Cedar Ridge Volleyball

The eight seniors on the Cedar Ridge volleyball team will forever be immortalized in school history. Several of the players were members of the 3A State Championship team in 2021, which defeated North Iredell 3-1 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Together, they have won six championships together, including two Central Carolina Conference regular season titles, two CCC Tournament championships, the 2021 3A Eastern Regional title and the state crown. On Tuesday night, seniors Graylinn Serge, Rachel Alverson, Addie Reid, Natasha Buchler-Fosado, Ellie Woolson, Cecilia Kenan, Caroline Park, and Alexandra Hood were honored on Senior night. Also honored were managers Cierra and Cameron Copeland, who are members of Cedar Ridge’s women’s basketball team. Cedar Ridge defeated Walter Williams 3-0. Fittingly, Reid led Cedar Ridge with ten kills. Serge, who leads the team in kills, had a team-high five aces. Kenan had a team-high 18 digs, along with three aces. Alverson, who leads the team in assists, finished with 35 on the night. While it was Senior Night, it won’t be Cedar Ridge’s final home game of the season. The Red Wolves will face Williams again in the opening round of the CCC Tournament on Monday night at Red Wolves Stadium. If Cedar Ridge wins, they will host a semifinal game on Tuesday. Cedar Ridge also stands a strong chance to host an opening round game in the 3A State Playoffs on October 21.

Cedar Ridge volleyball seniors discuss Senior Night win over Walter Williams

The nine seniors on the Cedar Ridge volleyball team will forever be immortalized in school history. Several of the players were members of the 3A State Championship team in 2021, which defeated North Iredell 3-1 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior volleyball outside hitter Graylinn Serge. In 2021 Serge was a member of the first Cedar Ridge women’s sports team in school history to win a state championship when the Red Wolves defeated North Iredell 3-1 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Serge played in all four sets in the match. This season, as a senior, Serge is tied for the team lead with 194 kills. She is also second on the team with 217 digs as the Red Wolves have secured 2nd place in the CCC. Through three years on the varsity, Serge has amassed 240 kills and has been a part of teams that have won a total of six championships, including consecutive Central Carolina Conference regular season and tournament championships. Serge will be one of eight seniors honored tonight for Cedar Ridge when the Red Wolves face Walter Williams to conclude its regular season at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Next Monday, Cedar Ridge and Williams will play once again in the quarterfinals of the CCC Tournament at Red Wolves Gymnasium. During her career at Cedar Ridge, Serge was a regular rotation player of teams that won 42-consecutive conference games and 33 straight home games. The Red Wolves will likely host a game in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs, which begin on October 21.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Graylinn Serge

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior volleyball outside hitter Graylinn Serge. In 2021 Serge was a member of the first Cedar Ridge women’s sports team in school history to win a state championship when the Red Wolves defeated North Iredell 3-1 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.

Cameron Lloyd: The Bucknell Bison defeated archival Lehigh on the road for the first time since 2010 on Friday night. The Bison rallied to win 3-2 on scores of 21-25, 25-16, 21-25, 27-25, 15-13. Lloyd had five kills and eight digs. The following day, Bucknell defeated Lafayette 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 21-25, and 25-13) for its second Patriot League win. Lloyd was third on the team with nine kills, along with 14 digs. She also had one ace. Bucknell is 6-7, 2-2 in the Patriot League. They will face Navy later today in Annapolis, MD.

Cameron Lanier:  Last Saturday, UNC Wilmington swept Elon at the Schar Center (25-19, 25-22, 25-20). Lanier paced the Phoenix with eight kills. She also had six digs and one assist. It was the third straight match that Lanier led the Phoenix in kills. On Saturday, the Seahawks defeated the Phoenix 3-2 (14-25, 18-25, 34-32, 25-18 and 15-12). The Phoenix had a match point in the third for a sweep. Lanier finished with ten kills, nine digs and an assist. Elon is 3-10, 0-4 in the CAA. On Friday, they will host Northeastern.

