Orange Women’s Tennis

This week Orange Panther of the Week is a shared honor between two sisters. Sophomore Erin Sollars and freshman Shannon Sollars both accomplished big things over the past week for the Orange women’s tennis team. Last Friday, Erin teamed with Jera Hargrove in the Central Carolina Conference Tournament at the Burlington Tennis Center. Together, Sollars and Hargrove defeated a team from Walter Williams 6-2, 6-1 to reach the Mideast Regionals. Also in the CCC Tournament, Shannon Sollars teamed with Tea Jones to defeat a team from Northwood 6-0, 6-2, then won their final match over a tandem from Williams 6-3, 6-2. It will be the first time that both the Sollars sisters will play in the regionals. On Wednesday, both of the Sollars sisters won as Orange defeated Fike 5-3 in the opening round of the 3A State Dual Team Tennis Playoffs. It was the first time ever that Orange won a match in the State Dual Team Playoffs. On top of that, Orange became the first public school to defeat the Golden Demons this year. Erin Sollars won her match at #5 singles 6-2, 6-3. Shannon Sollars won her match at #6 singles 6-0, 6-2. Erin Sollars teamed with Hargrove to win at #2 doubles 8-1 and wrap up the victory for Orange. Orange will travel to Fayetteville to face Cape Fear in the 2nd round of the 3A State Tournament on Tuesday. The Mideast Regionals start Friday at the Burlington Tennis Center.

Photo by Angie Hurdle

There’s a wonderful uncertainty about conference tournaments that you can’t experience until you see it yourself.

Look no further than Monday night at Orange. The Lady Panthers volleyball team faced Western Alamance, a team that Orange had little trouble with in the regular season. Just last week, Orange traveled to Elon, could have parked in a one-hour zone and faced no repercussions, disposing of the Warriors 25-22, 25-8 and 25-15.

It was considerably different on Monday. No one could explain why, but the Warriors jumped out to a 2-sets-to-nothing lead. Perhaps Orange looked ahead to a potential third matchup against Cedar Ridge on Tuesday. Perhaps Western Alamance was more motivated to make a run for a 3A State Playoff birth.

A week after dominating the Warriors, the Lady Panthers had to rally and rally in order to pull out its second five-set win of the season, and its first since the season opener against Jordan. To start the fifth set, Western Alamance led 5-0 after several close calls went against Orange, which sparked a comeback triggered by junior Allie Wilkerson, who has consecutive kills.

After Avery Miller earned a side out for Orange to reduce the Western Alamance lead to 10-6, Orange sophomore libero Sadye Porter lined up to serve. And she would serve nine consecutive points to finish out the match. During that run, Wilkerson had two blocks and two kills, including match point as Orange finally earned a 15-10 fifth set win and the match.

The lesson is that in conference tournaments, nothing is ever certain.

While conference tournaments were common in men’s and women’s basketball during the Big 8 Conference, they were a non-entity in volleyball. But not in the Central Carolina Conference. And now, on Tuesday night, Orange and Cedar Ridge will meet for a third time this season.

As Western Alamance proved on Monday, it’s hard to beat a team three times.

It was another strong week for Hillsborough volleyball last week, which brings us to the Magnificent 7. Here are the seven athletes who established themselves last week on the tennis court, volleyball court, soccer pitch and gridiron:

Olivia Aitkin: A three-sport athlete at Cedar Ridge, Aitkin qualified for the 3A Central Women’s Golf Regionals. Aitkin competed in the Central Carolina Conference Tournament at Mill Creek Country Club in Mebane. Aitkin also recently committed to play softball at Amherst College in Massachusetts.

Melissa Benkowitz: The Cedar Ridge volleyball team had three players register 100 kills during the regular season. Benkowitz, who was arguably East Chapel Hill’s best player in 2020, transferred to Cedar Ridge over the summer and has grown into her role as an outside hitter. In the regular season finale against Carrboro last Wednesday at Red Wolves Gymnasium, Benkowitz led Cedar Ridge with eight kills. She also had six digs as the Red Wolves broke the school record for most wins in a regular season with 23. Cedar Ridge also finished with a perfect 12-0 record in the CCC after sweeping Williams on Monday.

