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There will be a new addition to the list of accomplishments that surround Cedar Ridge’s athletic facilities next year.

In front of the football, baseball and softball fields at CRHS, every conference and state champion (individual and team) are listed on various signs and banners.

Coming soon to the tennis courts, there will be one that reads 2016 BIG 8 CONFERENCE CHAMPION.

The Red Wolves claimed its 13th consecutive win by beating Chapel Hill 5-1 in a rain-shortened match at Red Wolves Tennis Courts on Wednesday.

Cedar Ridge is now 14-1, 9-0 in the Big 8 Conference. Its only loss this year came against the Durham School of the Arts on August 17th.

The highlight match of the abbreviated day was at #2 singles, where CRHS’s Olivia Ward won a three-set match against Chapel Hill’s Lauren Bolzano 6-2, 4-6, 10-6. Ward improved to 10-3 on the season.

At #3 singles, senior Leah Thompson upped her record to 9-1 after dispatching of Megan Wu 6-3, 6-2.

CRHS’ Serena Sauers remained undefeated after beating Sarah Combs 6-3, 6-3. Sauers is now 13-0.

Alana Lutz defeated Julia Ziaec 6-2, 6-4.

Clinching the championship for Cedar Ridge was junior Kate Milner, who is also undefeated at 12-0. She cruised past Rachel Thomas 6-0, 6-0.

The doubles matches were cancelled because of lightning.

This is the first 3-A conference championship for Cedar Ridge in girls tennis.

The Red Wolves cliched the title with  three dual matches left on the slate. They travel to Orange on Friday to make up a match that was rained out on Friday afternoon.

There was a reason why the O Zone, the student group for Orange High, was packed on Tuesday night for a volleyball match.

There was a reason why the spikes were harder, why there were more dives for loose balls, why sure kills were denied because of an improbable dig out of nowhere.

There was a reason why Orange principal Eric Yarbrough, naturally wearing an orange tie, implored the student section to make more noise late in the 2nd set when the Panthers tried to even the match.

And there was a reason why Orange senior Jordan Lloyd, who has played volleyball since she was an adolescent in White Cross, hugged her father Joel in joyful tears as the students rushed the floor around them after it all ended.

That reason was because Orange and Cedar Ridge were playing volleyball on Tuesday night. And Tuesday night was a long time in the making.

The Panthers defeated the Red Wolves 3-1 to end Cedar Ridge’s 7-game winning streak in the series. The last time Orange defeated Cedar Ridge, they weren’t even conference rivals. It was September 5, 2012, when Cedar Ridge was a 2A squad, while Orange remained in 3A.

It was also Lloyd’s first win over the Red Wolves in most likely the final time she’ll ever play them, along with fellow seniors Macy Hughes, Mileah Shriner, Julia Lovingood, and Eva Porter.

After the two teams split the opening sets, the turning point came in the 3rd. Cedar Ridge took a 16-8 lead, but Orange went on a 9-1 run to even the match. Cedar Ridge took the ensuing four points to bolt ahead again 22-18, but Orange captured six of the last eight points to win 26-24.

Orange captured the final set 25-18 to set off a raucous celebration in Jim King Gymnasium.

Lloyd registered 25 digs, eight kills, and an ace.

Bailey Lucas finsihed with an ace, 13 kills, 22 assists and eight digs for Orange. Caroline Compton added 19 assists and ten digs. Junior libero Faith Foushee had 17 digs. Julia Fish added six kills, eleven blocks and one dig.

Cedar Ridge captured the opening set 25-22 that ended with a thrilling set point. It appeared that Compton would spike a point home for Orange, but Lili Henry made a headlong dive to keep the ball alive, which turned into a block point for Hannah Tyo.

Cedar Ridge’s Meg Anderson had six kills, two blocks and twelve digs. Alexis Dumain had seven assists, and a solo block. Henry finished with eleven assists, nine digs and two kills. Tyo had six solo blocks and five kills.

Orange is now 7-7 overall and in sole possession of 2nd place in the Big 8 with an 5-2 record. The Panthers trail Chapel Hill by two games in conference play.

Cedar Ridge is 5-10, 2-5 in the Big 8.

Orange hosts Jordan on Monday in Hillsborough. Cedar Ridge hosts Person on Wednesday and Northern Vance on Thursday.

Foushee, a junior, had 17 digs on Tuesday night as Orange defeated the Red Wolves 3-1.

