Cedar Ridge High School

The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is in first place in the Central Carolina Conference. In its biggest win in over a decade, the Red Wolves stunned Western Alamance 1-0 at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night. It appeared the two teams would end regulation in a scoreless tie until Salomon Hernandez scored on a header from Illah Babchenko with 4:17 remaining. Hernandez had a strong game defensively, playing along the back line and limiting the Warriors offensive flow in a game that had even possession time between the two teams. Babchenko, a senior co-Captain, had his eighth assist of the season. Another Captain, Dominic McNerney, triggered various Cedar Ridge attacks throughout the night. It was Cedar Ridge’s first win over Western Alamance, the 2021 3A State Champions, since the two teams became conference rivals two years ago. Cedar Ridge is now 4-0-1 in the CCC, the only undefeated team in the CCC in league play. The Red Wolves are 8-1-2 overall. For a team that had a goal of making the 3A State Playoffs when the season started seven weeks ago, Cedar Ridge is now bidding to become a conference champion. They will continue that pursuit tonight (Monday) when they face Walter Williams in Burlington.

Cedar Ridge’s Salomon Hernandez, Iliah Babchenko & Dominic McNerney discuss win over W. Alamance

The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is in first place in the Central Carolina Conference. In its biggest win in over a decade, the Red Wolves stunned Western Alamance 1-0 at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night. It appeared the two teams would end regulation in a scoreless tie until Salomon Hernandez scored on a header from Illah Babchenko with 4:17 remaining.

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.

There was one thought on the mind of Chauncey Brummell with 27:36 remaining in regulation against Western Alamance.

“Game over.”

Cedar Ridge had just been whistled for a foul inside the box when Lucas Dumayne was pushed down trying to get into position for a throw-in by Camden Oliveira. Warriors junior striker Konnor Johnson, who had a hat trick last week against Orange, would take the penalty kick.

Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Erik Galunas didn’t shy away from the challenge while he awaited Johnson’s attempt. As Johnson fired a rocket at the net, Galunas guessed correctly that he would aim at the upper right corner.

But the attempt zoomed over the crossbar. Cedar Ridge had new life in a battle for first place in the Central Carolina Conference at Red Wolves Stadium.

Ironically, the captain of Cedar Ridge’s defensive back line, who proved to have many successful clearances in a game where possession was split evenly, would come up with the only offense of the night.

The scoring sequence was set up by Cedar Ridge co-Captain Dominic McNerney, who had a 40-yard run and fired a shot off Western Alamance goalkeeper Eamon Hipps off a tough angle over the end line for a corner. Cedar Ridge midfielder Illah Babchenko’s first corner attempt  was quickly turned away by Western Alamance midfielder Luis Guerrero over the end line. Babchenko’s second attempt was sent out of the box by Oliveria, but Babchenko won the ball back. His third cross hovered over the six yard box, where junior Salomon Hernandez gained position on Dumayne. Without going over Dumayne’s back, Hernandez stood outside the center of the six-yard box and made enough contact with the ball to nudge it into the lower left corner of the net past Hipps with 4:17 remaining in regulation.

A wild celebration ensued as the Red Wolves chased Hernandez onto the track. After a few successful clearances by Giovani Yanez and Abazar Babiker in the waning minutes, the time ran out and Cedar Ridge had its biggest soccer win in recent memory.

The Red Wolves (8-1-2, 4-0-1 in the CCC) defeated Western Alamance 1-0. It was the Red Wolves first win since the Warriors joined the CCC in 2021. The Red Wolves are now undefeated in the CCC after a stunning upset of a Warriors team that won the 2021 3A State Championship.

“Solomon made some really big defensive stops,” Brummell said. “You have to give credit to Western Alamance. They are a great team. There’s a lot of tradition behind that program. This was a big step for our program tonight.”

After Cedar Ridge largely controlled possession in the first half, Western Alamance (6-5, 3-1) opened the second half with a furious rally where Guerrero found Johnson on the doorstep of the net, but Yanez shielded him from an open net. The best Johnson could do was loft a shot over the next.

Minutes later, Western Alamance’s Blake Bacchus took a free kick and unleashed a rocket that banged against the right post. The rebound careened right to Guerrero, who fired wide right of the net.

Up until Hernandez’s game-winner, Cedar Ridge’s best chance came with 20:42 remaining when McNerney had a long throw-in 25 yards from the net. McNerney sent a pinpoint pass to sophomore Edbar Lopez, whose diving header went just wide of the net.

After a joyous team meeting, the Cedar Ridge players gathered for a team picture in front of the scoreboard. Their goal at the beginning of the season was to make the state playoffs. Now, they’re aiming for something higher with a trip to powerful Walter Williams set for Monday night.

