When she was named Orange volleyball coach in June 2018, Kelly Young make her goal clear.
“We’re coming for Chapel Hill,” she said.
Back then, there was no way Young could have imagined the circumstances surrounding the Lady Panthers’ first win over Chapel Hill, the defending 3A State Champions, in five years.
On Thursday night, Orange defeated Chapel Hill 3-1 on scores of 26-24, 25-17, 10-25 and 25-19.
It was Orange’s first victory over Chapel Hill since September 17, 2015.
Ordinarily such a result would lead to Orange’s student section, and several adults, rushing the floor. The fact that it came during a pandemic, reducing the crowd to only junior varsity players and assorted Orange staff, didn’t seem to matter.
Neither did the fact that it was the Lady Panthers’ first game of the year. While the Big 8 Conference’s other teams had played at least four contests, Orange had only a forfeit victory over Vance County on its record.
Nor did it seem to matter that the Lady Panthers have barely practiced the past two weeks. Though no one on the team has tested positive for COVID-19, there were potential exposures that caused a match against East Chapel Hill to be delayed twice. One Lady Panther had shingles.
“COVID is rough to plan around, for sure,” Young said. “I know a lot of people are really pushing other sports to get playing, but when you start doing it it’s really hard. They are so many moving pieces. There are so many different circumstances and situations for you athletes to work around. You have to be super flexible this year. You might miss two weeks of practice, have to reschedule and then play three games in one week. Like this week.”
“You’re worried about your girls being prepared,” Young said. “We lost practices, so I was worried we didn’t get enough time like everyone else. But we’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Young has a different health matter to worry about. She’s nine months pregnant with her first son due next week. Sitting on a chair for most of the game, Young said neither she nor her husband have figured out a name yet.
“We’re waiting to see what he looks like first,” Young said.
The opening set had seven lead changes. Behind several kills from junior Kaya Monrose, the Tigers built a 19-13 lead. Orange mounted a rally behind the serve of junior Avery Miller, who delivered consecutive aces and a kill during an 8-1 run to finish the set. Ella Van Tiem’s slam over the hands of two Tigers, assisted by Erin Jordan-Cornell, earned set point as the Panthers won 26-24.
The second set opened 7-7 before Orange went on a 6-2 run. With senior Chloe Riley serving, Jordan-Cornell had two kills to push Orange ahead 12-9. Junior Lottie Scully served three straight aces. The Lady Panthers finished with a 10-2 spurt that included two blocks from Allie Wilkerson and two aces from Jordan-Cornell. Aubri Wright finished the set with a kill as Orange won 25-17 to go ahead 2-0.
Chapel Hill cruised through the third set 25-10 behind sophomore Carly Sciborski, who had four aces in the frame. Senior Ellen Zwikker, daughter of former UNC basketball star Serge Zwikker, had three kills and one block in the third.
The Tigers had a 7-5 lead in the fourth before Orange reeled off seven consecutive points, which included two aces from libero Sadye Porter. A kill by Jordan-Cornell, assisted by sophomore Caitlin Carden, put Orange ahead 14-11. Carden later recorded an ace.
With Orange leading 23-19, Chapel Hill had a serve go wide. Miller delivered another winner on match point to deliver Orange an elusive victory against a cross-county rival.
It wasn’t lost on the Orange players that they were not the first team from Hillsborough to beat Chapel Hill this unusual season. Cedar Ridge did it two weeks ago. The Red Wolves and the Lady Panthers will meet at Cedar Ridge on Friday.
“Whenever you beat a good team in your conference, it’s always exciting,” Young said. “They’re still a solid team to contend with. We have to play them a second time, but I think this is a year where it’s anyone’s game.”
“We still have some other teams to contend against.”