Month: September 2022

My friend and colleague Kelly Snow, the editor of the Courier-Times in Roxboro, once dubbed his hometown “Volleyball City.”

And with good reason.

In 2018, Roxboro Community School advanced to the 1A State Championship match, where they lost to Community School of Davidson. The Bulldogs won four straight North Central Athletic Conference Championships from 2014-2017.

The Person Rockets had three straight trips to the 4A State Championship match and claimed back-to-back state titles in 2005 and 2006.

It is indeed Volleyball City. Or, at least, it was.

Until 2019.

That’s when Cedar Ridge’s current senior class were only freshman. From the time they first scrimmaged together in August 2019 at a community center in Burlington, without air conditioning, then-head coach Anna Seethaler knew something special was brewing immediately. When asked how this team would be, she simply said “Look out.”

Three weeks later, the Red Wolves stunned defending 3A State Champion Chapel Hill in five sets at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Though Seethaler wouldn’t be around to see her players greatest moments, it was the launching point for what it is now undeniable.

Hillsborough is the new Volleyball City.

Cedar Ridge won the 3A State Championship last year, dropping just two sets in five matches in the state tournament. The Red Wolves have won two consecutive conference championships and 31 straight conference matches. The Cedar Ridge senior class of Cameron Lloyd, Julie Altieri, Cameron Lanier, Grace Young, and Anaya Carter have a four-year record of 71-10.

It doesn’t stop there.

The Orange volleyball team is only one game behind the Red Wolves currently in the Central Carolina Conference. They’re on track to earn an automatic trip to the state playoffs and are online for its best conference finish since 2016. Earlier this month, Orange defeated Person in Roxboro for the first time since 2014. Currently, the Lady Panthers are ranked #8 in the 3A East Region. Last year, Orange defeated West Johnston for its first win in the state playoffs since 2015. This year, there’s hope they could host two state playoff matches.

Then there’s the new kid on the block. Eno River Academy is rolling through an undefeated season. The Bobcats are 6-0 in the 1-A Triangle North Conference and appear well on its way to winning its first conference championship. On September 9, the Bobcats claimed a five-set thriller over Roxboro Community on Highway 57. The Bobcats will be the heavy favorite going into tonight’s match against Excelsior Classical Academy. Eno River’s first match in October will be a rematch against Roxboro Community in Person County.

On top of all that, the future at the middle school level is promising. Last October, the Orange Middle School Chargers captured the Orange-Person Athletic Conference championship.

Today is the first day of fall. If there’s any downside to the change of seasons, it’s that each day that goes by brings the final chapters of some of the greatest seniors to ever play sports in Hillsborough closer to the end.

At Cedar Ridge, Cameron Lloyd is the all-time kills leader in school history. Cameron Lanier is only the second Red Wolf to amass over 500 kills, joined only by Lloyd. Altieri will go into tonight’s match against Person with a record 1,719 assists. Libero Grace Young has committed to play at UNC Asheville and her defense has helped Cedar Ridge win 39 consecutive sets. Melissa Benkowitz, who transferred to Cedar Ridge from East Chapel Hill to start 2021, was a key outside hitter that gave the Red Wolves an incredible array of weapons. Benkowitz made the transition from setter to hitter under head coach Fiona Cunningham flawlessly. Anaya Carter has been a reliable striker and defensive presence since her freshman year.

At Orange, the blend between youth and experience has been more stark. There are seven seniors who share playing time with three freshmen. After a win over Carrboro on Monday, senior Erin Jordan-Cornell joked that the seniors looked at the freshmen as their “little babies” and she was a “mama bear.” Jordan-Cornell is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Orange’s Allie Wilkerson recently committed to Division III Avertt University. Her younger sister, freshman Ava Wilkerson, stands 6-2 with enough range to score kills flat-footed.

All three Hillsborough high schools have special senior classes who will each leave their own identities once they graduate in June. It would be inaccurate to say that Cedar Ridge and Orange have banded together to make Hillsborough the new Volleyball City. The rivalry between the Red Wolves and the Panthers is a strong one with heathy doses of civility and animosity blended in.

The sum of the parts have made volleyball in Hillsborough whole.

And all together, Hillsborough is the new Volleyball City.

Almost daily, there’s plenty of material that could make someone doubt their faith in the goodness of humanity. It could be a simple glance at violent crime on a news site, or a viral video of a verbal or physical fight from an airport or a service station. Perhaps something in their own workplace.