Junior Faith Foushee Discusses Orange’s Win over Cedar Ridge

The junior libero had 17 assists as Orange defeated Cedar Ridge on Wednesday night 3-1.

Macy Hghes had eight kills, seven digs and two aces as the Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge for the first time since 2012.

Orange Senior Macy Hughes Discusses Win Over Cedar Ridge

Hughes had eight kills, two aces and seven digs as the Panthers defeated the Red Wolves for the first time since 2012.

With a showdown for the conference lead looming on Wednesday, Cedar Ridge girls tennis took care of business against Southern Durham.

The Red Wolves improved to 13-1 overall, 8-0 overall with a 9-0 shutout of the Spartans on Monday. Senior Ali Sapp got a start at #1 singles, capturing her match 8-0. Rachel Quade, Nora Sauers, Natalie Marochak and Briana Cellini also captured singles victories.

The only competitive match of the day came at #1 doubles, where Cellini and Watson teamed to win 8-5. Hanna Johnson and Maddie Werner teamed for a 8-1 victory at #2 doubles. Lila Woodmansee and Rachel Quade teamed for a victory at #3 doubles.

The Red Wolves host Chapel Hill on Wednesday with 1st place in the Big 8 on the line.

The first soccer match between Northwood and Orange certainly had among the most unique score lines of the season.

After a scoreless first half in Hillsborough on Monday night, the two teams combined for ten goals in the second half. The Chargers took the match 6-4, handing the Panthers its first conference loss of the season.

Orange is now 1-1-1 in the Big 8, 5-4-1 overall.

Jamar Davis finished with a goal and 3 assists. Casey Barhydt, Alfredo Rodriguez and Bryan Torres also scored for the Panthers. Malcolm Phillips added an assist.

Northwood’s J.R. Godwin finished with four goals, including two on penalty kicks. The Chargers are now 3-4-2, 2-2-1 in the Big 8.

Orange travels to Webb on Wednesday night.

This accolade for Payton Wilson was based on his performance in Orange’s victory over Western Guilford last week, where he had a 96-yard touchdown run and led the team in tackles. It could have just as easily gone for his performance on Friday night against Southern Durham, where he returned two punts for touchdowns of 55 and 66 yards. We’ll have another Orange Panther of the Week stemming from the Southern Durham game, along with a Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week, announced on Tuesday.

Orange Panther of the Week: Payton Wilson

Wilson had a 96-yard run for a touchdown against Western Guilford last week as the Panthers defeated the Hornets 38-7. On Friday night, he returned two punts for touchdowns as Orange demolished Southern Durham 49-7.

After starting the week with a loss to Jordan, the Orange volleyball team defeated Northwood and Webb to remain tied for 2nd in the Big 8 Conference.

Just over the midway point of the season, Orange is now 6-7 overall, 4-2 in the Big 8. Orange is tied with Webb, who they defeated on Thursday.

It’s also a valuable win on several levels. Webb was fresh off a victory over Cedar Ridge 48 hours earlier. Plus, Orange now controls the tiebreaker on the Warriors.

Orange defeated Webb 3-1 on scores of 25-18, 8-25, 25-23 and 25-13. Bailey Lucas had four aces, three kills, 20 assists and ten digs. Jordan Lloyd had an ace, eight kills and 36 digs. Julia Fish finished with six kills, eight blocks, an assist and two digs.

On Tuesday, Orange swept Northwood 3-0 in Hillsborough. Macy Hughes finished with seven kills and an ace. Lloyd had eight kills and nine digs. Caroline Compton finished with 11 assists and five digs.

Jordan handed Orange a 3-0 setback on Monday.  Eva Porter finished with six kills, while Mileah Shriner had four assists.

This week, Orange embarks on the 2nd half of its conference schedule with a home match against Cedar Ridge on Tuesday at 6:30.

The Orange junior varsity football team is 3-0 after holding off Southern Durham 20-14, and Shane Crisp is a big reason why.

Crisp intercepted three passes on Thursday night, including one with 1:31 remaining that he returned for a touchdown to secure the victory.

Southern mounted a late charge by scoring with :3.4 remaining on a quarterback sneak and recovering the subsequent onside kick. However, time ran out before the Spartans could get off a Hail Mary.

Shane Crisp Makes 3 INTs as Orange JVs Beat Southern Durham 20-14

Crisp returned an interception for a touchdown with 1:36 remaining for the game-winning touchdown on Thursday night as the JV Panthers remained undefeated after a 20-14 win over Southern.