Chloe Patz: A senior co-Captain for the Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team, Patz earned her first trip to the Mideast Regionals during the Central Carolina Conference tournament on Friday. Patz defeated a participant from Northwood to extend her season. Patz has been Cedar Ridge’s regular #2 singles player this season and has had several key victories, including one against Northwood on September 27 to ensure a 6-3 win. Northwood would go on to claim a share of the CCC championship with Walter Williams.

Jera Hargrove: Reached the 3A Mideast Regional women’s tennis finals for the third time in her career last week. Hargrove teamed with Erin Sollars in doubles play to defeat Williams’ Kaori Naruse and Lauren Turner during the Central Carolina Conference Tournament at the Burlington Tennis Center. Hargrove reached the Mideast Regionals in her freshman and sophomore years as a singles player. She was one of six Orange women’s tennis players who qualified for the Mideast Regionals.

Avery Miller: Had 12 kills and eight digs as the Orange volleyball team ended the regular season with a 3-0 win over Eastern Alamance on Thursday. It was Miller’s final regular season game for the Lady Panthers. Last Tuesday, Miller had five kills in a win over Western Alamance.

Ella Wimsatt: Led Orange with eleven kills in the win over Western Alamance. Also had a strong game against Eastern Alamance in Mebane as Orange secured fourth place in the CCC. The Lady Panthers will likely host a 3A State Playoff game on Saturday.

Konnor Johnson: The Orange freshman midfielder scored two goals as the Panthers defeated Person 4-2 on Wednesday at Rocket Stadium. Johnson also set up several scoring opportunities for the Panthers in its 1-1 draw with Cedar Ridge at Orange Soccer Park on October 11. It was the first brace for Johnson in his varsity career. He has four goals on the season.

While past records of local women’s tennis are frustratingly incomplete, the Orange women’s tennis team can certainly say they’ve accomplished something that hasn’t been done in a long time.

They’ve made the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs.

On Monday morning, the Orange women’s tennis team received a wildcard entry into the 32-team 3A State Tournament. The Lady Panthers, who finished 15-4, will face Quad City Conference Champion Wilson Fike (17-1) on Wednesday.

Orange is the first women’s team from Hillsborough to reach the 3A State Team Playoffs since the 2016 Cedar Ridge Red Wolves won the Big 8 Conference Championship. That year, Cedar Ridge reached the state quarterfinals, beating Swansboro in the opening round and Walter Williams in the round of 16.

While MaxPreps records extend back to only 2013, this is the first time that Orange has ever reached the 3A State Tournament. It could very well be the first time Orange women’s tennis has made the state tournament, period, but there aren’t any records that can definitively prove that.

What is certain is that all six of Orange’s participants in last week’s Central Carolina Conference tournament have made the 3A Mideast Regionals.

In addition, two Cedar Ridge singles players Cameron Mayhew and Chloe Patz both earned spots to the regionals during the conference tournament at the Burlington Tennis Center last Friday.

Orange’s doubles team of Tea Jones and Shannon Sollars earned one spot in the regionals. Jones and Sollars opened with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Northwood’s Evelyn Dallman and Anna Gilliam. In the match to determine a regional bid, Jones & Sollars defeated Williams’ Aniella Profillo and Gracie Hartle 6-3, 6-2.

Orange had a second doubles team advance to regionals. Jera Hargrove and Erin Sollars received a bye into the second round. They defeated Williams Kaori Naruse & Lauren Turner 6-1, 6-2.

This will be Hargrove’s third trip to the Mideast Regionals. As a freshman and a sophomore, she reached regionals as a singles player.

Cedar Ridge’s freshmen team of Adeline Cummings and Ella Caltabiano won their opening round match over Preson’s Annie Adcock and Cassidy Swanik 6-1, 6-0. Western Alamance’s Amelia Weaver and Avalyn Ward defeated Cummings and Caltabiano to reach the regionals.

