Cedar Ridge Volleyball

J.H. Rose rode into Hillsborough on Tuesday night with plenty of fans in tow.

The Rampants carry one of the richest athletic heritages of any high school in North Carolina. In June, Rose captured the 3A State Championship in baseball.

The volleyball team was in its fourth regional championship game in eight years when they faced off against Cedar Ridge on Tuesday in Red Wolves Gymnasium.

When the Rampants’ jumped out to a 6-1 lead and coach Ginny Howard substituting players at will in the opening set, it felt like the Red Wolves were somewhat shaken. But they never panicked and they didn’t wilt under the pressure, even though it was their first regional championship game together.

Rose led the vast majority of the opening set. A net error by the Rampants gave the Red Wolves its first lead of the match at 20-19, but juniors Grace Young and Julie Altieri would serve Cedar Ridge to victory in the opening set, closing with a 5-1 run culminating with an Altieri ace.

Any opponent that faces Cedar Ridge must understand they’re not just facing a volleyball team with three juniors (Cameron Lloyd, Altieri and Grace Young) who have played on the varsity level since they were freshmen. In reality, they’ve played together for nearly a decade. While Cameron Lanier (who also started as a freshman) played softball with the Orange County Parks and Recreation Department, Lloyd, Altieri, Young and Anaya Carter all played against and with each other in the White Cross Recreation Center when they were in elementary school.

Friday night lights? This was more like Friday Night Liberos, with hot dogs and soft drinks handed out to players after games while their parents waited to take them home. It’s still a tradition in White Cross. That experience turned into travel ball with the Chapel Hill Area Volleyball Club, where they roamed throughout the country. The players’ devotion to CHAVC remains so strong that, after Cedar Ridge’s playoff win over Northwood last Saturday, Lloyd, Benkowitz, and Lanier went directly to CHAVC’s season opener.

That level of familiarity is rare among high school teams. The players know each other’s quirks, their habits, and perhaps more importantly, how to make each other laugh.

Perhaps that’s why Cedar Ridge went through the entire East Region of the state playoffs without losing one set in its five matches. The Red Wolves swept South Brunswick, South Johnston, Harnett Central, Northwood and, finally, J.H. Rose. The latter put Cedar Ridge in a league of its own, the first volleyball team in school history to win 30 games.

“I would say that we were rattled early,” said Cedar Ridge head coach Fiona Cunningham. “But I’d say they showed the composure that we’ve been working on. Our key word has been consistency the last few games. Other teams are going to get their big points and we just have to stay calm.”

Now, Cedar Ridge will face North Iredell at Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. They’re two teams that are complete strangers to one another, but have plenty in common. Cedar Ridge played in the dominant 3A conference in the East, the Central Carolina, which put three teams in the state quarterfinals. The Raiders (26-1) shared the Western Foothills Conference championship with Fred T. Foard, who handed the Raiders its only loss.

On Tuesday, North Iredell defeated Foard in the Western Regional Championship game.

Both teams will likely have almost all of its key parts back next year. None of the players that Cunningham uses in her 9-woman rotation are seniors. The Raiders have just one senior on its roster–and five freshman.

North Iredell won the 2017 3A State Championship in Raleigh. They defeated Chapel Hill, Cunningham’s alma mater. While many of the Cedar Ridge players have already played throughout the country in their young lives, the bright lights of Reynolds Coliseum will present an environment they’ve never experienced before.

“We’re so excited for it,” Cunningham said. “This has been the goal in mind since the start of the season. They’re ready to feel that environment and know they’ve earned it.”

There are two types of Cedar Ridge volleyball wins.

There are Bojangles wins and there are Mexican Restaurant wins.

Typically, a quick and easy win calls for postgame team dinner at Bojangles. Big wins, over rivals like Orange and Person, mean a trip to Pueblo Viejo Mexican Restaurant on South Churton Street in Hillsborough.

The latest Cedar Ridge victory falls into a category by itself. There was no time for a postgame meal. Only time to ice down and rest.

After sweeping the entire Eastern Region, there is a state championship to play for, after all.

The Red Wolves (30-2) completed a dominant run to the 3A Eastern Regional championship by beating J.H. Rose 3-0 at a packed Red Wolves Gymnasium on Tuesday night. Cedar Ridge will play North Iredell for the 3A State Championship on Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum. First serve will be at 1:30.

It is Cedar Ridge’s first regional championship in a team sport since winning the 2017 men’s lacrosse championship, where they defeated Chapel Hill at Red Wolves Stadium.

It was the first time this year that Rose (24-4) was swept by a 3A team. Over the course of the past eleven days, Cedar Ridge defeated South Brunswick, South Johnston, Harnett Central, Northwood and J.H. Rose in the 3A State Playoffs without dropping a set. The Red Wolves have won 30 consecutive sets.

Cedar Ridge coach Fiona Cunningham will return to the State Championship game. As an assistant at Chapel Hill, the Tigers won the 2019 3A State Championship, the year before she joined Cedar Ridge. Twice as a player with Chapel Hill in 2011 and 2012, Cunningham reached the 3A Eastern Regional final, where the Tigers lost to Cardinal Gibbons each time.

