Cedar Ridge Volleyball

It is now 30 straight home wins for the Cedar Ridge volleyball team. On Monday night, the Red Wolves defeated East Chapel Hill 3-1 on scores of 25-19, 25-19, 22-25 and 25-9. Senior Grayling Serge finished with 15 kills, 12 digs and four aces. Fellow senior Addie Reid had nine kills, nine digs and two blocks as the Red Wolves improved to 2-2. As usual, the Red Wolves are playing a rigorous, unforgiving nonconfernce slate. Last week, Cedar Ridge journeyed to Raleigh to face the defending 4A State Champions, the Millbrook Wildcats. Cedar Ridge led two-sets-to-one before the Wildcats came back to win the match in five sets. On Saturday, Chapel Hill defeated Cedar Ridge 3-0. For a team that lost the most accomplished senior class, in any sport, in school history, the Red Wolves continue to improve with new varsity players like Ellie Woolson and Caroline Park. Against the Wildcats, Cedar Ridge received nine kills from sophomore Claire Hargett, who played as a freshman at the varsity level in 2022. Cedar Ridge will have another stiff nonconference test on Wednesday night when they face Carrboro at Jaguars Gymnasium.  The Red Wolves, who have won three consecutive conference championships, will start its Central Carolina Conference campaign against Person on Tuesday at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Cedar Ridge will travel to Southern Alamance next Thursday.

Cedar Ridge volleyball’s Graylinn Serge and Addie Reid discuss win over East Chapel Hill

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The Cedar Ridge volleyball team not only started a new season, but a new era on Monday night. The Red Wolves defeated Eno River 3-0 on scores of25-17, 25-13, and 25-18. It was the first game without Cameron Lloyd, Julie Altieri, Cameron Lanier, Grace Young, Melissa Benkowitz and Anaya Carter, a core group of players who graduated after winning a state championships and three conference championships. It was also the first game for new head coach Latacha De Oliveira, who replaced Fiona Cunningham earlier this summer. But there’s plenty of experience returning for Cedar Ridge. Senior Graylinn Serge finished with 15 kills, 23 digs and one ace. Another senior, Rachel Alverson, finished with a team-high 34 assists and five digs. Sophomore Claire Hargett, who had playing time during the regular season and state playoffs last year, finished with eight kills, two aces and ten digs. Cedar Ridge has now won 29 consecutive matches at home. They did it on their new home floor, which was installed in July. The Red Wolves will travel to Raleigh tonight to face Millbrook, the defending 4A State Champions, tonight. Then Cedar Ridge will face Chapel Hill on Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill.   

Cedar Ridge volleyball’s Rachel Alverson and Claire Hargett discuss win over Eno River Academy

The Cedar Ridge volleyball team not only started a new season, but a new era on Monday night. The Red Wolves defeated Eno River 3-0 on scores of25-17, 25-13, and 25-18. It was the first game without Cameron Lloyd, Julie Altieri, Cameron Lanier, Grace Young, Melissa Benkowitz and Anaya Carter, a core group of players who graduated after winning a state championships and three conference championships.

There was a new coat of paint for Cedar Ridge volleyball in its season opener–literally and figuratively.

For starters, there’s a new hardwood at Cedar Ridge gymnasium. The menacing dark gray that symbolized an angry Red Wolves’ menacing glare is gone. In its place is a traditional interlocking “CR” at center court with fresh coats of burgundy paint and a more traditional shiny, brown hardwood with “The Ridge” spelled out on opposite ends of the floor. It took roughly two weeks to install last month.

Of course, there’s the volleyball team itself. Cedar Ridge’s all-time leader in kills, Cameron Lloyd, has graduated and gone to Buckell University. The schools’ second all-time leader in kills, Cameron Lanier, is practicing 30 minutes up I-40/I-85 at Elon University. The all-time assists and aces dddleader was in the gym on Monday night for the Red Wolves’ season opener against Eno River, but Julie Altieri wasn’t in uniform. Instead, she took in her first game as a Cedar Ridge graduate, standing with the rest of the student section as she prepares to leave for Salisbury University in Maryland by week’s end.