In singles play, Cedar Ridge’s Mayhew didn’t have a match on the day. She was the #1 overall seed and advanced straight to next weekend. Mayhew is the younger sister of Cedar Ridge’s Josh Mayhew, who reached the 3A Men’s State Championship match last year. It’s the second straight year that Cameron Mayhew has reached the Mideast Regionals.

Cedar Ridge senior Chloe Patz, a Co-Captain who was named the Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week last week, defeated Northwood’s #6 player 6-2, 6-0 to advance to regionals for the first time.

For the second year in a row, Orange’s Finley White reached the Mideast Regionals. While defeated a player from Northwood to reach in the second round.

Orange’s sophomore Grace Pell defeated a player from Williams to advance to regionals, which will also be held at the Burlington Tennis Center.

Photo by Aidan Jensen

The completion of the Orange women’s tennis team’s regular season came to an end in the peaceful, rural quiet of Roxboro on Tuesday afternoon.

But the success of the Lady Panthers has been anything but meek.

After beating Person 7-0 in the regular season finale, the Lady Panthers finished the regular season 15-4. That’s the most amount of wins for the team, according to records that date back to 2009. It’s quite possible that the 15 wins are a school record, according to former head coach Andy Brown. Orange finished third in the Central Carolina Conference with a 7-3 record, which means the Lady Panthers could receive a wildcard spot in the upcoming 3A Dual Team State Playoffs, where 32 teams will comprise the field. Orange has more total victories than anyone in the CCC.

The Central Carolina Conference is guaranteed two automatic playoff spots, which will go to Northwood and Walter Williams. Any available wildcard spots would be based on overall record.

Last week, Orange had its signature win of the season when they defeated co-CCC champion Northwood 5-4 at Orange High Tennis Courts. It was a signature moment for senior Jera Hargrove, who started at #1 singles as a freshman and a sophomore. Last spring, Hargrove focused on track & field while tennis season unfolded during the spring because of the pandemic.

Against the Chargers, Hargrove won her match at #2 singles over Julia Earnshaw 6-4, 6-2. As the entire dual match came down to the doubles long after the sun went down, Hargrove joined sophomore Erin Sollars to defeat Erin Lippers and Ryan Tinervin 8-2. Orange wrapped up the victory when the #3 doubles team of Tea Jones and Shannon Sollars defeated Kendall Leberge and Kaylee Fisher 8-4.

Earlier in the day, Erin and Shannon Sollars won their singles matches at #5 and #6, respectively, to split the six singles matches.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” Webb said on Twitter following the Person win on Tuesday night. “I think it’s been a very exciting season. We had some great additions to the team that has made us stronger. But I also think the girls worked hard every day. They’re improving every day. Some of them had goals to accomplish this year.”

One of them was Jones, a senior who started sparingly last spring. This year, Jones started the season with nine straight victories in singles matches. That included a three-set victory over Cedar Ridge on September 7 at Red Wolves Tennis Courts.

Part of what made Orange a better program this season was record participation. There were 23 players who filled Webb’s roster.

“All the girls that we have this year have a lot of confidence,” Webb said. “They believe in themselves. Against Cedar Ridge (on September 7), we had our #2 player lose the first set, come back and win the second set, then won the 10-point break. Tea did the same thing. So we’re winning close matches. That’s something that, in the past, has been a challenge for us. Winning the close matches has made a big difference.”

They also had long nights on the courts. In its CCC opener against Western Alamance in Elon, nightfall descended after a three-hour match that wasn’t decided until Orange’s #3 doubles team of Jinkie Andrews and Erin Sollars won 6-5. Earlier in the night, Andrews won her #3 singles match 5-7, 6-4, 10-6, which was one of two matches that went three sets on the night.

Orange and Cedar Ridge will participate in the Central Carolina Conference Tournament at the Burlington Tennis Center on Friday. The tournament will determine who will make the 3A Mideast Regionals, which will also be held in Burlington later this month.

Women’s Tennis:

Orange 7, Cedar Ridge 2: For the third year in a row, the Orange women’s tennis team will have a winning season.

