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.”

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior tennis player Ella Caltabiano. It’s the third time in her career that Caltabiano has been honored as Red Wolf of the Week. This season, Caltabiano helped Cedar Ridge reach the 3A State Dual Team playoffs. She qualified for the Mideast Regionals, playing against the best players in the state at the Burlington Tennis Center on Friday and Saturday. Caltabiano took over for Cameron Mayhew as Cedar Ridge’s #1 singles player this season and won seven matches. This year, Cedar Ridge’s players had to spend two-thirds of its season on the road while their home court was renovated. She started the year with a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Southern Alamance. Throughout the course of the year, Caltabiano was in three-set matches. Against Orange on September 18, Caltabiano defeated the Lady Panthers’ top singles player, Shannon Sollars 6-1, 1-6, 10-5 (10-point tiebreaker). In a win over Western Alamance on September 25, Caltabiano defeated Reagan Williams 4-6, 7-5, 10-7. In her final home match, Caltabiano defeated Gabby Canup of Southern Alamance 6-2, 6-0. Caltabiano and her doubles partner, Adeline Cummings, recorded a record of 6-4 together. Caltabiano has been a four-year varsity player. Next week, Cedar Ridge will face South Johnston in the opening round of the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Ella Caltabiano

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior tennis player Ella Caltabiano. It’s the third time in her career that Caltabiano has been honored as Red Wolf of the Week. This season, Caltabiano helped Cedar Ridge reach the 3A State Dual Team playoffs.

Katie Belle Sikes: The greatest swimmer in Orange High history won her first relay race as a member of the Georgia Bulldogs women’s swimming team last weekend. Sikes, as a freshman, swam the anchor leg to win the 200 yard medley relay race in a tri-meet against South Carolina and Vanderbilt at the University of South Carolina Natatorium last Saturday. Sikes, Eboni McCarty, Olivia Dellatorre and Charlotte Headland finished first with a time of 1:37.89.  In her first college meet, Sikes finished third in the 100 yard freestyle. She touched the wall at 22.91 seconds. Dylan Scholes of South Carolina beat out Sikes for first at 22.72. Sikes came in fourth in the 100 yard freestyle. Georgia, ranked #13 in the country won both dual meets, beating Vanderbilt 240-48. The Bulldogs won over South Carolina 167-133.

Payton Wilson: N.C. State will induct Wilson into its Ring of Honor during the Wolfpack’s game against Stanford at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on November 2. In his final year in Raleigh in 2023, Wilson won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. He was also the 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Wilson is now a rookie for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last week, Wilson totaled six tackles, including one for a loss as the Steelers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 32-13 at Allegiant Stadium. Pittsburgh is 4-2 going into its matchup against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium. It will be Wilson’s second Sunday Night appearance in three weeks.

Trenton Gill: The former Cedar Ridge punter made his first appearance with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium on September 29. Gill averaged 37.5 yards over four punts. His longest was 42 yards. One was downed inside the 20-yard line. On October 4, Atlanta rallied to beat Tampa Bay 36-30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Gill was only needed for two punts, averaging 43.5 yards. His longest was 45 yards.

Darius Satterfield: Satterfield had five punts for Elizabeth City State against Virginia Union at Hovey Field in Richmond, VA last Saturday. He averaged 45.8 yards. His longest punt was 49 yards. Virginia State won 35-0. Satterfield also handled kickoff duties for the Vikings. On October 5, Livingstone College edged Elizabeth City State 23-17 at Alumni Memorial Stadium in Salisbury. Satterfield had seven punts, averaging 35.4 yards. His longest punt was 56 yards. Two boots were downed inside the 20-yard line. The Vikings are 2-4 and will face Virginia State at Roebuck Stadium later this afternoon (Saturday).

Ivy Garner: The Liberty women’s soccer team is on a four-game undefeated streak in Conference USA play. Last Sunday, the Flames defeated Louisiana Tech 2-0 at Caruthers Field in Ruston, LA. Garner, who played her freshman year at Cedar Ridge, scored both goals. She notched the game-winner in the 47th minute, assisted by Halle Engle. In the 52nd minute, Garner scored off an assist from Laurie Littleton. On October 10, Garner scored another game-winning goal in a win over Sam Houston at Pritchett Field in Huntsville, TX. Garner scored in the 29th minute off an assist from Gabby Miranda. On October 6, Liberty played to a 2-2 tie against New Mexico State at Osborne Stadium in Lynchburg, VA. Garner tallied another goal in the 28th minute for an equalizer assisted by Engle. Garner assisted on the second goal from Engle to put the Flames ahead. Liberty is 12-1-3 overall, 4-1-1 in Conference USA.