While almost all the Cedar Ridge starters from the past four years have moved on, there’s still plenty of players left behind with lots of experience. Senior outside hitter Graylinn Serge, setter Rachel Aversion and sophomore Claire Hargett all registered plenty of sets during Cedar Ridge’s many blowout wins last year. They’re hardly green and it showed in its first-ever matchup against Eno River.

Serge finished with 15 kills and 23 digs, while Hargett had eight kills and ten digs as the Red Wolves swept the season-opener from the Bobcats 3-0 on scores of 25-17, 25-13 and 25-18. The Red Wolves have now won 29 consecutive games at home and 58 consecutive sets in regular season play.

It was the first win for new Cedar Ridge head coach Latacha De Oliveira, who replaced Fiona Cunningham last month.

With Altieri watching from the sidelines, it was Alverson’s responsibility to fill her considerable shoes as setter. Alverson finished with 34 assists, spreading the ball around to five different attackers who registered 37 kills. Averson also had two aces.

“I thought Rachel did a great job,” De Oliveira said. “She ran a great offense and she connected well with all of her hitters.”

Eno River sophomore C’hannah Lawson opened the game with a block of a Hargett attack and finished with five kills and two blocks. Junior libero Zua Vang came away with 12 digs for the Bobcats.

Leading 9-7, Cedar Ridge ran off eight consecutive points with Aversion serving to take control of the opening set. Serge had back-to-back kills to spark the run. Senior Addie Reid slammed home match point off a feed from Serge to put the Red Wolves up a set.

Eno River’s Natalia Rossi started the second set with four straight Bobcats points, ending with an ace. The Red Wolves responded with an 8-0 run, keyed by four aces from Hargett. After the Bobcats reduced its deficit to 14-10, Cedar Ridge reeled off another eight straight points with Hargett serving again. Senior Ellie Woolson, who finished with seven kills, slammed home a point off an pass from Alverson to increase the Red Wolves advantage to 21-10.

Not everything was different in the season opener. As is custom whenever the Red Wolves lead a match 2-sets-to-nothing, Cedar Ridge public address announcer Jon Franklin plays 1990’s one-hit wonder RedNex’s techno-Bluegrass version of “Cotton Eye Joe” between the second and third sets, which always leads to Cedar Ridge players (and occasionally opponents) dancing at the expense of discussing strategy.

Eno River pushed its lead to 7-3 to begin the third set behind kills from Joss Young and Hannah Smith. This time, Cedar Ridge evened the set with a six straight points, including two finishes by Hargett and another by Reid. The Red Wolves used an 8-1 spurt to take a 16-12 lead behind consecutive kills from Serge and an ace by Natasha Buchler-Fosado.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is Cedar Ridge playing tough nonconference schedules. On Tuesday night (tonight), the Red Wolves will travel to Raleigh to face defending 4A State Champion Millbrook. It’s the second straight year the Red Wolves have played the defending 4A State Champions in Wake County. Last year, Cedar Ridge swept Green Level at Garner High School.

“Love to come out and play some good volleyball tomorrow,” De Oliveira said. “I love the atmosphere here at Cedar Ridge. We have the public address announcer and fans getting into the game. It was a lot of fun. Can’t wait for the future.”

There are numbers in sports that are synonymous with excellence.

23–Michael Jordan’s jersey number.

715-Career home runs hit by Hank Aaron to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record.

511–Career wins by Cy Young, the most in Major League history.

Locally, the numbers that the Class of 2023 Cedar Ridge volleyball team left behind when they graduated in June are eye-popping and will only grow more impressive over time.

Together, Cameron Lloyd, Julie Altieri, Cameron Lanier, Grace Young, Melissa Benkowitz, Anaya Carter, Isabelle Sheppard and Lauren Cecil teamed to win 84 games with only ten losses. They won 40 consecutive matches against Central Carolina/Big 8 Conference opponents. Fiona Cunningham, who coached the Red Wolves from 2020-2022, never lost a conference game.

Lloyd ended her career with 1,062 kills, the most in school history. Lanier finished with 671 kills, second-most in team history.

Last year, Cedar Ridge won 62 consecutive sets en route to its third consecutive conference championship. They will carry a 28-game home court winning streak into the new season that begins Monday with its first-ever matchup against Eno River Academy.