Not only that, but with one more win, the Lady Panthers will have its most wins since they returned to the 3A ranks in 2012.

On Wednesday, Orange completed a season sweep of Cedar Ridge with a 7-2 win at Orange Tennis Courts. It concluded a long 48-hour stretch fo the Lady Panthers that started on Tuesday when they completed a suspended match against Walter Williams, then played an entire dual match against the Bulldogs.

Against the Red Wolves, Orange (11-4 overall, 5-3 in the Central Carolina Conference), senior Tea Jones had two wins on the day. At #4 singles, Jones won 6-4, 6-2. Jones teamed with senior Jinkie Andrews to win at #3 doubles 8-4. So far in 2021, Jones has an overall record of 16-8.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew also earned two wins on the afternoon. Mayhew captured her match at #1 singles 6-3, 7-5. After dark, Mayhew teamed with senior Chloe Patz at #1 doubles to win over Finley White and Grace Pell 8-1.

Pell, a sophomore, improved to 11-4 in singles action this year. At #2 singles, Pell prevailed in a three-set match over Patz 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 (10-point tiebreaker). It was the fifth time this year that Pell has played in a three-set match, and the second time it happened against Patz.

Senior Jinkie Andrews won 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 at #3 singles for Orange. Sophomore Erin Sollars and freshman Shannon Sollars earned singles victories for Orange.

Jera Hargrove & Erin Sollars won at #2 doubles 8-3.

Cedar Ridge 5, Northwood 4: On Monday, Cedar Ridge became the first women’s tennis team two hand Northwood a loss in CCC action.

After nearly three hours of action, the entire dual match came down to the final doubles match. Cedar Ridge’s freshmen duo of Ella Caltabiano and Adeline Cummings defeated Northwood’s Kaylee Fisher & Kendall Leberge 8-3 to earn the Red Wolves biggest win of the season.

Cedar Ridge captured three of the five singles matches. Sophomore Cameron Mayhew pulled out a tight match over Evelyn Lippers 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. Mayhew is 6-2 in singles action this year.

The Red Wolves won both singles matches that went to three sets. At #2, Patz defeated Julia Earnshaw 1-6, 6-2, 10-8. At #5 singles, senior Olivia Kelly defeated Fisher 6-2, 2-6, 10-8. Cummings won at #6 singles 6-1, 6-2.

Walter Williams 5, Orange 4: In the completion of a suspended match from earlier this month, Williams held off to take sole possession of 2nd place in the CCC.

The completion of the suspended match wasn’t decided until the final doubles match. Williams’ Kaori Naruse & Lauren Taylor defeated Andrews & Jones 9-7 to take the match. Pell and Andrews won singles matches for Orange.

Orange evened the overall dual match with wins at #1 and #2 doubles. Finley White and Grace Pell teamed to win at #1 doubles 8-6. At #2 doubles, Erin Sollars and Jera Hargrove won 8-2.

Williams 5, Orange 4: Another match that wasn’t decided until #3 doubles. White & Pell won at #1 doubles 8-5, while Hargrove & Sollars captured the #2 doubles match 8-1.

Pell won at #2 singles 8-3. Shannan Sollars won the only other Orange player to win a singles match, defeating Lauren Turner 8-5.

Orange is 11-4 overall, 5-3 in the CCC with two dual matches remaining in conference play. Orange will hold its senior night match next Thursday against Roxboro Community School.

Women’s Golf:

In the fourth Central Carolina Conference meet of the season, Cedar Ridge senior Olivia Aitkins had her best finish of the season at Caswell Pines Golf Course in Blanch. Aitkins finished with a 49 and wound up tied for fifth in a eight-team meet.

Aitkins, who committed to play softball at Amherst College last week, was the highest placer among any of the Hillsborough participants.

Orange’s Samantha Durham had her best round of the season with a 50, which was best among the Lady Panthers. Orange senior Sarah Durham had a 57. Shannon Dorsi, Kayla Pope and Lucia Godinez also participated.

