Orange Volleyball

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior setter Katie Silcott. Last week, Silcott had a triple-double as the Lady Panthers won the Central Conference Tournament. In the semifinals against Western Alamance, Silcott finished with 12 kills, eleven digs and 32 assists. The following night in the championship match against Cedar Ridge, Silcott missed a triple-double by one dig. She finished with ten kills, 22 assists and nine digs. Orange won two five-set matches on back-to-back nights in order to secure its first conference tournament championship since 2005. Orange also won its third straight match at Cedar Ridge. Silcott has been Orange’s setter since her freshman year. She has a total of 1,769 assists. In her sophomore season, Silcott put up a school-record 1,037 assists as Orange won the Eastern Regional championship, facing Kings Mountain for the state championship at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Silcott had a double-double with 22 assists and eleven digs in the state championship match. Silcott has been a regular starter for an Orange team that has won back-to-back regular season conference championship for the first time since 2004-2005. With the addition of Sawyer White to the lineup, Silcott has become a lethal attacker and a blocker at the net. Orange will face Triton in the opening round of the state playoffs tonight in Hillsborough.

Orange Panther of the Week: Katie Silcott

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior setter Katie Silcott. Last week, Silcott had a triple-double as the Lady Panthers won the Central Conference Tournament. In the semifinals against Western Alamance, Silcott finished with 12 kills, eleven digs and 32 assists.

The Orange volleyball team has won the Central Conference Tournament championship after winning two five-set matches over the course of two days. The Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 3-2 in the championship match on Thursday night. Junior Ava Wilkerson had a career-high 27 kills while junior Aubrey Jordan added 19 kills. In its run to its first conference tournament championship since 2005, Orange had incredible statistical games from its top two setters, Katie Silcott and Sawyer White. In the semifinals against Western Alamance, Silcott recorded her first career triple-double with 12 kills, eleven digs and 32 assists. White, a sophomore, also had her first career triple-double with 28 assists, 13 digs and eleven kills against the Warriors. Wilkerson set her career-high for kills on back-to-back nights. Against Western Alamance, she finished with 23 kills. Orange ended Cedar Ridge’s run of three consecutive conference tournament championships. Jordan had 19 kills against Western Alamance, two shy of her season-high. It was the second time this year that Orange won a five-set match inside Cedar Ridge Gymnasium. The Lady Panthers received the #5 seed in the Eastern Region for the 3A State Playoffs and will face Triton in the opening round on Tuesday night at 6 o’clock in Hillsborough. If Orange wins, they will host either South Central or South Johnston on Thursday night.

Orange volleyball’s Katie Silcott & Sawyer White discuss winning the Central Conference Tournament

The Orange volleyball team has won the Central Conference Tournament championship after winning two five-set matches over the course of two days. The Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 3-2 in the championship match on Thursday night. Junior Ava Wilkerson had a career-high 27 kills while junior Aubrey Jordan added 19 kills.

The early season grind for Orange volleyball was worth it.

Panthers head coach Hope Heverly scheduled eight noncoference matches this season. Of those, seven were against teams that wound up winning their respective conference championships this year (a trip to Chapel Hill was canceled because of Hurricane Helene).

Orange lost six of those matches and went into Central Conference play 2-4. Yet Coach Hope Heverly wasn’t discouraged because the plan was it would make them tougher for October, when championships are decided.

On Thursday night, Orange ended Cedar Ridge’s stranglehold on the Central Conference Tournament championship by beating the Red Wolves 3-2 at Red Wolf Gymnasium. In the second straight five-set match between the two crosstown rivals, the Lady Panthers captured the crown on scores of 25-15, 23-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10.

Orange junior Ava Wilkerson had a career-high 27 kills, while outside hitter Aubrey Jordan finished with 12 kills. Cedar Ridge junior Claire Hargett led the Red Wolves in kills.

It was a match with more than just a tournament championship and bragging rights on the line. The victory provided Orange with the top-seed from the Central Conference for the 3A State Tournament, which starts Tuesday. Orange and Cedar Ridge tied for the Central regular season championship with identical 10-2 league records.