That will be far from the only thing new for Cedar Ridge. The seniors that amassed the most wins in school history have scattered across the region to launch their college careers. Some are nearby. Lanier had her first practice at Elon University on Tuesday. Young participated in media day at UNC Asheville on Monday. Carter is at UNC Pembroke. Others have ventured beyond the state.

Lloyd left for Bucknell University in Pennsylvania earlier this week. Altieri, the all-time assists leader in school history, is at Salisbury University in Maryland. Benkowitz now resides in Lancaster, PA with Franklin and Marshall University.

When the reign of the Red Wolves seniors ended in the 3A Eastern Regional Championship game against J.H. Rose in Greenville last October, the underclassmen knew there would be new starters for 2023. What they didn’t know is there would also be a new coach.

Last month, Cunningham stepped down after three seasons to become an assistant coach at North Carolina Central University. Cunningham led the Red Wolves to the 2022 3A State Championship, an Eastern Regional championship, three regular season conference titles and two conference tournament championships.

In Cunningham’s place, Latacha De Oliveira was named as her replacement on July 10. De Oliveira previously was the head coach at Durham Academy. She took 2022 off from coaching high school, but grew familiar with several Cedar Ridge players while serving with the Chapel Hill Area Volleyball Club (CHAVC). De Oliveira coached Graylinn Serge, one of the Red Wolves’ eight seniors on this year’s team, when she was a member of CHAVC at age 13.

“It’s been awesome getting to know these girls,’ De Oliveira said after the Red Wolves swept a three-set scrimmage against Wake Christian Academy on Tuesday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium. “These girls play with a lot of heart. They’re very athletic.”

De Oliveira also coached Lanier and Benkowitz at CHAVC. Her hiring as the new head coach of the Red Wolves came a month before the season started.

“It was all very last minute,” De Oliveira said “I heard there was an opening and was asked to apply for it. I interviewed with Coach (Andy) Simmons. I knew the history of the school and how successful they have been. It’s a very good program. I had a chance to talk with Fiona before I was hired and I know this school has a great program. I love the support of the crowd.”

While eight seniors have graduated, Cedar Ridge won’t be lacking in experience. Senior middle blocker Addie Reid, a three-sport athlete, returns with 174 kills and 87 total blocks. Reid has been a regular rotation player for the past two years. In 2022, Reid had eight kills and four blocks in the state championship game against North Iredell.

Serge was the backup libero to Young last season and also played regularly during the state championship season. Last year, she had 23 aces with 215 digs.

Senior Rachel Alverson begins her third year on the varsity. She had a career-high 244 assists as a setter last season, along with 49 digs.

As a freshman in 2022, Mia Marty started in several postseason games while Altieri battled ankle issues. Marty, called up from the junior varsity just in time for the CCC Tournament, finished with 16 assists against Walter Williams in the semifinals, then added 19 assists in the title victory against Orange.

Another sophomore, Claire Hargett, will attempt to fill the outside hitter slot that Lloyd left behind. Hargett played regularly as a freshman, mainly in garbage time, registering 99 kills over 49 sets.

Natasha Buchler-Fosado, Cecilia Kenan, Ellie Woolson, Caroline Park and Alexandra Hood comprise the remainder of the senior class.

After hosting Eno River on Monday, Cedar Ridge will travel to Raleigh to face Millbrook on Tuesday night.

Considering everything she accomplished in her Cedar Ridge career, it may seem surprising that Cameron Lloyd hasn’t won a conference player of the year award until now.

Yet Lloyd was honored as the Central Carolina Conference Volleyball Player of the Year earlier this month for the first time. Lloyd was one of five Cedar Ridge players to be named All-CCC.

Joining Lloyd on the All-Conference team was senior middle blocker Cameron Lanier, senior setter Julie Altieri, libero Grace Young and outside hitter Melissa Benkowitz.

Together, Lloyd, Lanier, Altieri, Young and Benkowitz ended their Cedar Ridge careers with three consecutive conference championships. Lloyd, Lanier and Altieri, all of whom started as freshman, ended their career with a cumulative record of 83-11. They won 40 consecutive games against conference opponents and became the first female team to win a state championship in Cedar Ridge history when they captured the 2021 state championship.

This year, Cedar Ridge won 25 consecutive matches. Its only two losses came against J.H. Rose, who defeated the Red Wolves in its season-opener and in the Eastern Regional Championship match in Greenville.