Eastern Alamance’s Emily Matthews finished first with a 33. Western Alamance’s Makayla Martinez finished 2nd with a 39, and the Warriors won the overall team standings with 137. Northwood was second with 144.

This should be a time for big games and active gyms and stadiums.

There’s potential for drama in volleyball. Cedar Ridge, despite a tough loss to defending 3A State Champion D.H. Conley on Monday, still leads the Central Carolina Conference by a game over Northwood. Orange volleyball has three home games this week.

Plus, Orange will host two football games at Auman Stadium this week. The junior varsity faces Cedar Ridge on Thursday night, the only football game between the two teams from Hillsborough this year. On Friday, Orange will take on Williams in its first home conference game.

But fan participation is back to levels last seen in the spring. After the Orange County School Board’s vote last Monday, attendance has been cut back to two fans per spectator. Hopefully, the mandate will be lifted in time for October when Cedar Ridge could be playing for a volleyball conference championship. Plus, the Orange women’s tennis team is battling for first place in the Central Carolina Conference.

Last week was a solid one for Orange and Cedar Ridge in all of the fall sports. On Sunday, we tipped our hand for one of the honorees of the Magnificent 7 for this week. Here’s a complete list of the best performers of the fifth week of fall sports:

Sarah Durham: This week’s Orange Panther of the Week, Sarah finished tied for 2nd at the CCC meet at the Preserve at Jordan Lake. She finished with a 47, tied with Northwood’s Lily Jordan. Every weekend, Sarah practices her tee shots at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough. On Sunday afternoon, she was kind enough to meet us on a Sunday afternoon to film the interview that was posted on Monday.

Jinkie Andrews: The Orange tennis senior had two wins in Orange’s 8-1 win over Riverside last Tuesday. Andrews teamed with Tea Jones to win at #1 doubles 8-8. At #3 singles, Andrews defeated Riverside’s Willow Tobin 6-1, 6-2. On Thursday, Andrews earned another win as the Lady Panthers defeated Roxboro Community School 7-2.

Avery Miller: Stong overall game against Person with eight kills and six digs. Against Northwood, Miller had a season-high ten kills. She also finished with eight digs, an ace and a block.

Benjamin Weaver: The Cedar Ridge goalkeeper made some huge saves as the Red Wolves won the Hillsborough Derby over Orange 4-1 at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night. Weaver, who transferred to Cedar Ridge after moving to Hillsborough from Pennsylvania over the summer, may have saved the game with 14:45 remaining when he made a kick save on a shot by Orange’s Darius Corbett with the Red Wolves clinging to a 2-1 lead. Weaver also played well against Northwood in a tight 2-1 loss in Pittsboro, a game where the game-winning goal was scored with two minutes remaining.

Chris Mendez: Mendez scored the game-winning goal for the Red Wolves against Orange. Mendez fired eight shots against the Panthers, five of them on goal. He also finished the scoring when he collected his own rebound and deposited it into the net with 6:02 remaining.

Hannah Shinnick: The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team defeated Western Alamance 5-4 last week in Hillsborough. Shinnick earned two big wins. She started with a victory at #3 singles over Madison Randleman 6-3, 6-3. At #2 doubles, Shinnick teamed with Olivia Kelly to win 8-5. It was a pair of Cedar Ridge freshmen, Ella Caltabiano and Adeline Cummings, who wrapped up the dual match victory with a 8-3 win at #3 doubles.

Julie Altieri: The Cedar Ridge volleyball team defeated Western Alamance 3-1 last Thursday. Altieri had 27 assists against the Warriors as the Red Wolves remained undefeated in the CCC. Altieri had three aces in the four set to wrap up the win for the Red Wolves. Cedar Ridge will resume conference play on Thursday with a critical game against Person.

Women’s tennis: Cedar Ridge 6, Western Alamance 3: Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew won her third straight match in singles play as the Red Wolves defeated Western Alamance at Cedar Ridge tennis courts on Monday afternoon.