Orange and Cedar Ridge have met in the Central Conference Tournament championship three straight years. The Red Wolves, who won at Orange last year 3-1 to hand the Lady Panthers its only loss to a league opponent, was going for its fourth consecutive tournament title.

“I know the drive that our girls long and all season long they’ve shown that they’re a really good comeback team,” Heverly said. “We don’t give up until that last point. I’d say our biggest strength is in game changeups. I can switch defense and I can switch where they’re hitting without me calling a timeout. We knew we had to make a couple of adjustments and the girls went out there and made the adjustments. They have the energy.”

It was the second straight night where Orange battled back from a two-sets-to-one deficit to win. In the semifinals on Wednesday night, the Lady Panthers defeated Western Alamance by winning the fourth set 25-22, then taking the fifth 15-8.

In the final set, Cedar Ridge (16-6) led the final set 6-3 following an ace from Emory Willians and kills by Hargett and Ellamarie Perel. Orange’s bigger bodies began to control at the net, propelling Orange to five consecutive points. Wilkerson, who leads the team with 322 kills, spiked down three straight kills to even the set at 6-6. Junior Katie Silcott laid down a soft attack that almost balanced on the net before it rolled over and fell to the floor so softly, it wouldn’t have dented a pillow. Another kill by Wilkerson broadened Orange’s lead to 8-6 before Hargett ended the run with a spike.

An ace from Sydnee Tappere tied the set at 8-8, but Wilkerson slammed home a free ball that hung over the net, which put Orange ahead for good. Silcott delivered an ace and later scored a huge block to put Orange ahead 14-10. Jordan spiked home match point off a feed from Abby Silinski.

Orange controlled the first set, overcoming an early 6-3 deficit and went on a 22-9 run to win the frame 25-15. Sophomore Sawyer White, who finished with four kills, five aces, three blocks, 16 digs and 20 assists. Orange registered nine blocks, including one from Mariah Poole that put the Lady Panthers ahead 12-8. An ace from Wilkerson led to nine set points, which Orange clinched when a return by Hargett went long.

The second set was tied six times, but Cedar Ridge fought back from an 8-5 deficit to even the match. An ace by Williams put the Red Wolves ahead 23-22, but the subsequent serve went long. Hargett slammed down a kill, and Sydnee Tapper’s delivered an ace on set point.

Hargett delivered another kill in the third set to put the Red Wolves ahead 11-10, which triggered a 7-1 run. Cedar Ridge built a 20-13 lead and wrapped up the set following a kill from Mia Marty off an assist from Ellioe Miller.

In the fourth set, Orange went on a 7-1 run to take a 13-8 lead behind consecutive aces from Silinski. Poole and Jordan each had unassisted kills as Orange forced a fifth set by winning 25-19.

Orange now ventures into the state playoffs as the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions. Last year, they were the top-seed from the Eastern Regional going into the state tournament, but didn’t expect to be playing at Reynolds Coliseum for all the marbles. Yet that’s where they wound up.

Heverly’s expectations for this year are loftier.

“I have high expectations,” Heverly said. “The girls have already seen the top teams from the state in the regular season. So they know what it takes to hang and stay with those types of teams. They’ve shown the drive and desire they have. So I’m excited to see where we can go the next two weeks.”

For the third year in a row, Orange and Cedar Ridge will meet for the Central Conference Tournament championship tonight (Thursday).

The past two years, it was clear that the Red Wolves and the Lady Panthers were the best two teams in the league long before the conference tournament started.

This year, it couldn’t have been any more different.

On opposite sides of Hillsborough Wednesday night, Orange and Cedar Ridge were each extended to five sets by opposition who had taken them to the distance earlier this year.

Cedar Ridge, the tournament’s #1 seed, fought off Person 3-2, its second five-set victory over the Rockets this year in Hillsborough. Just like their previous matchup on September 19, the Red Wolves won the first two sets, only to have Person storm back and draw even. The Red Wolves won the fifth set 15-12.