“I feel my entire defensive outside line stepped up,” Brummell said. “From the defense to the midfield, I think these boys showed tonight that they want to play soccer. To knock off a state championship team like Western Alamance, that’s not easy to do. Credit Solomon for the header and the game-winner. He saved us.”

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.

Cedar Ridge 6, Western Alamance 1: The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team remained undefeated in the Central Carolina Conference with a victory over the Warriors at Red Wolves Tennis Courts on Monday. Annabeth Lundberg captured two matches for the Red Wolves. Lundberg defeated Abigail Simpson at #6 singles 6-1, 6-4. In the only doubles match of the day, Lundberg teamed with Raven Mowles-Airing to defeat Mia Sodano and Abigail Stimpson 6-4.

Senior Cameron Mayhew captured the #1 singles match over Amelia Weaver 6-1, 6-2. The closest match of the day was at #2 singles, where Red Wolves junior Ella Caltabiano defeated Reagan Williams in a match that had two tiebreakers. Caltabiano won the opening set 6-4, but Williams evened things with a 7-6 win in the second set. Williams won the tiebreaker 7-0. In the third set, Caltabiano won 7-6, taking the 10-point tiebreaker 10-8.

Cedar Ridge junior Adeline Cummings defeated Hensley Gasaway 6-1, 6-2 at #3 singles. Sarah McLaughlin won the only match of the day for the Warriors, beating Mowles-Airing 6-3, 6-2. Cedar Ridge senior Catherine Ballenger knocked off Soadno at #5 singles 6-3, 6-0 to clinch the match.

Walter Williams 7, Cedar Ridge 2: In a showdown of the only two undefeated teams in league play from the Central Carolina Conference, Walter Williams defeated the Red Wolves in Burlington.

Mayhew took the opening singles match for Cedar Ridge, beating sophomore Abigail Brown 6-3, 6-1. The Bulldogs took four of the remaining five singles matches, starting with Jaden Wilson beating Caltabiano 6-1, 6-1. Williams freshman Lindley Over knocked off Cummings 6-3, 6-2. Gracie Hartle defeated Mowles-Airing 7-5, 6-2.

Cedar Ridge’s Ballenger kept the Red Wolves alive with a three-set victory over Lauren Taylor, 6-3, 1-6, 10-7 (10-point tiebreaker). Williams Grace Gabrielli won over Cedar Ridge’s Lundberg 6-2, 6-3.

Williams put the match away in the opening doubles tilt when Brown and Wilson defeated Mayhew and Cummings 8-5. At #2 doubles, Oler and Lauren Turner defeated Ballenger and Caltabiano 8-3. Williams completed a sweep of the doubles matches when Hartle and Gabrielli knocked off Mowles-Airing and Lundberg 8-1.

Cedar Ridge had its four match winning streak come to an end. The Red Wolves are 5-3 overall, 3-1 in the CCC. Williams improves to 5-0 overall, 5-0 in league play,

Mayhew is now 7-1 in singles matches this year. Overall, she has won eleven matches, counting her 4-2 record with doubles partner Adeline Cummings. Last week, Cummings and Mayhew teamed to defeat Orange’s Erinn and Shannon Sollars. It was the first match that the Sollars sisters have lost this year.

Ballenger has captured eight wins for Cedar Ridge this year. She has a 5-3 singles record.

On Thursday night, Cedar Ridge defeated Seaforth High in Pittsboro. Results from the match weren’t available at press time. The Red Wolves are 6-3 overall. They will return to action on Wednesday with a road trip to Person. On Thursday, they will travel to East Chapel Hill.

Orange 7, Roxboro Community School 0: Orange freshman Ellie Wilson won a three-set match in her first singles match as the Lady Panthers rolled past the Bulldogs in Hillsborough on Tuesday.

Playing at #4 singles, Wilson defeated Elizabeth Ess 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 10-8 in a 10-point tiebreaker. The rest of the matches were dominance by Orange’s seniors. Erinn Sollars defeated Olivia Ess 6-1, 6-4. Shannon Sollars won at #2 singles over Aurora Bettendorf 6-0, 6-1. Makayla Davis, who won three matches last week in dual matches against Cedar Ridge and Person, defeated Olivia Goddard 6-2, 6-2.

Sophomore Molly Kruse won over Rachel Green 7-6 (7-1), 6-2. Sophomore Kyla Mehl completed an Orange sweep of singles matches with a victory over Kirklyn Owen 6-1, 6-1.

Erinn and Shannon Sollars won the only doubles match. They defeated Olivia Ess and Goodard 8-1.

So far this year, Erin Sollars has won ten matches for Orange. The Sollars sisters are 6-1 in doubles play. Shanon Sollars has won 13 overall matches, including a 7-1 record in singles action.

On Thursday, Orange won its first-ever conference match at Southern Alamance in Graham 9-0. Results of the match weren’t available at press time. The Lady Panthers are 7-3 overall, 3-2 in the CCC.