level served. The Wolf Pack followed the orders, going as far as holding up a peace sign while pressing their lips together as the Gators put the ball in play, garnering plenty of chuckles from parents seated around them.
Cedar Ridge never trailed in the third set, which started with Altieri serving up four straight aces. The Red Wolves stretched its lead as wide as 19-11 after consecutive blocks by junior Addie Reid. On match point, Reid scored a kill off an assist by Altieri.