Mayhew, who has competed at #1 singles in all of the Red Wolves’ dual matches so far this season, opened with a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Cedar Ridge senior Hannah Shinnick won two matches against the Warriors. She opened with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Madison Randleman at #3 singles. At day turned into night, Shinnick teamed with classmate Olivia Kelly at #2 doubles to defeat Madison Randleman & Sophie Touchette 8-5. That win sewed up the match for the Red Wolves, who improved to 3-3 overall, 2-2 in the Central Carolina Conference.

Kelly wonder #5 singles match over Sarah McLaughlin 6-3, 7-5. At #6 singles, Cedar Ridge freshman Adeline Cummings defeated Touchette 6-2, 6-0.

At #3 doubles, Red Wolves freshman Ella Caltabiano teamed with Cummings to win 8-3.

Cedar Ridge will travel to Burlington to face Williams on Wednesday afternoon.

Orange 8, Riverside 1: Orange swept all six singles matches to defeat Riverside at Orange Tennis Courts on Wednesday afternoon. Grace Pell captured her match in three sets. Riverside’s only victory came at #3 doubles. Orange improved to 8-2.

Northwood 6, Orange 3: The Chargers ended Orange’s four-match winning streak on Monday in Pittsboro. Erin Sollars won at #5 singles. Shannon Sollars won in a third-set tiebreak at #6 singles. Once again, Pell was extended to three sets but fell just short. 10-8. The Lady Panthers are 3-1 in the CCC.

Men’s soccer: Williams 6, Orange 1:

Wiliams, who captured the 2019 3A State Championship, defeated Orange 6-1 at Orange Soccer Park on Monday night. The Panthers’ only tally came from junior Cooper Zinn on an assist from Dylan Silverman. It was Zinn’s first goal of the year. Kenan King had four goals for the Bulldogs, who improved to 4-2-2 overall, 2-0 in the CCC.

Orange falls to 3-6, 0-2 in the CCC. The Panthers will play in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby on Wednesday night against Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Stadium. Cedar Ridge has won the last three matches against Orange and four of the last five. Kickoff will be at 6:30 at Cedar Ridge.

Northwood 2, Cedar Ridge 1: The Red Wolves were tied with the Chargers at the half in their conference game at Chargers Stadium on Monday night. Northwood got the game-winning goal in the second half. The Red Wolves are 1-7 overall, 0-1 in the CCC

Women’s Golf: The second Central Carolina Conference meet of the year was held on Monday at the Preserves at Jordan Lake in Chapel Hill. In a field of 24 participants, Orange’s Sarah Durham finished tied for 2nd overall with a 47. Durham tied with Northwood’s Lily Jordan for second place.

Eastern Alamance’s Emily Mathews won the meet with a 35 through nine holes. Western Alamance won the team competition with 149 strokes, seven strokes ahead of Northwood, who finished at 155. Eastern Alamance finished third at 159. Orange was fourth with 168, while Person finished at 185.

Orange’s Samantha Durham, Sarah’s sister, finished tied for seventh with a 51.

Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin, who is the Red Wolves only golf participant, also finished in the top ten. Aitkin tied with Eastern Alamance’s Sarah Vannavong by shooting a 57.

Orange’s Lucia Godinez, Kayla Pope, Shannon Dorsi also participated in the meet.

Women’s Tennis:

Orange 7, Cedar Ridge 2: After going years without beating its crosstown rival, the Orange women’s tennis team has now won three straight dual matches against Cedar Ridge.

Last Tuesday, the Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 7-2 at Red Wolves Tennis Courts.

The Lady Panthers won four singles matches and swept the three doubles matches to improve to 6-1, 2-0 in the Central Carolina Conference (a match against Williams on September 1 was suspended and will resume on September 27).

There were two marathon matches. At #2 singles, Orange sophomore Grace Pell went to a third-set tiebreaker against Cedar Ridge senior Patz Chloe. Pell prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), with Pell taking the 10-point tiebreaker 10-5 to improve to 6-2 on the season.

Tea Jones, last week’s Orange Panther of the Week, had another three-set match against freshman Ella Caltabiano. In the opening set, Caltabiano won 6-3. Jones bounced back to win the second set 6-3, and the 10-point tiebreaker 11-9.

