Cedar Ridge Volleyball

Over the past few years, the state playoffs have been dominated by local volleyball teams.

It certainly appears that Cedar Ridge and Orange will take the two automatic state playoffs spots in the Central Carolina Conference this year. Exactly who will finish first will likely be determined on October 12 when Orange travels to Cedar Ridge to complete the regular season series.

But there’s a chance that Hillsborough will have a team in the 3A State Soccer Playoffs for the first time in five years.

The Orange men’s soccer team is currently ranked #25 in the 3A East Region. The Panthers had a five-game winning streak spanning September 14-26. Though Orange stubbed its toe in a 4-0 loss at Eastern Alamance last week, the Panthers still likely control its own fate. However, it won’t be easy this week. On Monday, the Panthers travel to defending 3A State Champion Western Alamance. Then on Wednesday, the Panthers will host Walter Williams, currently the #1 ranked team in the 3A East Region.

Orange’s last trip to the 3A State Playoffs came in 2017. Jamar Davis, who will surely go down as one of the most versatile athletes in Orange High history, led the Panthers in scoring that season. In a wild scoreline, Orange defeated White Oak 6-2 in double overtime to advance to the second round. It was Orange’s first win in the state playoffs in eight years. Davis had a hat trick as the Panthers scored four goals in 25 minutes.

The Orange women’s soccer team has put itself in a position to win a conference championship, which would most likely be a first in school history. Last week, the Lady Panthers surprised Walter Williams 5-4 at Panther Tennis Courts. It was the Bulldogs first loss of the season. Shannon and Erin Sollars won the deciding doubles match, beating Abigail Brown and Jaden Wilson 9-7.

The Lady Panthers defeated cross town rival Cedar Ridge 6-3 on Wednesday. Orange will host Person on Monday. Orange looks likely to reach the 3A State Dual Team playoffs for the second straight year.

Without any further delay, here’s the Magnificent 7 for the week of September 11-17.

1. Cameron Lloyd, Sr. Cedar Ridge–Lloyd played three matches over three days for the Red Wolves volleyball team. She had a season-high 20 kills in a 3-0 win over Southern Alamance on September 14. Lloyd had six kills, two aces, a block, and eight digs against an improved Western Alamance squad in Elon on September 13.
2. Makayla Davis, Jr. Orange–Davis won five matches as the Orange women’s tennis team captured wins over Northwood, Riverside and Roxboro Community School. Davis won her singles match against Northwood 6-2, 6-0 and teamed with Sydney Rogers to win at #2 doubles 8-6. Two days later, Davis won a singles match over Riverside 8-1, then teamed with Rogers again to win at #2 doubles 8-5.
3. Cameron Mayhew, Jr. Cedar Ridge–Once again, Mayhew worked by the hour in defeating Walter Williams 4-6, 6-3, 12-10 on September 14. The following day, the Red Wolves’ women’s tennis team defeated Western Alamance 8-1 in Elon. Mayhew finished with a 6-0, 6-0 singles win. Later, she teamed with sophomore Adeline Cummings to win at #1 doubles 8-2.
4. Enzo Bruhns, Jr. Orange–Scored game-winning goal for the Orange men’s soccer team in a 3-1 win over Cedar Ridge to win the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby on September 14. It was Orange’s first win over Cedar Ridge since October 2018.
5. Naomi Dyreng, Soph. Cedar Ridge–Dyreng had her first career first place finish for the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team in a tri-meet against Northwood, Western Alamance and Walter Williams. Dyreng crossed the finish line at 22:50.61 as the Red Wolves women’s team finished 1st with 25 points.
6. Katie Silcott, Fres. Orange–Led Orange in assists and aces as the Lady Panthers rolled to a victory over Northwood on September 13. Silcott has alternated between setter and outside hitter for the Lady Panthers in recent weeks. Orange is currently one game behind Cedar Ridge for 1st place in the Central Carolina Conference.
7. Shannon Murphy, Orange–Murphy shot the lowest round for the Orange women’s golf team this season during a meet at the Valley in Burlington on September 6. Murphy shot a 51 to lead the Orange women’s golf team.

Not one. Not two. But there’s three sports where Cedar Ridge and Orange will tangle this week.

Hopefully Tropical Storm Ian won’t get in the way of Friday’s football game between Cedar Ridge and Orange at Auman Stadium. It will be a battle of two young teams that are struggling to find their way in a new conference controlled by the Alamance County schools, where football is a way of life from the time children are midway through elementary school–at the latest.