On the northern end of town, Orange defeated Western Alamance 3-2 on scores of 23-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-22 and 15-8. On September 22, the Warriors defeated the Panthers 3-2 in Elon.

It was a match won and lost at the net. With Western Alamance leading two-sets-to-one and ahead 13-8 in the fourth, Orange junior Mariah Poole made a crucial block on Warriors outside hitter Haley Clayton. That triggered six consecutive Orange points. Immediately after Poole’s play, sophomore Sawyer White rejected an attack by Reese Walker. Junior Ava Wilkerson delivered three consecutive kills to put Orange back ahead 14-13.

Freshman Aubry Hodges delivered her own block in the midst of another 6-0 Orange run that put them in control of the set. Hodges delivered a kill to increase Orange’s lead to 19-15. Naturally, Katie Silcott wrapped up set point by winning another joust at the net.

Orange never trailed in the fifth set, jumping out ahead after the Warriors were called for a double hit, followed by a kill from junior Aubrey Jordan. Hodges scored another block, the first of four consecutive Orange points. During the spurt, Poole delivered an ace and Wilkerson slammed down a kill to put Orange ahead 7-2.

The Warriors got a kill from Clayton set up by Walker to decrease Orange’s lead to 8-5, but that would be as close as they would get. Wilkerson scored an unassisted kill, while Jordan delivered on back-to-back kills. Poole ended the long night by scoring match point on, you guessed it, a block of Walker.

In the opening set, the lead changed eight times with 12 ties. Walker, a sophomore, had four kills in the opening set. Western’s Kenley Elliott scored to make it 23-22. Walker slammed down set point along the left sideline to give the Warriors the opening set 25-23.

Orange roared out to a 4-0 lead in the second and eventually won it 25-18, the closest thing to a decisive set in the match.

It appeared Orange would control the third set, as well. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind three kills from Jordan and another from White. Western Alamance used huge blocks from Taliah Walker and Clayton to trigger a 12-4 run, which put the Warriors ahead 11-8. Orange fought back and took a 24-23 lead after Jordan poked a ball over the net that found the floor. Clayton fought off an Orange set point with a kill, and the Warriors ended the third with the final three points. After Walker spiked down an attack to put the Warriors ahead 25-24, an attack by Jordan went wide on set point. Western Alamance won the set 26-24.

The stakes can’t get much higher on Thursday night at Red Wolf Gymnasium. The winner will take the conference tournament championship after the Red Wolves and the Panthers tied for the regular season title with identical 10-2 records.

On top of that, the winner will claim the top-seed for the 3A State Tournament. Currently, Cedar Ridge has an RPI ranking of #5. If they win on Thursday, they would be seeded fifth in the state tournament. If Orange wins, the Red Wolves will likely get only a #12 seed, which may be good for just one home match in the state playoffs.

Photo from Binghamton University 

Lottie Scully: The former Orange Panther was named the American East Setter of the Week. Last week, Scully had 38 assists in a win over the University of Albany as the Bearcats won its American East Conference opener at the Events Center in Vestal, NY. On September 29, Scully had 56 assists in a 3-1 win over Long Island University. It was the most assists by any American East player this year. Scully also had 13 digs in the win over LIU. Binghamton is 11-5 overall, 1-0 in the American East. The Bearcats will face UMBC and Bryant in matches this weekend.

Cameron Lloyd: Bucknell is off to the best start in team history after sweeping a four-match homestand to open Patriot League play. On September 28, the Bison swept Lafayette (25-16, 25-22, 25-18) at Davis Gymnasium in Lewis, PA. Lloyd finished with eleven kills and nine digs. On Sunday, Bucknell defeated in-state rival Lehigh 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-16). Lloyd had 14 kills, eleven digs and two blocks. Bucknell is 10-1 overall, 4-0 in the Patriot League. They will face American University and Navy this weekend.