“I was quite convinced that Rose would take a set from us,” Cunningham said. “Not even just before the game but during the game. They are a phenomenal team. They have great athletes, great coaches, great players. We came into tonight ready to fight for five (sets).”

While Cedar Ridge gained another sweep, the Red Wolves’ poise was tested unlike no other team this postseason. Rose bolted out to a 6-1 lead in each of the first two sets. The usual avenues for Red Wolves points, mainly hard smashes from the left end of the floor by Cameron Lloyd and Melissa Benkowitz, were usually dug by Rose libero Riley Cutler and sophomore setter Shea Jenkins. Cedar Ridge mounted its comeback in the first set off blocks by Lloyd and Cameron Lanier.

“We’ve been working at blocking all season,” Cunningham said. “Before I started at Cedar Ridge, that was one of the first things I knew we needed to change was blocking. It’s been a weakness for the program. Addie Reid and Lanier really stepped up and took control. That’s what we worked on yesterday in practice.”

While Cedar Ridge has a 8-woman rotation comprised of six juniors, it was their two sophomores who provided critical points when the situation required it most. With the opening frame tied 20-20, Addie Reid made a huge block off an attack by Emily Smith to give the Red Wolves the lead. The Red Wolves, who trailed 11-5 at one point, scored four of the final five points, including a kill by Lanier. Setter Julie Altieri served up an ace on set point.

In the 2nd set, tied 20-20, Cedar Ridge got a side out after a finish by Lloyd. Sophomore Graylinn Serge served the Red Wolves out for the final four points, starting with an ace that bounced on the grey line along the brown hardwood floor. Leading 22-20, Altieri made a quick flash kill that landed between three outstretched Rampants. Benkowitz factored in on the final two plays of the set, starting with a kill for the 24th point and another spike for set point that went off the hands of blocker Helen Wilford.

“That’s just what our program is,” Cunningham said. “We’ve told them the whole season that it’s not up to one person to win. This is up to a whole team to win. That showed today.”

Rose led 7-3 in the third set before Reid came up with another kill, which unchained a Cedar Ridge avalanche. With Serge serving, the Red Wolves went on a 11-1 run. Serge had consecutive aces to put Cedar Ridge into the lead for good. After a side out for Rose, Benkowitz racked up back-to-back aces and the rout was on. Cedar Ridge led 24-15 when Addie Reid finished off the match with a kill where she only partially caught the ball on an overhead spike, but just enough to get it to the floor and move the Red Wolves on to Raleigh.

The Cedar Ridge Red Wolves volleyball team has won the 3A Eastern Regional volleyball championship. Not only that, but the Red Wolves didn’t lose a set in winning its five matches in the Eastern Region of the state playoffs. Cedar Ridge swept J.H. Rose 3-0 on Tuesday night in a packed Red Wolves Gymnasium. Cameron Lloyd led the Red Wolves in kills as Cedar Ridge won became the first team in school history to win 30 games in a season. Julie Altieri served out Cedar Ridge to win the first set. Altieri had an ace on set point to win the first 25-21. Junior middle blocker Cameron Lanier scored a block to win the second set 25-20. Cedar Ridge became the first 3A team to sweep J.H. Rose this year. Ever since Cedar Ridge defeated reigning 3A State Champion D.H. Conley on August 19, they’ve had the 3A State Championship in their sights. Now, the Red Wolves is one step away. Cedar Ridge will face North Iredell for the 3A State Championship on Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of N.C. State University. First serve will be at 1:30.

On a team whose rotation is largely comprised of juniors, two sophomores played a huge role in Cedar Ridge volleyball winning the 3A Eastern Regional championship on Wednesday night. Addie Reid had several huge blocks throughout the Red Wolves 3-0 sweep of J.H. Rose inside a packed Red Wolves Gymnasium. Sophomore Graylinn Serge served out Cedar Ridge in the second set, scoring an ace to put the Red Wolves ahead 21-20. Serge would go on to serve the final five points as the Red Wolves won the frame to go ahead 2-sets-to-nothing. Reid spiked home match point to set up a big celebration as the Red Wolves won its final home game of the season. Cedar Ridge finished 17-1 at home this season. They become the first regional champion in a team sport at Cedar Ridge since the 2017 men’s lacrosse team. Cedar Ridge will play North Iredell for the 3A State Championship on Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. The Red Wolves are now the most successful volleyball high school team in Hillsborough history, with a 30-2 record and a regional championship.