Emmerson Talley: The Division II Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team has won five in a row. On Wednesday, the Bears blanked Mars Hill 3-0 at Meares Stadium in Mars Hill. Talley, the all-time leading goal scorer in Cedar Ridge history, scored on the Bears first shot of the game in the 15th minute. Talley is now second on the team with four goals. Last Saturday, Lenoir-Rhyne defeated Coker 3-1 at Coker Athletic Field in Harsville, SC. Talley played 72 minutes and had one shot. The Bears remain undefeated at 7-0-3 overall, 5-0-1 in the South Atlantic Conference.

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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.

The Orange men’s cross country team hasn’t won championships over the past four years.

They’ve collected them.

Though they lost two-time 3A State Individual champion Gabriel Schmid to graduation, Orange has remained in top form this fall. On Wednesday, they captured its fourth consecutive Central Conference championship at Lake Cammack Course in Burlington.

For the third straight year, Orange had the individual conference champion, as well.

Junior Myles Jermyn was the leader as the Panthers placed the three runners to win the team championship with 25 points. Cedar Ridge had a strong showing, finishing runner-up with 44 points. Red Wolf junior Henry Alexander came in fourth overall at 17:25.84. Hillsborough runners comprised five of the six placers.

Jermyn, who finished second behind Schmid last year at the conference championships, led the pack with a time of 17:10.65. He narrowly beat his teammate, junior Lucas Van Mater, who came in at 17:11.18.

Since the formation of the Central Conference in 2021, Orange has won four conference and two Mideast Regional championships. Last November, the Panthers finished 2nd in the 3A State Championships behind only Croatan.

Jermyn, whose father Kevin is the cross country coach at Duke University, earned his first conference title. In September, Jermyn finished first in a tri-meet with Cedar Ridge and Western Alamance with a time of 17:32.00. He has now run on three Central Conference championship teams in three years.

Earlier this month, Van Mater inches out Jermyn on the same course by fourth-tenths-of-a-second in a conference meet that Orange captured.

Grant Scmid, a sophomore and the younger brother of Gabriel, finished third at 17:24.37. Overall, the Panthers had five of the top ten finishers, showing off their experience and depth. Senior Cryus Neal came in 9th (18:23.72) while Peter Musser finished 10th (18:56.02).

Easton Freeman of Walter Williams, who came in fifth (17:38.24), was the only non-Hillsborough runner in the top five.

Cedar Ridge had its best showing ever in the Central Conference championships, putting three runners in the top eleven finishers. In addition to Alexander, junior John Ngunjiri Jr finished sixth (17:42.45). Senior Nathan Walters finished 8th (18:01.85) while sophomore Callum Hinson finished 11th (19:08.83).

Orange finished with 25 points. Cedar Ridge finished 2nd with 44 points. Walter Williams, who had a runner-up finish in 2023, came in third with 75 points. Southern Alamance was fourth with 97 points and Western Alamance registered 115 points.

Orange’s Aidan Viola finished 21st (20:07.28).

Cedar Ridge sophomore Landin Tillet came in 15th (19:26.14) while Red Wolf Michael O’Melia finished 16th (19:36.88) O’Melia also wrestles for head coach Scott Metcalf during the winter.

Cedar Ridge senior Elie Ndahiriwe finished 19th in a field of 41 runners. Ndahiriwe finished with a time of 20:01.43.

Orange and Cedar Ridge both qualified as team for the Mideast Regionals. That will be held at Franklinton High School on October 26.

Over the past three years, Orange has claimed the regional championship in 2021 and 2023. In 2022, Orange finished second behind Durham School of the Arts.

Orange head cross country coach Brian Schneidewind maintained a championship form despite losing several strong runners from the 2023 conference championship team. In addition to Schmid, the Panthers lost Alden Cathey, who finished 5th in the conference championships in 2023. Cathey would go on to win Orange’s first regional championship in men’s lacrosse and now attends Arcadia University in Pennsylvania, where he will likely be a long-stick defenseman.

Gabriel Schmid is currently on a Mormon mission. Once that ends, he will run at N.C. State University. Schmid is one of two runners in Orange High history to win an individual state championship in cross country. The other, Bradsher Wilkins, also won back-to-back state championships in 1997 and 1998. Wilkins was the only Panther to win a state championship at the 4A level.