Volleyball: Cedar Ridge 3, Eastern Alamance 0: Following its win over Orange last week, Cedar Ridge remains in first place in the Central Conference after sweeping the Eagles at Red Wolves Gymnasium last Thursday. Junior Claire Hargett led the Red Wolves with 17 kills and six digs.
Before the match, Hargett was one of three players honored for mid-century milestones. Hargett was awarded for her 500th kill and 500th dig. Hargett joined Cameron Lloyd (now at Bucknell) and Cameron Lanier (now at Elon) in the career 500 kill club. Libero Sydnee Tapper was honored for her 500th dig, which she eclipsed after registering a career-high 41 digs in a five-set marathon against Carrboro on September 4th. Mia Marty was awarded for her 500th career assist.
Marty finished with six kills, eight digs, 22 assists and two aces. Junior middle blocker Kayla Stoll came away with seven kills.
Cedar Ridge jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the opening set, which led to an Eagles timeout following a kill by Marty off an assist from Emory Williams. Charlotte Lowry scored a block on set point to send the Red Wolves on its way.
Orange 3, Southern Alamance 0: Following its win over Person last Thursday, the Lady Panthers had five days between games. After a rocky start, the Lady Panthers looked refreshed and better defensively in a sweep of Southern Alamance on Tuesday night in Hillsborough.
The Lady Panthers improved to 6-5, 4-1 in the Central Conference. Junior Ava Wilkerson finished with eleven kills, while sophomore Sawyer White came away with eleven kills, 12 digs, four assists and three aces.
The Patriots got off to a 10-4 lead in the opening set, where Orange didn’t have a lead until Wilkerson swatted down a set from Katie Silcott, who registered 25 assists and eight digs, to make it 25-24. Southern’s Roslyn Taylor slammed home a kill off an assist from Ava Duggins to send the opening set to overtime. Wilkerson’s fourth kill of the set put Orange ahead 26-25. On set point, the Patriots sent a return into the net and the Lady Panthers prevailed.
Orange rolled in the final two sets, winning 25-18 and 25-13. In the second set, the Lady Panthers led 16-12 when libero Abby Silinski had three digs on one lengthy rally that ended with Mariah Poole scoring off a feed from Silcott. Wilkinson slammed down a lofted return by the Patriots to give the Lady Panthers a 19-12 advantage. Wilkerson scored set point.
Poole had an ace on match point in the third. Orange will travel to Seaforth in Pittsboro on Thursday night.
Orange 3, Person 0: Last Thursday, Orange journeyed to Roxboro and came away with its fifth straight win over the Rockets. Aubrey Jordan finished with nine kills while Wilkerson had ten kills and two blocks.
Every set was competitive, though Orange didn’t trail in the opening game after getting off to a 10-3 start that included kills from While and Wilkerson. Katie Silcott registered 32 assists, 12 digs and two kills. Poole, who had nine kills, scored unassisted as Orange took the opening set 25-18.
Person led most of the second set, holding a 15-11 advantage before the Lady Panthers reeled off four straight points keyed by the serve of Silcott, who had an ace. Wilkerson spiked down consecutive kills to even the set 15-15. Orange reeled off six straight points to take control of the set. Wilkerson and Silcott had consecutive blocks. A return by Person that went long propelled Orange to a 23-18 lead. Jordan sent an attack across the floor that landed inside the right sideline on set point, again assisted by Silcott.
In the third set, Person led 17-14 before Orange had another late rally. Silcott delivered another ace to cap four straight Orange points to put them ahead 18-17. Person even the set at 21-21, but Orange ended the match with the final four points, starting with a kill by Poole. White delivered an ace, followed by another spike by Poole. Person sent an attack into the net on match point.