Lloyd, who set the school record for career kills in her junior season, had 346 kills in her senior season. It was 14 kills shy of her school single-season record of 360 set in 2021. Lloyd, who committed to Bucknell in August, had a career-high 243 digs. She had ten games where she finished with double-digit kills, including a season-high 20 in a sweep of Southern Alamance on September 14. In her final match at Cedar Ridge, Lloyd had seven kills against Wilson Hunt in the state quarterfinals.

Altieri, the all-time assist lead in school history, is also the all-time leader in assists. This season, Altieri had 479 assists and 38 aces. Against Hunt, with Cedar Ridge trailing 23-20 in the final set, Altieri served the Red Wolves out with back-to-back aces. She assisted on the final two points, the last she would score in Hillsborough, as the Red Wolves won its tenth consecutive playoff match. Altieri ended her career with 1,978 assists and 213 aces.

Lanier, who committed to Elon, had 165 kills in her senior year. She finished with 671 career kills, the second-highest total in school history. Lanier had a season-high 14 kills against Orange on September 6, on a night where the Red Wolves were without Benkowitz. On August 27, Lanier had eleven kills in a sweep of Green Level, the 2021 4A State Champions, in Garner. Lanier also finished with 33 blocks, which led the team.

Young, in her third varsity season, committed to UNC Asheville last year. She led the team with 292 digs and finished her career with 623 digs. Young had a career-high 86 assists as she would occasionally play as a setter. She had a season-high 24 digs in the second round of the 3A State Playoffs against Orange. She also had 21 digs against Walter Williams on October 11. She is currently playing basketball for head coach Megan Skouby, who is also an assistant in volleyball.

Benkowitz, who transferred from East Chapel Hill at the beginning of 2021, provided a priceless attacking presence for the Red Wolves to take the load off of Lloyd and Lanier. Benkowitz was third on the team with 143 kills. Over the course of her two seasons with Cedar Ridge, Benkowitz had 331 kills with 75 aces, 325 digs and 346 service receptions. This season, Benkowitz had three matches where she finished with double-digit kills. She had a career-high eleven kills against Walter Williams on October 11. She also had ten kills in a sweep of Person on September 22, as well as ten kills against Eastern Alamance on October 4.

Cedar Ridge only had three matches all season where they dropped a set. After the 3-1 loss to Rose to open the season, the Red Wolves won its subsequent 20 matches without dropping a set. Overall, they won 62 straight sets before dropping the third set against Orange in the Central Carolina Conference tournament championship match on October 19.

By Jon Franklin

The 2022 volleyball season saw the Cedar Ridge Lady Wolves and Orange Lady Panthers engage in some memorable moments. But it also resulted in an unnecessary overreach affecting the game day experience.

At the 3A Eastern Regional Final in Greenville on November 1, the Cedar Ridge reign as defending state champions ended abruptly by the J.H. Rose Rampants. During the first set, play was halted several times as game officials determined that serves were being disrupted from both sides as a result of spectators making noise and allegedly making comments that were considered “demeaning, defamatory, and/or unsportsmanlike”.

Rose athletic director Clay Medlin and Cedar Ridge AD Andy Simmons were summoned to the chair as the officials directed their respective student sections to maintain decorum and not make noise during service. When this conventional method proved futile, play was stopped again. Medlin upped the ante and used the public address system to inform the patrons in “The Rose Garden” that silence must be observed on all serve attempts or face removal from the building. While not fully adhered, it did allow the game to continue without interruption.

This wasn’t the first time that a Cedar Ridge volleyball game was stopped due to “fan verbal interference”.

A similar incident also took place this season at the HighSchoolOT Invitational in Garner. The silly barking and meowing from The Wolfpack prompted Garner’s director of athletics to personally shut down Cedar Ridge’s fans. I’ve also been informed that Orange volleyball games have been affected as well.

From my chair as public address announcer, play-by-play announcer, color analyst, or fan, I’ve observed five different occurrences since 2019 where officials stopped play to a Cedar Ridge volleyball match either due to “fan verbal interference” or even to prevent me from performing public address duties.