Lottie Scully: Colgate defeated the Binghamton Bearcats 3-0 at West Gym in Binghamton, New York on Wednesday. The Red Raiders won on scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-13. Scully had 15 assists, eleven digs, and three kills. Binghamton is 6-8. Later today, they start play in the American East Conference when they face the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Anaya Carter: Last Saturday, Division II UNC Pembroke swept Southern Wesleyan (25-18, 26-24, 25-20) at Tysinger Gymnasium in Central, SC. Carter played in all three sets and had seven digs with two aces. On Tuesday, the Braves defeated Barton College 3-2 (20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 21-25 and 15-7) at Wilson Gymnasium in Wilson. Carter played all five sets and registered nine digs and two aces. UNC Pembroke is 8-7 overall, 2-2 in Conference Carolinas. They will host Converse in Pembroke on Friday, then take on Belmont Abbey on Saturday.

Allie Wilkerson: The Division III Averett Cougars remain undefeated in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play. On Saturday, the Cougars defeated Eastern Mennonite University 3-2 (15-25, 25-17, 14-25, 25-18, 17-15). As a freshman, Wilkerson led the team with ten kills, along with two digs, two aces and one block. On Wednesday, Averett won at Guilford College 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-20, 25-22) at Reagan-Brown Field House in Greensboro. Wilkerson had seven kills, four digs, one ace. Averett is 10-4 overall and leads the ODAC with a 5-0 record. They will host Randolph-Macon on Friday at the Stuart James Grant Center in Danville, VA.

Julie Altieri: The Division III Salisbury Seagulls dropped all three matches in the Johns Hopkins Invitational at the Newton White Center in Baltimore last weekend. On Friday, Johns Hopkins defeated the Seagulls 3-1 (25-16, 25-14, 17-15, 25-12). Altieri is now starting as the setter for Salisbury and finished with a team-high 24 assists. She added ten digs, three aces, and one kill. On Saturday, Mount Union defeated Salisbury 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-16). Altieri had 18 assists, six kills (second on the team), five digs and one ace. Later on Saturday, Scranton defeated Salisbury 3-1 (25-23, 25-14, 14-25, 25-23). Altieri had 25 assists, three digs and two aces. Salisbury is 7-5. They will host Mary Washington and Stevens for a tri-match this weekend.

Ashlyn Davis: The University of Lynchburg defeated Ferrum 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 25-27, 25-19) inside Swartz Gymnasium in Ferrum, VA on Saturday. Davis played one set for Lynchburg. The Hornets are 4-7, 1-4 in the ODAC.

Cedar Ridge 3, Person 1: Winning at Person just means a little bit more. Regardless of the Rockets record in volleyball, the visiting team can always count on the home grandstand being close to full, if not full capacity. Cedar Ridge claimed its third straight victory over Person in Roxboro on scores of 28-30, 25-21, 25-16 and 25-22.

Senior Grayling Serge finished with 21 kills, a season-high, along with nine digs. Sophomore Claire Hargett finished with 17 kills and 29 digs. Senior Rachel Alverson finished with 38 assist and eleven digs.

The first set went to a thrilling overtime where the Red Wolves fought off three set points until Person finally took the opening stanza. There were seven leads changes in the opening frame. Serge had nine kills in the opening set, but Person built a 17-12 lead after an 8-3 run. Cedar Ridge rolled to tie with seven consecutive points while Hargett was serving. Senior Addie Reid scored an electric kill off an assist from Alverson to even the set 22-22. Person took the lead back with a block. Serge sent the match into overtime with a kill. Person finally scored match point when a Red Wolf volley went into the net.

The Red Wolves recovered and took the final three sets. The second set was even 20-20 when Cedar Ridge closed with five of the final six points. Ellie Woolson put the Red Wolves into the lead as she reached over the next to interrupt a Person possession and score a kill.. Alverson clinched set point with an ace.

The Red Wolves led from wire-to-wire in the third set. Senior Natasha Buchler-Fosado, now a libero, had a run of three consecutive aces to put Cedar Ridge ahead 8-3. Cedar Ridge (8-5, 5-1 in the Central Carolina Conference) finished the frame with three of the last four points, ending with a kill by Serge.