And then something comes along that restores that faith.

Like what parents at Jordan High School did on Tuesday night.

It has been a tumultuous week across western Orange County. On Sunday afternoon, the bodies of Cedar Ridge freshman Lyric Woods and Eastern Alamance senior Devin Clark were discovered two-and-a-half miles from Woods’ home. Members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office believe they were shot to death.

While she never suited up for the Cedar Ridge volleyball team, Woods did play with the White Cross Recreation Department, where many of the current Red Wolves players honed their skills during elementary and middle school. Woods hoped to join the junior varsity team for her sophomore season.

After the discovery of Woods’ body on Sunday, Cedar Ridge’s volleyball team released a statement that its Tuesday game against Jordan would be played in memory of Woods.

When the Red Wolves showed up to Falcons Gymnasium in Durham on Tuesday, several Jordan parents were already prepared to honor Woods. They had designed burgundy and grey ribbons, the Cedar Ridge school colors, with an “LW” and her number “34” written in black ink on white laces. The Cedar Ridge and Jordan players wore them on their shoes during the game.

“We started practice this week making sure across the board that the girls knew we’re here to support them,” said Cedar Ridge head coach Fiona Cunningham. “That’s the number one thing we’re focused on this week. Our junior varsity girls took Monday off. They knew Lyric really well. They played travel volleyball with her. It’s been a mixed bag because our girls are trying to continue moving forward, but we’re less than four days out from a tragedy in our community and the players are responding like you would expect.”

Before the match on Tuesday night, there was a moment of silence.

Originally, this week was spirit week at Cedar Ridge since it was the return of a Homecoming football game on Friday night (Cedar Ridge didn’t field a varsity football team in 2021 and held homecoming on a Thursday.) After Woods’ death, those plans changed. On Thursday night for Cedar Ridge’s volleyball match against Person in Hillsborough, fans are encouraged to wear pink ribbons in honor of Woods.

As for the match itself on Tuesday, Cedar Ridge prevailed 3-0 for its 13th straight win. The Red Wolves won on scores of 25-12, 25-10 and 25-19.

Since losing to J.H. Rose in the season-opener on August 17, the Red Wolves (13-1) have won 39 consecutive sets.

On her 18th birthday, senior Cameron Lloyd had 12 kills and 13 digs. Like most of the Cedar Ridge starters, Lloyd didn’t play in the third set. Senior Julie Altieri had eleven assists, two kills, two aces and six digs.

In the third set, junior Rachel Alverson was inserted as the setter while freshman Claire Hargett took over as outside hitter. Hargett finished with six kills while Alverson had nine assists. Junior libero Natasha Buchler-Fosado had an ace and an assist in the third set.

The Red Wolves, who are currently ranked #2 in the MaxPreps 3A East Region behind J.H. Rose, will start the second half of its CCC schedule on Tuesday night when they host Person at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Person and Cedar Ridge met in the CCC Tournament championship game last year, a 3-0 Red Wolves victory.

On August 30, the Red Wolves defeated the Rockets 3-0 in Roxboro.

Cedar Ridge will enter Thursday’s match with 30 consecutive conference wins under its belt. The Red Wolves senior class of Lloyd, Altieri, Cameron Lanier, Anaya Carter and Grace Young now have a career record of 71-10.

Cross County: Runners from Orange and Cedar Ridge High School took the top four spots in Tuesday’s men’s cross country meet at Northwood High School in Pittsboro.

Orange junior Gabriel Schmid earned his second win of the season. Schmid, who started the season with a victory at the Early Bird Special at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, crossed the finish line in 1st place with a time of 17:25.24. As he finished the race, Schmid held up his right hand to show “Lyric” written on the front in honor of Cedar Ridge freshman Lyric Woods, whose body was discovered in western Orange County on Sunday.

Cedar Ridge senior Roman Morrell, who has two first-place finishes this season, came in 2nd at 18:20.86. Morrell already has two wins at the Northwood High course. He captured the Ronald Horton Cross Country Classic on August 27. Last week, he finished first in a quad meet with Walter Williams and Northwood.

Orange finished first in the men’s team standings with 26 points. Panthers junior Alden Cathey came in third at 18:36.65, a new personal best. Orange freshman Lucas Van Mater finished fourth at 18:46.62. Panthers sophomore Peter Musser came in eighth (19:12.95).