From my research and from asking several volleyball coaches about this issue, there are no rules in the volleyball handbook that prevents fans from making noise during volleyball service – as officially issued by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) or the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

However, the NFHS puts out “Points of Emphasis”. These released bullet points stem from the NFHS volleyball rulebook about what needs to be enforced during games. The 2022 “Point of Emphasis” under ‘Sportsmanship’ (https://rules.nfhs.org/sports-resource-content/volleyball-points-of-emphasis-2022-23) contained this excerpt:

“… Sportsmanship, or good sporting behavior, is about treating one another with respect and exhibiting appropriate behavior. It is about being fair, honest and caring. When these types of appropriate behavior occur, competitive play is more enjoyable for everyone.

Coaches set the tone at athletic contests with their display of sportsmanship. If these individuals act in a sportsmanlike manner, their behavior sets the tone for players, spectators and others. If coaches, however, are complaining constantly about the decision of contest officials, spectators are more likely to do the same.

There must be a collaborative, working relationship between contest officials and game administration to promote good sportsmanship and safely conduct the contest. Everyone has their roles to play in creating a positive, sportsmanlike atmosphere at contests.

Officials should focus on the actions of players, coaches and other bench/sideline personnel. A positive, open line of communication between officials and coaches ultimately results in a better contest for everyone involved.

Contest officials, however, should never engage with spectators who are exhibiting unsporting behavior. Once the contest begins, school administration is responsible for dealing with unruly spectators. A proactive approach by school administration includes monitoring the behavior of spectators and intervening as needed.

If spectators are using demeaning or profane language at officials – or at others in the stands – those individuals should be removed from the contest by school administration…”

No matter where I have been, egregiously bad spectator behavior has always been dealt with by a school’s administration or game management personnel. Whether an official reprimand or a removal took place, schools generally and genuinely know how to nip unwarranted behavior in the bud. Yet, nowhere in my 30 years of announcing and 35 years of being a fan of high school athletics have I seen game officials arbitrarily create rules that simply do not exist. In the instances of “fan verbal interference”, coaches have pressed the officials to go to the rulebook to see where such rules actually exist. Instead, officials pushed back stating it “violated sportsmanship rules” without citing what they actually were.

On several occasions, I was temporarily stopped from announcing citing a misinterpretation of an actual rule that forbids music and announcements from being made during live game action. In Cedar Ridge’s 2021 game versus D.H. Conley in Hillsborough, the floor umpire stopped the game several times in the first set citing the misinterpreted rule. I remained silent until midway through the set when AD Simmons discussed the issue with the chair umpire. Through AD Simmons’ advocacy, the chair umpire agreed that I could announce as long as it was not during play and must cease at the ready for serve whistle. Had these officials actually been to any of the games I had previously announced, they would have seen and heard that I never announce or play music during live game action to begin with.

To be completely honest, what is being seen by game officials and the NCHSAA are good volleyball programs are starting to emulate collegiate environments with music, cheering, chanting, and the use of a public address announcer. While most schools do not have these things for volleyball, having them might seem overwhelming for some officials and feel they are losing control of the match. Perhaps they should take field trips to J.H. Rose, D.H. Conley, North Iredell, Fred T. Foard, Kings Mountain, Enka, West Henderson and other North Carolina volleyball powerhouses to see how their energetic game day experiences in volleyball can be managed.

In both instances, NCHSAA game officials have created or inserted rules to where no rules are given or are vague. Yet, these rules are not enforced with any consistency. What took place between Cedar Ridge and Rose and D.H. Conley, wasn’t enforced between Cedar Ridge and Orange, or of most opponents of the Hillsborough schools. In the vast majority of games played, game officials seemed to interpret that the noise during serve was fine. Either way, no consistency was made to enforce a rule that was vague from the beginning.

Another issue of concern regarding fan participation involved coaching. Back on September 14^th, Southern Alamance came to Hillsborough for a game at Cedar Ridge. With the Red Wolves maintaining a modest lead in the first set, the Patriots’ head coach began to complain about the Cedar Ridge students making noise during service.

Play was halted for several minutes as the floor umpire approached me and asked that an announcement be made that noise by spectators could not be made during service. At that point, I refused to make that announcement as I was not Cedar Ridge’s game manager nor was I in position to tell our fans to be quiet when they did not do or say anything that was unsportsmanlike. I called for AD Andy Simmons to come to the scoring table to be notified of the issue. When informed, Simmons along with Cedar Ridge coaches began to ask where in the official rules was fan noise prohibited during serve. As previously mentioned, the floor umpire used the blanket coverage of “sportsmanship” to enforce a rule that did not exist.