At #3 singles, junior Jinkie Andrews defeated Hannah Shinnick 6-3, 6-4. Andrews later teamed with Erin Sollars for a win at #3 doubles 8-4. Erin Sollars won her match in singles 6-0, 6-2.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew, who won the Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week back in June, captured the #1 singles match over Finley White 6-3, 6-1. Freshman Adeline Cummings won Cedar Ridge’s other singles match over Orange freshman Shannon Sollars 7-5, 6-3.

Orange clinched the match at #1 doubles when White and Pell teamed to win 8-4.

Orange 8, Person 1: The Lady Panther improved to 7-1 with the win over the Rockets on Thursday in Hillsborough. Orange took five of the six singles matches to sew up the dual match.

Makayla Davis earned her third singles win of her varsity career at #3 singles, 6-1, 6-1.

White, Pell, Shannon Solars, and Isabelle Lynn also won for Orange.

In doubles: Jinkie Andrews teams with Tea Jones for a win at #1 doubles 8-1. Jones and Madelyn Horn won the most dramatic match of the day at #3 doubles by a score of 8-6. Erin & Shannon Sollars won 8-0 at #2 doubles.

Volleyball:

Cedar Ridge 3, Eastern Alamance 1: Cedar Ridge’s streak of 24 consecutive victorious sets came to an end against Eastern Alamance in Mebane on Thursday night.

The Red Wolves unbeaten streak didn’t end.

After the Eagles became the first team to take a frame from the Red Wolves 27-25 in the opening set, Cedar Ridge rolled 25-10, 25-12 and 25-12 to remain undefeated at 9-0. Cedar Ridge also maintained first place in the Central Carolina Conference at 4-0.

Cedar Ridge will host Western Alamance on Tuesday at Red Wolves Gymnasium, then travel to Western Alamance on Thursday.

Men’s Soccer:

Orange 3, Riverside 0: Just one week after losing to Riverside 3-0 at Linny Wrenn Stadium, Orange rebounded to defeat the Pirates 3-0 at Orange Soccer Park on Thursday night. Panther co-Captain Jasper Tell notched a goal for Orange, and also assisted on another goal by junior Bryan Membreno. Sophomore Enzo Bruhns, in his varsity debut after starting the season on the junior varsity squad, scored a goal that was assisted by freshman Konner Johnson.

Junior goalkeeper Connor McMurty posted the clean sheet for Orange, who improved to 3-5.

Women’s Golf:

Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough hosted its first Central Carolina Conference meet of the season last week. Western Alamance finished first in the team standings at 140 strokes. Eastern Alamance’s Emily Mathews had the top individual score with a 35 through nine holes.

Orange had four players for its squad. Sarah Durham, who was an Orange Panther of the Week in 2020, had the top score for the Panthers with a 47. Durham had the sixth-highest score in the meet.

Cedar Ridge’s only representative was Olivia Aitkin, who shot a 52. Aitkin is a rare three-sport athlete. She is also a swimmer during the winter and is a starting centerfielder for the Cedar Ridge softball team.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior tennis player Tea Jones. This season, Jones is 6-0 in singles action, even though this is her first year as a full-time starter under head coach Justin Webb. On August 26, Jones defeated Carrboro’s Caitlin Cabell 10-8. To start the season, Jones knocked off Carrboro’s Julianna Curry 8-3 as Orange started the season with a dual math victory over the Jaguars. Recently, Jones has worked overtime to get victories for the Lady Panthers. Last week in Orange’s Central Carolina Conference opener, Jones defeated Western Alamance’s Sarah McLaughlin 4-6, 6-2, 10-6. Then on Tuesday, Jones knocked off Cedar Ridge freshman Ella Caltabiano 3-6, 6-3, 11-9. On Thursday, Orange defeated Person 8-1 at Orange Tennis Courts. Jones teamed with fellow senior Jinkie Andrews to win at #1 doubles 8-1. Orange is 7-1 overall, 3-0 in the CCC. After its win over Person, Orange will travel to Pittsboro to face Northwood on Tuesday. They will host Riverside and Roxboro Community next week in Hillsborough.