Cedar Ridge freshman Ryan Matthews finished 9th (19:16.82).

Orange had a string of sophomores and freshman take spots 10-13. Finishing tenth was sophomore Cyrus Neal (19:41.46); in 11th place was sophomore Aiden Viola (19:45.61). In 12th was freshman Myles Jemyn (19:55.83) and in 13th was freshman Nolan Hufner (20:07.76).

Cedar Ridge freshman Henry Alexander came in 14th at 20:50.74. The Red Wolves men’s team came in third with 63 points. Northwood finished second with 48 points.

In the women’s race, Orange junior Grace Pell finished in second place at 24:03.64. The Lady Panthers had three of the top seven finishers with junior Kassi Scarntino coming in sixth (24:57.04. Orange freshman Evelyn Gover came in 7th place (25:20.99) and Kyla Mehl finished 8th (25:31.05).

Cedar Ridge’s Serena Summers finished 9th and was the top placer for the Red Wolves. Red Wolves senior Sarah Fenwick came in 10th.

Eastern Alamance’s Catherine Parker won the overall race. The Eagles also captured the team race with 35 points, narrowly edging out Orange, who had 39 points. Cedar Ridge finished 3rd with 72 points.

Men’s Soccer: Orange 4, Person 0: The Orange men’s soccer team captured its second straight win on Monday night. The Panthers defeated Person inside Rockets Stadium.

Cooper Zinn scored the game-winning goal for the Panthers in the first half. It was the first goal of the season for Zinn. Bryan Membreno added another goal. Manny Mil Cruz and Angel Arroyo also scored for the Panthers, while Tyler Mann had an assist.

Senior goalkeeper Connor McMurtry earned the win in net. Finn Kelly played the entire second half as the Panther goalkeeper. The Panthers (3-5, 2-1 in the Central Carolina Conference) will host Northwood on Wednesday in Hillsborough.

Eastern Alamance 2, Cedar Ridge 0: Eastern Alamance improved to 5-3 after getting goals from Jamil Navarro Bilbao and Lamin Nyeekpee. It was the Eagles’ first Central Carolina Conference win of the year. Junior goalkeeper Roberto Pachecho earned the clean sheet.

In a pregame show of unity, Cedar Ridge and Eastern Alamance players formed a circle around midfield with their arms around each other’s shoulders for a moment of silence. The game was played hours after the bodies of Cedar Ridge freshman Lyric Woods and Eastern Alamance senior Devin Lark were discovered in western Orange County on Sunday afternoon.

Women’s Tennis: Orange 7, Eastern Alamance 0: The Orange women’s tennis team captured its sixth straight win with a victory over Eastern Alamance in Mebane on Monday.

Junior Erin Sollars had the only three set match of the day. Sollars won 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 10-3. Sophomore Shanon Sollars won at #2 singles 6-0, 6-0. Junior Makayla Davis captured her #3 singles match 6-0, 6-1. Senior Isabel Jones won 6-0, 6-0 at #4 singles. Senior Sydney Rogers, who kicked a 35-yard field goal in the final seconds of Orange’s football game against Western Alamance on Friday night, won at #5 singles 6-0, 6-0.

Senior Madelyn Horn won at #6 singles 6-0, 6-0. Horn teamed with Katelyn Van Mater to win the only doubles match 8-1.

Orange is 10-2 overall, 5-1 in the CCC. The Lady Panthers will travel to Western Alamance on Wednesday.

We wait and wait for fall sports season to finally arrive. And while Major League Baseball season drags on and on, we’re five weeks into the high school sports season and already the regular season is halfway over for most fall sports.

In volleyball, it appears that Cedar Ridge and Orange are on track to take the two automatic playoff spots in the Central Carolina Conference. After Cedar Ridge’s 3-0 win over Jordan on Tuesday night, the Red Wolves have won 39 consecutive sets. In other worse, since losing to J.H. Rose on August 17, Cedar Ridge hasn’t lost a set in 13 straight matches. The Red Wolves will host Orange next Thursday in a match that could determine the next CCC regular season champion. It could also be the second of three matchups between the Red Wolves and the Lady Panthers with the Central Carolina Conference Tournament slated for next month.