After a pause of bickering, Cedar Ridge relented to resume the game, and the Wolfpack acquiesced. But in the protest, Cedar Ridge faced a noticeable delay and eventually lost the advantage and momentum. While Cedar Ridge would eventually win the first set and eventually swept the match, the fact that the Patriots’ coach interjected himself into the match to help his team by a non-athletic reason was evident. After the game, I was notified by an eyewitness that the Southern Alamance coach utilized the same tactic in the match at Orange on August 22^nd. At no time should a coach use this tactic to help their team, especially when they are losing. If a coach has to resolve to underhanded tactics to improve their team in a game, then that coach needs to resign in disgrace. A coach must maintain a high degree of integrity to not only lead their team to victory, but to also to make decisions within the framework of the rules. When a coach interprets the rules as to how it benefits them and not to ensure fairness among both teams, then the coach has lost any credibility.

Throughout the NCAA volleyball season, I have watched numerous games to where the fans making noise on serve is prevalent. The current rules and its’ enforcement within the NCHSAA are not going to benefit players with collegiate aspirations. With numerous players from Hillsborough fixing to ascend to the collegiate ranks, they all need to be exposed to the noise so they can learn how to play in hostile environments.

Imagine playing at defending national champion Wisconsin at the Kohl Center among 18,000 rabid Badgers, or at the KFC Yum Center against Final Four contender Louisville packed with 21,500 screaming Cardinals? What about encountering the 12,500 members of The Oakland Zoo at the Petersen Events Center at another Final Four participant in Pitt? No matter the environment, the student athletes playing in all sports need to acclimate themselves to raucous environments. As Jeff Hamlin has told me numerous times about this issue, “Volleyball is not Tennis. Get past the crowd and put the ball over the net.”

So what if you don’t play volleyball? What if you are a basketball player shooting free throws in a contested game with time winding down? Will the referees stop the crowds from making noise in order to throw you off? What if you are a pitcher in baseball or softball in a tied game in the late innings? Will the umpires silence spectators as you’re about to pitch? Unfortunately for student-athletes, what we saw in volleyball may not be relegated to volleyball in the future. It’s possible that hot student sections and fan bases could be extinguished in other sports – all in the name of “sportsmanship”.

This issue brings up a life lesson. If approached with an aggressive situation, how do you handle it? Do you succumb to the pressure, or do you rise above it through critical thinking and assertive action? If anything from the NFHS and NCHSAA, they want the pressure removed so you don’t face it. But as we all know, this never happens in life. At no time in life will pressure be removed so you can face more easier challenges. So why can’t our children, our students, and our players learn to overcome obstacles that face them head on?

As the landscape of high school athletics continues to change, one thing needs to be realized: Life goes on and doesn’t change under the guise of “Sportsmanship”. Challenges in life will either make you bitter or make you better. As we all are at the mountain, many will remain at base camp while some will make the climb. For a select number, they will ascend to the summit and declare victory. Don’t be afraid to start your journey towards victory despite a challenge before you. While you’re there, cheer on others in their climb towards victory.

My take on the issue? As long as the fans are respectful and not saying anything derogatory or defamatory –

Let the fans cheer. If they act in an unbecoming way, remove them from the gym. If the offenses are repetitive, the offender(s) must face suspension from attending games. But if they’re just cheering, making noise, and having a good time – let them be fans. Fans often go to games to release stress, hang out with friends, and to have a good time. If the rules continue to suppress fan involvement, then sooner or later there will be no fans at high school sporting events.

GREENVILLE–The city of Greenville will always be linked to the most successful senior volleyball class in Cedar Ridge history.

It’s where the Red Wolves suffered its first loss under head coach Fiona Cunningham. It’s where they first served notice to the rest of North Carolina that there were a state championship contender, a dream they later fulfilled in 2021.

Now, It’s where their unparalleled run in Hillsborough volleyball history has ended.

After their first meeting in August, when J.H. Rose defeated the Red Wolves in four sets, the Rampants spent the whole season ranked #1 in the 3A East Region while Cedar Ridge was #2. As both teams disposed of one conference opponent after another, almost always in straight sets, it seemed destined that they would collide in the Eastern Regional Championship match.