At one point in the fourth set, Person led 9-4. The Red Wolves started a comeback after back-to-back aces from Serge. Cedar Ridge scored five consecutive points to take a 19-17 lead, ending the run with a joust that Reid won at the net. After a kill by Hargett put the Red Wolves ahead 24-22, a return by Person went into the net on match point.

Cedar Ridge will return home to face Southern Alamance on Tuesday.

Orange 3, Western Alamance 0: Orange only trailed twice in the entire match in a sweep of Western Alamance on Thursday night, ending a span of three home matches in three days for the Lady Panthers.

Orange scored the first seven points of the first set, but the Warriors made a rally to narrow the Lady Panthers’ lead to 7-4. Senior Ella Wimsatt, who led Orange in kills, spiked home the final two points of the first set, winning 25-16.

Western Alamance took a 2-1 lead to open the second frame behind a kill from Reese Walker. Orange responded with seven straight points to take control of the set. Wimsatt had an ace while Sophomore Ava Wilkerson scored two kills. The Lady Panthers finished the set on a 8-2 run to win it 25-7 behind a spike from sophomore Aubrey Jordan.

Orange won the final set 25-11. They opened by scoring seven of the first nine points. starting with consecutive kills by Wilkerson. Leading 3-2, Orange reeled off four straight points. An ace by freshman Sawyer White sewed up the victory on match point.

Orange has now won 13 in a row. They’re 15-3 overall, 6-0 in the CCC. Midway through its conference schedule, Orange has won all 18 of its sets in conference play. Overall, they’ve won 38 of the last 39 sets. The only exception came on Wednesday night when they dropped the opening set against Falls Lake. The Lady Panthers would eventually win 3-1.

Orange will travel to Walter Williams on Tuesday night. They will return home to face Cedar Ridge on Thursday in a rematch from earlier this year. Orange defeated Cedar Ridge on September 5.

–There are some very special conference championship chases going on right now. The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is in first place in the Central Carolina Conference after a resounding night at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday. Salomon Hernandez scored on a header with 4:17 remaining in game off an assist from Illah Babchenko. The Red Wolves have never won a conference championship as a 3A team in men’s soccer. While they still have seven conference games remaining, the Red Wolves on the pitch is bringing a lot of energy to Red Wolves Stadium. They return home to face Northwood on Tuesdays.

–Who can beat the Orange volleyball team in the CCC? Orange swept Western Alamance on Thursday night to improve to 6-0 in conference play. Orange has won all 18 sets in league play and 38 of its last 39 overall. Cedar Ridge travels to Orange next Thursday. If the Red Wolves can’t beat Orange, the Lady Panthers could gain the elusive conference championship well before the regular season ends.

–Really hope the Person football coach slept well last Friday night with his team leading Cedar Ridge 67-0. With seconds drifting away on a running clock in the fourth quarter, his team ran hurry up to the line so they could tact on another touchdown. The situation for Cedar Ridge football is tough, but I’ve been around long enough to see programs that appeared to have little hope turn things around. Happened at Jordan. Happened at Chapel Hill. Happened at Hillside. Come to think of it, I can recall a Hillside team that trailed Northern Durham 51-0 at halftime in 2000. Northern kicked a field goal on the final play of the first half. The next year, they beat Northern. In fact, Hillside had the game won and elected to throw a 47-yard touchdown in the final minute in an example of what Hillside’s then-coach called “Steve Spurrier coaching.” I hope Cedar Ridge’s returning players have long memories.