Cameron Lanier: Elon has won three straight Coastal Athletic Association matches. Last weekend, they swept a two-match series from UNC Wilmington at Trask Coliseum in Wilmington. Lanier had eight kills and three digs in the Phoenix’s sweep of the Seahawks (25-18, 25-21, 25-23) on September 28. The following day, Elon swept UNCW again (25-23, 25-16, 25-23). Lanier led the Phoenix with 14 kills, two digs and a block. On Thursday, Elon swept Hampton at Holland Hall (25-15, 25-19, 25-18). Once again, Lanier led the Elon with ten kills.

Julie Altieri: Salisbury swept Marymount (VA) (25-14, 25-11, 25-19) at the Maggs Physical Activities Center in Maryland on Wednesday. Altieri had 27 assists, eight kills and five digs. The Gulls were supposed to compete in a tri-match in Gettysburg, PA last weekend, but it was canceled because of Helene. This weekend, Salisbury will face Christopher Newport and Scranton in Maryland. The Gulls are 12-2 overall.

Melissa Benkowitz: Last Saturday, Franklin & Marshall defeated Muhlenburg 3-2 (19-25, 27-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-11) in its Centennial Conference opener in Allentown, PA. Benkowitz had five kills, four aces, eleven digs and three assists. On Thursday, William Patterson defeated the Diplomats 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-21). Berkowitz had three kills and seven digs. Franklin & Marshall is 12-3 overall, 1-0 in the Centennial Conference. They will travel to Chesterown, MD to face Washington College on Saturday.

Grace Young: The Division III Greensboro Pride have won four in a row in the USA South Conference. On Wednesday, the Pride defeated Brevard College 3-0 at Hanes Gymnasium (25-16, 25-12, 25-9). Young, a sophomore had five digs. Last Saturday, the Pride swept Meredith College at Weatherspoon Gymnasium in Raleigh (25-14, 30-28, 25-22). Young had seven digs. On September 25, Greensboro defeated Pfeiffer University 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 22-25, 25-17) at Merner Gym in Misenheimer.  Young finished with 13 digs and an ace. On September 21, the Pride swept Mary Baldwin in Greensboro. Young had two digs and an ace. Greensboro is 11-5 overall, 4-2 in the USA South. They will North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount on Saturday.

Allie Wilkerson: Last Saturday, Averett University swept two matches at Pfeiffer University. The Cougars defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 22-25, 25-16) at Merner Gym. Wilkerson, the older sister of current Orange middle blocker Ava Wilkerson, finished with seven kills and two digs. Later in the day, the Cougars defeated Pfeiffer 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-22, 15-10) Wilkerson finished with eight kills, two digs and an ace. On September 25, the Cougars defeated Ferrum 3-1 (25-11, 25-16, 23-25, 25-14) at Swartz Gymnasium in Ferrum, VA. Wilkerson finished with six kills one dig. Averett is 7-10 overall, 2-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Cougars will host Shenandoah University and Eastern Mennonite University at the Stuart James Grant Center in Danville, VA this weekend.

Anaya Carter: On September 24, Augusta defeated Division II UNC Pembroke 3-2 at Lumbee Guarantee Bank Court (23-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-13). Carter played one set. The Braves had a match against Converse in Spartanburg, S.C. postponed because of Hurricane Helene. On Tuesday, UNCP defeated Barton 3-1 at Wilson Gymnasium in Wilson (25-19, 26-28, 25-17, 25-22). The Braves will face Mount Olive and Erskine in Pembroke this weekend.

Orange volleyball found a way to win against Person in Hillsborough on Tuesday night. The Lady Panthers fought off nine set points by Person in the opening frame to win 31-29. Junior Ava Wilkerson had six kills in the first set. Junior Katie Silcott finished with 23 assists, 16 digs and eight kills as Orange maintained its share of first place in the Central Conference. They remain tied with Western Alamance and Cedar Ridge for 1st with a 8-2 league record. Senior libero Abby Silinski had 22 digs and an ace. Orange has won three straight matches for the first time this year. In the second set, Person jumped out to a 13-6 lead before Orange made a comeback. The Lady Panthers ended the second set on a 7-1 run, starting with a kill by Ava Wilkerson assisted by Sawyer White. Silinski had an ace to put Orange ahead 24-20. Jordan had three kills during the final run of the second set. In the third set, Person jumped out to a 12-7 lead before the Panthers would rally once again. In the third set, Silcott had five digs, seven assists, two kills and a block. Orange will face Carrboro tonight in a nonconference match. It will be a rematch of last year’s 3A Eastern Regional championship match that Orange won in five sets.