On Tuesday night, the inevitable battle finally took place, but it was anticlimactic.

The Rampants (28-1) rolled to a 3-0 win over the Red Wolves in front of a crowded gymnasium at Rose High on scores of 25-17, 25-20 and 25-17. J.H. Rose will face North Iredell for the 3A State Championship on Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.

Going into Tuesday, the theme around Cedar Ridge circles was redemption after the August loss to the Rampants. Red Wolves coach Fiona Cunningham wasn’t on the sidelines for the initial matchup because of illness. Cedar Ridge had beaten the Rampants in three sets last November to win the Eastern Regional championship, which led to expectations around Red Wolves Gymnasium that the defending 3A State Champions would rise again with another championship on the line.

Instead, the Red Wolves turned in a disjointed, rhythmless performance that was even more lopsided than last summer’s season-opener. The loss ended Cedar Ridge’s 25-game winning streak. Rose will go into the state championship match on a 66-set winning streak, having won 22 straight.

“I think that Rose showed up and played a better game today,” Cunningham said. “They absolutely deserved the win today and they played great. Their confidence was the difference in the match. They felt like it was theirs to take. We played like we were trying not to lose.”

The Rampants superior size wrecked havoc on the Red Wolves attackers. Powerful strokes by Red Wolf seniors Cameron Lloyd and Melissa Benkowitz that ordinarily would have fallen to the hardwood were dug up by Rose’s defensive corps of libero Forbes Hall, Riley Cutler and Anna Bayes. After Lloyd notched the first point of the match, the Rampants reeled off four in a row. Rose outscored Cedar Ridge 14-5 on service points in the opening set. Cedar Ridge’s only rally in the opening frame came off consecutive kills by Lloyd and Anaya Carter, which only narrowed the deficit to 23-16. Rampants middle blocker Helen Wilford, who has committed to Bowling Green, spiked home a kill to end the brief run.

In the second set, Cedar Ridge jumped out to its largest lead of the match at 4-1 behind an early block from Addie Reid, a kill from Lloyd and an ace from Julie Altieri. The Rampants quickly erased the early dry spell with a 6-1 spree behind kills from Anna Bayes and Amelia Taft. Rose would widen the advantage to 19-12 and eventually take the set behind a spike from Taft, who has committed to play beach volleyball at LSU.

At this point, the only way for Cedar Ridge to win would be to take a five-set victory, something they haven’t done since October 1, 2019. Rose dashed what little hopes remained immediately with a 6-1 spurt to start the third set, keyed by two aces from Taft. The Rose lead grew to 18-10 and they claimed match point on a center line violation.

Several of the Cedar Ridge seniors, many of whom grew up playing together in White Cross when they were in elementary school, were in tears in the postgame huddle. Some remained inconsolable as fans left the gymnasium.

“I told the girls that one game doesn’t determine your season,” Cunningham said. “One game doesn’t determine your careers. They have changed this program forever and we will reap the benefits that these seniors have given us for years to come in how they’ve changed Hillsborough volleyball.”

During the pandemic year of 2020-2021, Cedar Ridge won the first of its seven championships when they captured the Big 8 Regular Season title with an undefeated league mark. They lost to D.H. Conley in front of a limited crowd (due to COVID-19) in four sets in Greenville in the 3A State Playoffs. Six months later, after Conley won the 3A State Championship, the Red Wolves returned to Greenville and swept the Vikings, the first sign that something special was brewing.

Last November, Cedar Ridge took the pregame walk of champions under the spotlight at Reynolds Coliseum in its state championship match against North Iredell. They basked in the glory of starting introductions in a darkened arena, jumped off the bench when an improbable dig by Young somehow fell to the other end of the floor in the fourth set, then mobbed together in a pileup after Lloyd scored match point to deliver the first female team state championship in Cedar Ridge history.

In August, with all of their rotation players back, plus the addition of freshman Claire Hargett, there was no reason to think Cedar Ridge couldn’t experience it again.

The hardest part of repeating is running into a team that may be just a bit healthier and bigger at the right time. How many other 3A teams could say they were truly better than Cedar Ridge?

In 2022, there was one. There was only one.