1. Graylinn Serge, Cedar Ridge, Sr: Finished with a season-high 18 kills against East Chapel Hill in a five-set win inside Wildcats Gymnasium. On September 12 against Western Alamance, Serge had 13 kills with 14 digs, and four aces in a 3-1 Red Wolves win. In a sweep of Walter Williams, Serge had eleven kills, 14 digs and two aces as the Red Wolves won three matches in four days.
2. Naomi Dyreng, Cedar Ridge, Jr.: Dyreng had her second consecutive first place finish for the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team. She led the pack during a CCC meet at Orange High with a time of 21:54.00. On September 7, Dyreng finished first at a meet on her home course. The Cedar Ridge women finished first at the Orange meet.
3. Erik Galunas, Cedar Ridge, Soph.: The goalkeeper for the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team, Galunas had a clean sheet against Southern Alamance in Graham on September 11. Galunas made a diving save in the final minute to keep the game level in the final minute. Two nights later, the Red Wolves earned a 2-1 victory over Orange in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby at Red Wolves Stadium. Galunas had eight saves.
4. Ava Wilkerson, Orange, Soph.: Had 12 kills against Roxboro Community School on September 13. She also had an ace and three digs. Wilkerson finished with eight kills in a sweep of Southern Alamance in Graham. Orange has won 13 in a row. Wilkerson has 223 kills for an Orange team looking to win its first conference championship in volleyball since the mid-2000s.
5. DeAndre Brown, Orange, Jr.: Brown led the Orange football team with 16 tackles in a rugged game at Western Alamance last Friday. He added his first rushing touchdown on a four-yard run in the third quarter. Midway through the season, Brown leads Orange with 60 tackles and has four sacks, one shy of the team lead.
6. Ellie Wilson, Orange, Fr.: Wilson had the longest match of her young career in the Orange women’s tennis team’s win over Roxboro Community School. Wilson defeated Elizabeth Ess 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 10-8. Two days later against Southern Alamance, Wilson won another three-set match against Morgan Edmunds 4-6, 6-4, 13-11.
7. Cameron Mayhew, Cedar Ridge, Sr: Mayhew continued an impressive season for the Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team with a singles win against Western Alamance’s Amelia Weaver 6-1, 6-2. Against Walter Williams, Mayhew won her #1 singles match over Abigail Brown 6-3, 6-1. Mayhew is 8-1 in singles action this year.

Photo courtesy of Elon University Athletics 

Cameron Lanier: Lanier was named the Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Week on Monday, becoming the first Cedar Ridge Red Wolf to earn a Division I Conference honor. In Elon’s CAA opener against Hofstra on Saturday, Lanier had a double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs, along with four digs and two aces. Hofstra swept the match against the Phoenix on scores of 35-33, 25-20, and 25-21 at the Mack Physical Education Center in Hempstead, N.Y. On Sunday, Hofstra defeated Elon 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-21, 25-11). Lanier had 12 kills, four digs and two aces. Elon is 3-8, 0-2 in CAA.

Lottie Scully: The Binghamton Bearcats had two five-set thrillers in the UConn Dog Pound Challenge at Gampel Arena in Storrs, CT on Saturday. Brown University defeated Binghamton 3-2 (25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 25-18 and 15-12). The Bears improved to 8-0. Scully had 41 assists, 16 digs, three kills, and one ace. Later that day, Connecticut defeated Binghamton in five sets (26-28, 25-23, 15-25, 25-18 and 15-6). Scully, the Bearcats starting setter, finished with 39 assists, eleven digs, and two kills. On Sunday, Michigan State defeated Binghamton 3-1 (25-12, 23-25, 25-15 and 25-19). Scully had 24 assists, eight digs and two kills. Binghamton is 6-7 and will face Colgate on Tuesday.

Cameron Lloyd: Bucknell got underway with its Patriot League schedule on Friday. Army swept the Bison at Davis Gym in Lewisburg, PA on Friday on scores of 25-21, 25-22 and 25-23. Lloyd had seven kills and eleven digs. On Saturday, Colgate defeated Bucknell 3-1 (25-11, 25-22, 22-25 and 25-21). Lloyd led the team with eleven kills, along with eleven digs and two aces. Bucknell is 4-7 overall, 0-2 in the Patriot League. The Bison will host cross-state rival Lehigh on Friday.