On Thursday, Cedar Ridge and Orange will face off in volleyball at Red Wolves Gymnasium. The Red Wolves remain #2 in the 3A East Region behind J.H. Rose, the only team to beat the Red Wolves this season. Since then, the Red Wolves have won 42 consecutive sets during a 14-match winning streak. During that amazing run, Orange came the closest to ending that streak when they faced Cedar Ridge n September 6, and some around Lady Panthers circles believe they did in the opening set. But because of a scoreboard error, Orange allegedly lost a point, which made a big difference when the Lady Panthers lost four set points, and eventually the set entirely, 30-28. If Cedar Ridge wins, they will all but sew up its third straight CCC championship.

On Wednesday, Orange and Cedar Ridge will have a rematch in women’s tennis. It’s a big week for Orange, who will face Walter Williams this afternoon in Hillsborough with first place on the line in the CCC. The Lady Panthers are on track to earn the second automatic bid from the CCC to the 3A State Dual Team Tournament.

So, going back two weeks, here are the top performers from the week of September 4-10.

1. Hank Nunnery, Soph. Orange: Nunnery threw for a career-high five touchdowns in the first half of Orange’s 45-0 win over Granville Central on September 9. Nunnery may have been the first Orange quarterback ever to throw for five touchdowns in a half. Nunnery also had a career-high 196 yards as the Panthers won its first game under head coach DeVante Pettiford.
2. Julie Altieri, Sr. Cedar Ridge: The all-time assists leader in Cedar Ridge volleyball history, Altieri was at another level against crosstown rival Orange on September 6. Altieri finished with 39 assists as the Red Wolves defeated the Lady Panthers 3-0. Altieri, who has 1,797 career assists, also had four kills and six digs as the Red Wolves remained undefeated in the Central Carolina Conference.
3. Isabel Jones, Sr. Orange: Jones won a total of three matches as the Orange women’s tennis team defeated Cedar Ridge and Person. On September 8, Jones won her singles match against Person 6-0, 6-0. Later in the day, she teamed with Makayla Davis to win at #2 doubles. Against Cedar Ridge, Jones won at #4 singles. Jones and Sydney Rogers are two members of the Orange women’s soccer team who also play tennis.
4. Nate Sorrells, Jr. Orange: Sorrells had a career-high 157 yards in the Panthers’ win over Granville Central. Sorrells added three touchdowns, including a rushing score to open the game. Sorrells is Orange’s leading rusher. He also led the team in receptions for the opening four weeks of the season. Sorrells is in his second year as a starting wingback.
5. Cameron Mayhew, Jr. Cedar Ridge: Mayhew worked by the hour during this particular week. She had a four-hour marathon singles match against Orange’s Shannon Sollars. Two days later, Mayhew defeated Eastern Alamance at #2 singles 6-0, 6-0 as Cedar Ridge defeated the Eagles 5-1. The Red Wolves still have a chance to reach the state dual team playoffs.
6. Aubrey Jordan, Fr. Orange: Against Cedar Ridge, Jordan finished with six kills as the Lady Panthers nearly became the first CCC team this year to win a set against the Red Wolves. Jordan also had a strong game two days later as Orange defeated Walter Williams in Burlington 3-1.
7. Chris Mendez, Sr. Cedar Ridge: Had a hat trick for the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team in its 10-1 win over Person on September 7 in Roxboro. It was the Red Wolves’ first conference win of the season. Mendez has two hat tricks for Cedar Ridge this season.

The Cedar Ridge volleyball team increased several streaks in its 3-0 win over Person on Thursday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Cedar Ridge has now won 14 in a row overall. They have captured 42 consecutive sets. And they have now won 31 straight conference matches. Senior Melissa Benkowitz finished with eight kills, a new season-high, against the Rockets. Junior Rachel Alverson had seven assists as the Red Wolves improved its record to 14-1. They started the second half of its Central Carolina Conference schedule with a win and are now 7-0 in league play. The Red Wolves ends the week with two wins. On Monday, they defeated Jordan in Durham. Next week, Cedar Ridge will journey to Northwood to face the Chargers. Then they will host crosstown rival Orange, who remains one game behind the Red Wolves for first place in the CCC. Cedar Ridge is going for its third straight conference championship. 

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.

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.