Men’s Soccer: Orange 4, Graham 1: It appeared the Orange men’s soccer team would come up short in its search for its first road win of the season.

Trailing 1-0 with 15:00 against Graham, the Panthers unleashed four goals in the final 14 minutes to beat the Red Devils 4-1 on Monday night. In the final minute, Orange wingback Jasper Fast attempted a free kick from 24 yards. The ball was stopped on the goal line, but junior Darius Corbett chipped it in for the final goal.

Nicholas Hengsterman earned the win in net for Orange, who will face Riverside at Durham’s Linny Wrenn Stadium on Wednesday.

Orange 9, Henderson Collegiate 0: Orange claimed its first win of the season with a 9-0 win over Henderson Collegiate at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Saturday. The game kicked off a 3PM in the midst of 95-degree heat, but the Panthers didn’t let that deter them.

Tyler Mann and Carter Thompson each scored three goals for Orange. Darius Corbett added two goals, while Traver Bruhns added another marker. Thompson, Corbett and Bryan Membreno all had assists. Nicholas Hengsterman earned the clean sheet for the win.

Women’s Tennis:

Cedar Ridge 7, Person 2

The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team had the distinction of being the first team to play a match in the new Central Carolina Conference on Monday afternoon. The Red Wolves defeated Person 7-2 at Red Wolves Tennis Courts.

Sophomore Cameron Mayhew won at #1 singles 8-0. At #2 singles, Chloe Patz defeated Alora Horton 8-1. Hannah Shinnick won at #3 singles 8-0. Freshman Ella Caltabiano, Senior Captain Olivia Kelly and freshman Adeline Cummings all won their respective singles matches 8-0.

In doubles, Cedar Ridge’s Reagan Simmons and Catherine Ballenger won 8-4. The Red Wolves are 2-0 overall and will travel to Northwood on Wednesday.

Orange 5, Western Alamance 3

The Orange women’s tennis team had a long night in its Central Carolina Conference opener. A match that started in the heat of the day wasn’t decided until nightfall had descended in Elon, but the Lady Panthers won 5-3.

Both the #3 and the #4 singles matches wound up in a third set tiebreaker. Tea Jones won her match at #3 singles, while senior Jinkie Andrews won at #4 singles to put Orange ahead 4-2 in the doubles round. Jones and senior Jera Hargrove won at #2 doubles to clinch the match for Orange. The #3 doubles match was canceled because of lightning.

Orange is 5-1, 1-0 and will host Walter Williams in Hillsborough on Wednesday.

Cedar Ridge 5, Voyager Academy 4

The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team opened its season last Tuesday with a 5-4 win over Voyager Academy. It was a dual match that came down to #3 doubles.

With the dual match even 4-4, the #3 doubles team of freshman Ella Caltabiano and Reagan Simmons won 8-3 to preserve a win in the season opener. Earlier in the day, Caltabiano won her first match at the varsity level at #4 singles, beating Voyager’s Karli McKenna 8-5.

Senior Chloe Patz captured her #2 singles match 8-3. At #3 singles, Hannah Shinnick won 8-4. Senior Olivia Kelly won 8-6 over Shea Dixon at #5 singles.

Carrboro 7, Orange 2: Orange 5, Carrboro 2

Last Thursday, Orange completed its season-opening match against Carrboro, which was postponed from August 16 because of rain. The Lady Panthers won 5-2. Sophomore Grace Pell captured her match at #2 singles after her opponent retired. In the marathon match of the day, senior Jinkie Andrews defeated Carrboro’s Julianna Curry 11-10, winning a tiebreaker 7-5. Senior Tea Jones, sophomore Erin Sollars and freshman Shannon Sollars all won their singles matches.

The Jaguars won the regularly scheduled match. Jones defeated Carrboro’s Julianna Curry 8-3 at #4 singles. Shannon Sollars captured the match at #6 singles 8-1.