Grace Young: UNC Asheville split two matches in the Spartan Tri-Match at UNC Greensboro on Saturday. The Bulldogs defeated UNC Greensboro 3-2 (27-25, 23-25, 17-25, 25-17 and 15-9) Young played two sets and had one ace with four digs. Earlier in the day, Charlotte defeated UNC Asheville is another five set match (25-12, 30-32, 25-20, 15-25 and 15-13). Young played one set. The Bulldogs are 6-7 and starts its Big South Conference slate against USC Upstate on Saturday in Spartanburg, SC.

Anaya Carter: The Division II UNC Pembroke Braves won both matches of a tri-match on Saturday. The Braves defeated Chowan 3-1 at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court in Pembroke (25-21, 22-25, 25-14 and 29-27). Carter played all four sets and had three kills, seven digs and two aces. Pembroke defeated Winston-Salem State 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 26-28 and 25-18). Carter was second on the team with 14 kills, along with eight digs. She had one ace. UNC Pembroke is 6-5, 1-0 in Conference Carolinas.

Allie Wilkerson: Division III Averett University defeated the University of Lynchburg 3-1 on September 12 in a match that had two former Orange Panthers on opposite sides. Wilkerson was third on the squad with nine kills. She also had one assist, one ace and one dig. Wilkerson faced Ashlyn Davis, who graduated with Wilkerson from Orange in June. On Thursday, the Cougars defeated Virginia University of Lynchburg 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-11) at the Stuart James Grant Center in Danville, VA. Wilkerson registered two kills, one ace, one block and two digs. On Thursday, Averett defeated Pfeiffer 3-0. Wilkerson was second on the team with six kills. She also had two aces and two digs. The Cougars have won three in a row, are 6-4 overall, 1-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Julie Altieri: The Division III Salisbury Seagulls split a tri-match against William Smith and Gettysburg on Saturday. The Seagulls opened the day with a 3-1 win over William Smith (25-23, 25-17, 15-25, and 25-20). Altieri was tied for the team lead with 14 assists. She also had seven digs and one ace. Gettysburg defeated Salisbury 3-1 (25-23, 24-26, 25-21 and 25-16). Altieri had 12 assists and six digs. Salisbury is 7-2. They will open play in the Hopkins Invitational on Friday against Mount Union.

Melissa Benkowitz: Division III Franklin & Marshall journeyed down to San Antonio for three matches over the weekend, going 2-1. The Diplomats defeated Whittier 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-20 and 25-14). Benkowitz had 13 kills, eight digs, three aces and two assists. #12 Trinity (Texas) defeated Franklin & Marshall 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-21 and 25-19). Benkowitz finished with 13 kills, six aces, ten digs and one assist. The Diplomats defeated Pomona-Pitzer 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 8-25 and 15-13). Benkowitz had ten kills, five aces, and eight digs. The Diplomats are 6-4.

Ashlyn Davis: The Division III University of Lynchburg defeated Trinity (D.C) at Giles Gymnasium in Lynchburg on Saturday 3-0 (25-3, 25-4 and 25-4). Davis played two sets and finished with one kill. The Hornets are 3-4.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore outside volleyball hitter Claire Hargett. In her second year on the varsity, Hargett is currently second on the team with 96 kills. She’s also second on the team with 120 digs. In the Red Wolves conference opener against Person on August 29, Hargett had 14 kills and 15 digs as the Red Wolves swept the Rockets. Two days later, Hargett had her strongest game of the year at Southern Alamance. She registered 13 kills and a season-high 19 digs as the Red Wolves defeated the Patriots 3-0. Among Hargett’s digs was one that saved the first set when she scooped it off the nest on a set point for the Patriots. Hargett’s dig led the Red Wolves to a point and they would ultimately take the set. Last year, Hargett played on the varsity as a freshman, where she learned from an array of Cedar Ridge seniors that captured the 2021 3A State Championship. This year, Hargett has a season-high 19 kills against Carrboro on August 23. She matched that with 19 kills against Southern Alamance. Hargett has double-digit kills in eight of Cedar Ridge’s eleven matches.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Claire Hargett

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