Orange volleyball’s Katie Silcott & Abby Silinski discuss sweep of Person

Orange volleyball found a way to win against Person in Hillsborough on Tuesday night. The Lady Panthers fought off nine set points by Person in the opening frame to win 31-29. Junior Ava Wilkerson had six kills in the first set.

Sweeps can be deceiving in volleyball.

Last Tuesday, Orange swept Williams while holding the Bulldogs to 38 points over three sets.

On Tuesday night in Hillsborough, Orange swept Person, but it was anything but decisive.

As Orange enters the postseason, the biggest difference between the young team that started practice two weeks ago and the team that’s now on a three-game winning streak is they’re winning the big points at the right times.

Orange defeated the Rockets for the sixth straight time on scores of 31-29, 25-20 and 26-24. It’s the first time this year that the Lady Panthers have won three straight matches.

Orange maintained its tie with Cedar Ridge and Western Alamance for first place in the Central Conference with an 8-2 league record. Also on Tuesday night, the Red Wolves swept Eastern Alamance in Mebane. Western Alamance, which has won six in a row, swept Williams in Elon.

It was anything but an unorthodox win for the Lady Panthers. Person led in the opening set by as much as 15-7 after a kill by Person’s Lilly Atkins. Orange narrowed the gap to 17-14 following a 7-2 spurt, which ended with a kill by sophomore Sawyer White, who finished with eight kills, 17 digs and 18 assists. Still, Person had a 24-19 lead after an ace by Orange was nullified by a rotation violation. Incredibly, Person had nine set points in the first set and couldn’t close the deal. White started the run with a kill set up by Katie Silcott, followed by an ace from Addison Guentensberger. Ava Wilkerson, who registered 12 kills, eleven digs and two assists, followed with an kill set up by White. Person’s Kylee Hayden pushed a two-handed attack long to send the set into overtime. Person would have three more chances to close out the frame, but White, Wilkerson and Jordan all registered kills to extend the set. Jordan’s spike made it 29-29. The Panthers got consecutive points when the Rockets sent Atkins sent an attack into the net. On match point, the Rockets were called for a double hit ending a long struggle.

Orange had to play catch up again in the second set. Person jumped out to a 13-6 lead behind two aces from Hayden and another by junior Abby Sharlow. A block by Orange’s Mariah Polle ended a 4-0 Lady Panther spurt to close the Rocket lead to 14-10. White got back-to-back kills to start a 7-2 Orange run that evened the set at 18-18, ending with a kill by freshman Aubry Hodges assisted by Katie Silcott. The Panthers finished the set on a 7-1 flourish, starting with a spike by Wilkerson off a set from White. Jordan had three kills in the closing run, along with an ace from libero Abby Silinski.

Person built yet another run in the third set, going ahead 13-7 after a block from Kayle Parker on a kill attempt by Jordan. Once again, Orange chipped away at the deficit with Silinski delivering an ace to cap a 4-1 Orange spree, reducing the Rocket lead to 14-11. Orange would scored four straight points to take a 20-19 lead, ending with an ace from White. Jordan scored off an assist from Silcott to give the Panthers a 22-21 lead, followed by an unassisted kill from Poole. Person came back to tie it up at 23-23 off a kill from Kaiden Hawkins and a block from Parker. A return from Person went long to set up Orange’s first match point, but Jordan pushed an attack wide to force overtime. Jordan would atone with a kill for Orange’s second match point. Jordan then ended the match with a tap that landed in the heart of the Person side of the floor.

On Wednesday night (tonight), Orange will host Carrboro in a rematch of last year’ Eastern Regional championship match. The Lady Panthers will travel to Southern Alamance for a crucial match on Thursday.