The Cedar Ridge volleyball team will play for the 3A Eastern Regional championship on Tuesday night. On Saturday afternoon, the Red Wolves defeated Northwood 3-0 in the Elite Eight of the 3A State Playoffs. Cameron Lanier got the kill on match point. Lanier finished with ten kills, two aces and two digs as the Red Wolves claimed its 29th win of the season. Libero Grace Young had seven digs, adding on to her team leading of 269 digs. This was Cedar Ridge’s fifth state playoff win in the calendar year of 2021. Last January, the Red Wolves defeated Union pines in the opening round of the 2020 3A State Playoffs. Thus far in the 2021 3A State Playoffs, Cedar Ridge has swept South Brunswick, South Johnston, Harnett Central and Northwood without dropping a set. In fact, Cedar Ridge has won 26 consecutive sets. They played nine matches in the month of October and didn’t lose one set. That included wins over Person and Northwood, who both reached the Elite Eight of the State Playoffs. As Lanier mentioned in this interview, volleyball wasn’t even her first choice of sport. Originally, she wanted to play softball. Young has played volleyball since her early days at the White Cross Recreation Center and has committed to play at UNC Asheville. You can hear the 3A Eastern Regional Championship game on Tuesday night on Hillsboroughsports.com.

In January, Cedar Ridge had to go into Greenville in hopes for playing in Raleigh for the 3A state volleyball championship.

Now, a team from Greenville will have to go through Cedar Ridge to get to Raleigh.

On Saturday afternoon, junior Cameron Lloyd tallied eleven kills and 15 digs, while Cameron Lanier added nine kills and four digs as the Red Wolves swept Northwood 3-0 in the 3A state quarterfinals at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Cedar Ridge, the champions of the Central Carolina Conference, will host J.H. Rose for the 3A Eastern Regional Championship on Tuesday night in Hillsborough.

Rose, which has constantly been ranked #2 in the 3A East RPI standings throughout the season, defeated Person 3-1 on Saturday in Greenville.

The winner of Rose-Cedar Ridge will play for the 3A State Championship at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh against the winner of the Western Regional Championship game between North Iredell and Fred T. Board next Saturday at 1:30PM.

In a matchup between two Central Carolina Conference rivals, it was the third time the Red Wolves (29-2) defeated the Chargers (24-6) this season, and the game fit a similar pattern from the previous two meetings. For the second straight match, the Chargers extended the Red Wolves into overtime in the opening set, which Cedar Ridge won 28-26.

Once again, the Red Wolves depth wore down a Chargers team that suited up just eight players.

“We went into the game thinking consistency,” said Cedar Ridge coach Fiona Cunningham. “They’re a good team and we know they can take a set from us. We just had to stay unfazed. Let them get their good swings. Let them put the ball away and let them come right back. Don’t let it turn into a run. Don’t let it turn into a bunch of errors. We did a really good job of that.”

While Northwood only led once the entire match, at 3-2 in the opening set after a kill by Hannah Forbes, the opening two sets were tight. In the first frame, Cedar Ridge ran off five straight points to build a 17-10 lead behind an ace from Cameron Lanier and a kill from Melissa Benkowitz. Northwood drew within 23-22 after a 7-2 run, which included three kills from sophomore Asia Thigpen, the daughter of UNC co-defensive coordinator Tommy Thigpen.

Cedar Ridge had four set points to take the first set. Northwood senior Annika Kearsley sent the set into overtime off a kill assisted by Ainsley Fauth. After a finish by Lanier, the Red Wolves had another chance to finish the set, but a return by the Red Wolves went wide. Cedar Ridge finally took the set when Melissa Benkowitz’ attack was blocked by a Charger, but it touched the antenna on the net. On set point, Cedar Ridge’s Julie Altieri took a dig from Lloyd and dunked it over the net, setting off a huge reaction from a rowdy Red Wolves student section.

“Julie is great in regards to ball distribution,” Cunningham said. “She knows when to go for the dump or not. That’s part of being a setter is knowing how to run the court. It’s one thing we’ve worked really hard on this year.”

Lloyd, Lanier and Melissa Benkowitz all recorded kills to open the second set, where Cedar Ridge jumped out to a 6-3 lead. An ace by Grace Young put the Red Wolves ahead 10-5 and forced a Northwood timeout. Again, the Chargers got close late behind kills from Thigpen and Natalie Bell. The Chargers served with a chance to tie trailing 20-19, but the ball went into the net. it was a mistake Northwood never stopped paying for.

The Red Wolves reeled off four of the final six points, including an ace from Altieri, followed by a spike from Lloyd to make it 23-20. Lloyd provided a soft tap over the net for the Red Wolves 24th point, and a kill by Lanier was blocked wide by a Charger for set point.

“I think there are plenty of teams that have super strong athletes in our conference,” Cunningham said. “But we have six players on the court at all times who can contribute. That’s really hard for teams to put together in high school ball.”

The third and final set opened with a thrilling second point, which featured a five-dig sequence by Cedar Ridge. A spike by Tigpen was saved by Altieri with an outstretched fist, which led to a Lanier kill. With the Red Wolves leading 14-5, an attack by Forbes bounced off Altieri’s fist high into the air and bounced three times off the overhanging basketball backboard. Benkowitz remained composed and calmly played the ball once it finally came down. It led to Altieri setting up Lloyd for the kill.

Lanier spiked home match point, her ninth kill of the day. Altieri finished with 28 assists and four aces.

This will be the first time since 2015 that Cedar Ridge has hosted the 3A Eastern Regional Championship match. Six years ago, the Red Wolves were coached by Charlie Oakley and lost to Asheboro 3-1 with a trip to the state championship game on the line.