The Orange volleyball team won its first game under new head coach Hope Heverly in its season opener. Aubrey Jordan had 16 kills while senior Ella Wimsatt added 12 kills as Orange defeated Jordan 3-1 at Panthers Gymnasium. It was the first time in nine years that Heverly coached a high school game. In 2014, Heverly coached the Person Rockets. She has also served as the head coach at Orange Middle School. For the past 17 years, she has been with the D.O.V.E. Volleyball program. After finishing second in the Central Carolina Conference last year, Orange lost seniors Erin Jordan-Cornell, Allie Wilkerson, Caitlin Carden and Josie Crawford from last year’s squad. But the Lady Panthers do return Ava Wilkerson, a 6-foot-4 sophomore who had five kills on Tuesday night. Orange followed the victory with Jordan with a spirited contest at Carrboro on Wednesday night, a match that Carrboro captured in four sets. Orange won the second set and extended the Jaguars to a tight fourth set, which Carrboro won 25-23. But the Lady Panthers fought the whole way against the defending Northern Carolina Conference champions. This weekend, Orange will return to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro district for the annual tournament at East Chapel Hill High School during the opening weekend of the season. Orange will open against East Chapel Hill on Friday night at 7 PMN. Orange will face Southwestern Randolph on Saturday morning, then take on Grimsley on Saturday afternoon, followed by another game against an opponent to be determined.
Orange volleyball’s Ella Wimsatt & Ava Wilkerson discuss season-opening win vs. Jordan
The Orange volleyball team won its first game under new head coach Hope Heverly in its season opener. Aubrey Jordan had 16 kills while senior Ella Wimsatt added 12 kills as Orange defeated Jordan 3-1 at Panthers Gymnasium. It was the first time in nine years that Heverly coached a high school game.