It’s not just that the Orange volleyball team is winning state playoff matches. It’s that they’re dominating them.
Now, for the first time in 17 years, the Lady Panthers are in the state quarterfinals behind another strong performance from its finishers.
Senior Ella Wimsatt piled up 18 kills and 15 digs, her 18th double-double of the season, as the Lady Panthers defeated Union Pines 3-0 on scores of 25-9, 25-14, 25-16 in the third round of the 3A State Playoffs. Orange will face J.H. Rose, the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions, on Saturday (today) inside Panther Gymnasium at 3PM.
Facing the top 3A seed from the 4A/3A Sandhills Conference, Orange only trailed once when the Vikings scored the opening point. Orange racked up eight aces against the Vikings, including five in the opening set.
Orange’s new tandem setter combination of freshman Sawyer White and sophomore Katie Silcott produced its best game yet since head coach Hope Heverly shifted to the new alignment. Silcott had 20 assists, nine digs, three kills and two aces. White registered 17 assists, seven digs, two kills and an ace on match point.
“I think they’re starting to enjoy making it a little further than they have in the playoffs before,” Heverly said. “They’re pushing themselves and really holding themselves accountable. They definitely had more of a drive tonight.”
Unlike the second round win over Northern Nash, the Lady Panthers didn’t have a hiccup early, mainly because of better serving. Wimsatt, senior libero Sadye Porter, Josie Crawford, Silcott and Abby Silinski all had aces in the opening set. Orange opened with a 5-1 run, capped by an ace from Porter and a spike from Wilkerson, who wound up with seven kills and a block.
Leading 16-7, Orange ran off eight straight points with Wimatt serving late in the set. Sophomore Aubrey Jordan, who finished with eight kills, scored on set point with a crosscourt spike that stayed inside the right sideline to put Orange up a frame.
“I think our seniors know that at any moment, this could be their last game,” Heverly said. “I noticed an increased sense of urgency. No matter when the end may come, we want to go out with our heads high.”
Orange took control of the second set with a 9-2 run that started when Wimsatt earned a side out with a light palm thrust at the net. Wimsatt scored off another kill to make it 9-5, which turned into five straight Orange points, ending with a point from sophomore Mariah Poole. The Lady Panthers built a 21-12 lead following another kill from Wimsatt. White’s first kill of the match came on set point, assisted by Wimsatt.
The Vikings managed to tie the third set three times early, but Orange’s outside hitters took control to build a 7-1 run. Wilkerson had consecutive kills and a block during the run. After the Vikings were called for a double hit, Orange took a 12-6 lead..
Union Pines best run of the match came when they scored five of six points to reduce Orange’s lead to 15-14, but Orange immediately reeled off five straight points. Senior Josie Crawford had an ace, followed by a kill from Wimsatt, which led to the Vikings calling a timeout. Afterwards, Wimsatt put up two more points before White’s ace ended the match.
Now, Orange prepares to face one of the most established named in North Carolina volleyball. J.H. Rose last journeyed to Hillsborough in 2021, where they lost to Cedar Ridge 3-0 in the 3A Eastern Regional Championship match. Last year, the Rampants turned the tables, beating the Red Wolves to advance to the state championship match.
Though Orange will be the home team on Saturday, there is a sense that the Lady Panthers may be an underdog to a Rose team that has been to the Final Four each of the past three years.
Though Heverly has been with Orange as head coach just five months, she isn’t surprised that her team is playing for a spot in the regional championship game on Saturday.
“I could always see the potential in them,” Heverly said. “I told them several times that we’re a whole different team than we were at the beginning of this season. I’m hoping that by the time our season ends, we’re still stronger than the way we’ve been going. It will be a great matchup with Rose. I know our girls will come out ready.”