The Orange women’s tennis team remains in 2nd place in the CCC behind only Walter Williams. The Lady Panthers won a match in the 3A State Dual Team Tournament last year, which was the first time that’s ever happened. Orange made the tournament as a wildcard in 2021, something that Cedar Ridge is aiming for right now. The Red Wolves are in 3rd place in the CCC at 4-2.

So here are the seven best performances for the week of August 28-September 3.

1. Ella Wimsatt, Sr. Orange: Was named the Orange Panther of the Week for the week of August 28-September 3. She led the team in kills as Orange opened the Central Carolina Conference season with a win over Western Alamance. Two days later, she had another strong game as the Lady Panthers defeated Williams in Burlington. Orange remains one game behind Cedar Ridge for 1st place in the Central Carolina Conference.
2. Adeline Cummings, Soph. Cedar Ridge: Won all three of her singles matches for Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team. Competing at #1 singles, defeated Person 6-2, 6-0 in Roxboro as the Red Wolves won its CCC opener 9-0. The following day, Cummings won her singles match 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 as the Red Wolves defeated Southern Alamance 7-2. On August 31, Cummings worked overtime to defeat Northwood’s #1 singles player 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (15-13). Cedar Ridge defeated the Chargers 6-3.
3. Evan Marty, Sr. Cedar Ridge: Scored two goals as the Red Wolves’ men’s soccer team defeated Eastern Guilford 8-0 at Red Wolves Stadium. On August 30 against East Chapel Hill, Marty added a goal as the Wildcats defeated the Red Wolves 6-3 in Hillsborough. For the season, Marty has four goals and nine points.
4. Noami Dyreng, Soph. Cedar Ridge: Finished third in her first race of the season during the Ronald Horton Cross Country Classic at Northwood High School in Pittsboro. Dyrent crossed the finish line at 22:33.90 in a field that included 55 competitors. It was Dyreng’s first race with the Red Wolves.
5. Claire Hargett, Fres. Cedar Ridge: The next generation for Cedar Ridge volleyball, Hargett had a career-high nine kills in a 3-0 win over East Chapel Hill on August 29. Two days later against Person, Hargett had seven kills, two aces and five digs in a 3-0 victory over Northwood in Hillsborough. Hargett is a regular rotation player on a team that returned all of its starters from last season.
6. Shannon Sollars, Soph. Orange: Won her singles match in the Orange women’s soccer team’s CCC opener against Western Alamance on August 29. Sollars defeated Sarah McLaghlin at #2 singles 6-2, 6-2. At #1 doubles, Sollars clinched the match for Orange by teaming with her sister, Erin Sollars, to win 8-0. Orange remains #2 in the Central Carolina Conference and is on track to earn an automatic spot to the 3A State Dual Tournament.
7. Shawn Beasley, Sr. Orange: Had a career-high 152 yards receiving on seven receptions in Orange’s loss to Burlington Cummings. Beasley had a 70-yard touchdown reception in the first half, which briefly tied the game. It was Orange’s longest play from scrimmage this season. Beasley is Orange’s leader in reception yardage.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior outside hitter Cameron Lloyd. This is the fourth time that Cameron has earned the Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week, meaning she joins Takia Nichols in the prestigious Hillsboroughsports.com Four-Timers Club. Lloyd earned a customary Four-Timers Club robe to commemorate the honor. Lloyd is the all-time kills leader in Cedar Ridge history with 904, despite her sophomore year being limited to ten matches because of the pandemic. She was the leader in kills in her junior season as Cedar Ridge became the first female state championship team in school history in 2021. Since she started at Cedar Ridge along with classmates Julie Altieri, Cameron Lanier and Anaya Carter, the Red Wolves have won two consecutive conference championships, a regional title and have amassed a win-loss record of 70-10. Cedar Ridge has won 30 consecutive conference matches, dating back to 2019. Earlier this summer, Lloyd committed to play at Bucknell University. The Red Wolves have won 12 in a row going into its non conference match at Jordan High tonight. Lloyd has a chance to finish her career with over 1,000 kills as the Red Wolves are midway through the season in first place searching for another Central Carolina Conference championship. 

For two schools separated by only 16 miles, it seems surprising that Orange and Carrboro hadn’t met in volleyball in 14 years.

On Monday night, Orange made a long sought after victory over the Jaguars worth the wait.

In possibly its most complete performance of the season, the Lady Panthers defeated the Jaguars 3-1 on scores of 25-19, 25-12, 16-25 and 26-24. Orange (10-6) is now 3-0 lifetime against Carrboro.

Carrboro has won three straight conference championships and 43 consecutive league matches, extending back to its days as a 2A school (playing in the Mid-State Conference) and its current status in the 3A/2A Northern Lakes Conference.

Orange junior Ella Wimsatt finished with ten kills and 23 digs. Freshman middle blocker Ava Wilkinson had six kills while her sister, senior Allie Wilkinson, slammed home match point to end a nonconfernce match that extended to nearly two hours in front of a sizable crowd at Panthers Gymnasium.

Senior Erin Jordan-Cornell factored in the biggest down the stretch of a tight opening set. Jordan-Cornell evened things at 18-18 with a kill set up by freshman Katie Silcott, who finished with 19 assists. That triggered a 5-0 Orange run which continued when Jordan-Cornell dunked home a ball that hung precariously in the air over the net. Jordan-Cornell’s stuffed an attack by Carrboro’s Emily Stutts for a block, putting Orange’s lead at 22-18.

Following a kill by Wimsatt, Allie Wilkerson completed the set with a spike set up by Wilcott to conclude a lengthy point that included junior Josie Crawford making three digs.

Orange never trailed in the second set, which couldn’t have gone any better for the home team. It started with senior Caitlin Carden getting a rare kill, which sent the Orange bench into delirium. Orange led 10-4 when Ava Wilkerson started notched a kill to start a spree of eight straight Lady Panthers points. Wimsatt put Orange ahead 2-0 off a spike to wrap up the set 25-12.

“The second set was one of the best sets we’ve ever played,” said Jordan-Cornell. “Our coach said it was beautiful. And it really was. It was really flowing. Everybody was high-fiving each other and it felt really good.”

Carrboro (8-5), the 2017 2A State Champions, fought back from an early 2-0 deficit with five consecutive points. The Jaguars won the third set 25-16 off a kill by junior Catherine Rucker.

Orange had six different players register kills in the fourth and final set, which included seven ties. Wimsatt even the frame 8-8 with an attack off an assist from Silcott, which started a 5-0 Orange run. Following an ace by Allie Wilkerson and kills by Wilkerson and Jordan-Cornell, Orange led 12-8, leading to a Carrboro timeout. Silcott had five assists in the third set.

“It’s definitely been really challenging,” Silcott said. “I’ve been trying to adjust to stronger play as I’m playing older students. But it’s also been a lot of fun being challenged. It’s definitely been a fun experience.”

Orange crept closer to match point despite some tenuous moments late. It appeared that Wimsatt put Orange ahead 21-19 with a kill, but she was called for going over the line under the net, leading to a lengthy discussion between an official and Orange coach Kelly Young. After the Lady Panthers got a side out, Carden served up another ace to put Orange ahead 23-20.

Carrboro extended the fourth set into overtime following a point by Rucker. Orange’s Ashlyn Davis returned possession to the home side following a kill, which led to Wilkerson finishing things off.

“I like our chemistry,” Jordan-Cornell said. “We pretty much love each other. We have a lot of seniors and our freshmen are like our little babies. It’s a great team chemistry and it all goes nice together.”

Orange will travel to Eastern Alamance on Tuesday night, followed by a trip to Western Alamance on Thursday.

The Orange volleyball team earned possibly its most impressive win of the season on Monday night. The Lady Panthers defeated Carrboro 3-1 on scores of 25-19, 25-12, 16-25 and 26-24. Senior outside blocker Erin Jordan-Cornell had some huge moments down the stretch of a tight first set. Jordan-Cornell finished with seven kills and two blocks. Freshman Katie Silcott cam away with 19 assists, eight digs and an ace as the Lady Panthers improved to 10-6. Jordan-Cornell is currently a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. The Lady Panthers are on the verge of tying last season win total and have a chance to surpass it this week. Orange will travel to Mebane to face Eastern Alamance on Tuesday night, followed by a trek to Elon to face Western Alamance on Thursday. Orange will complete the first half of its Central Carolina Conference scheduled on Tuesday against the Eagles. Orange is 4-1 and have a chance to remain one game behind Cedar Ridge for first place in the CCC. Orange will travel to Cedar Ridge on September 29.