Shortly after being hired in June, Khoury May knew something everyone else didn’t.
She was dealt a strong hand for her first team as the head coach of Cedar Ridge volleyball.
There was already a senior foundation with Claire Hargett, Kayla Stoll, Mia Marty, Ellamarie Perel, Sydnee Tapper, Calla Lundberg and Emory Williams. They would be joined by a rising freshman from Discovery Charter School named Dani Solomon and Addilyn Jackson, a junior transfer from West Carteret.
It’s all added up to a unit that went from being a formidable unit from a strong conference to a championship squad that’s the team to beat when the 5A State Playoffs start on Saturday.
On Wednesday night, Cedar Ridge (22-1) won its 11th title since 2021 when they defeated Seaforth 3-1 to win the Big 7 Tournament Championship at Red Wolves Gymnasium. It was Cedar Ridge’s third win over Seaforth this year, but also the most difficult. The Red Wolves survived its most lethargic set of the year early to win on scores of 12-25, 25-23, 28-26, 25-22.
May coached almost all of Seaforth’s players the past two years as the leader of the Hawks’ junior varsity team. Last year, May was an assistant on Seaforth’s varsity team that played for the 2A State Championship.
“This is special,” May said. “This means a lot to this team. When I first started here, our captains Claire, Kayla and Ellamarie were so welcoming to me. They brought our freshman together and they have created a great culture for our team. They’ve been great momentum changers for us and I love to watch them play.”
Hargett finished with 13 kills and eleven digs, her tenth double-double of the season. Solomon came away with 12 kills and 14 digs. Senior setter Mia Marty finished with 27 assists, six digs and four kills.
It was the first match inside Red Wolves Gymnasium for Seaforth junior Ally Forbes, who came away with 13 kills and 14 digs. Forbes was injured in the first tilt on August 28, another match that the Red Wolves won 3-1.
For a championship match, things couldn’t have been much more flat for the home team in the opening set. There were no students standing in the fan section because football practice carried on late. A sizeable Seaforth contingent provided the visiting team with enough support to score the opening six points, keyed by two aces from Forbes. Cedar Ridge only had two kills in the opening set as Seaforth rolled 25-12.
Seaforth (15-8) senior Josie Valgus finished with 39 assists, nine kills, and seven digs
“I think it was their intensity,” May said. “They came out really strong in that first set. In the beginning, we weren’t us. After that, we talked about how we needed to start stronger and we needed to gain momentum early. We’re going to work on that going into the state tournament.”
In fact, Seaforth got off a strong start in every set. They were on the verge of going ahead two-sets-to-nothing after junior Abigail Valgus scored off an assist by her older sister, Josie Valgus, to put the Hawks ahead 23-21 in the second set. Following a quick dump over by Marty, Cedar Ridge senior Ellamarie Perel delivered possibly the three biggest points of the match.
Perel spiked down a free ball to even it up at 23-23. Forbes attempted a spike from the middle of the floor, which Perel denied with a major block to give Cedar Ridge a 24-23 lead. Seaforth one-touched the subsequent serve by Williams, which Perel slammed down along the left sideline to send the Cedar Ridge student section, which filled up with football players all wearing black shirts, into delirium.
“Those were huge points,” May said. “I was so proud of Ellamarie. We’ve been talking about her blocking and swinging and being a game-changer. She did amazing. It was fun to watch her play.”
Seaforth jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the third set. The Red Wolves used its depth to go on a 6-1 run and take a 19-17 lead following a kill from Solomon assisted from Marty. Both teams would fight off set points late. Cedar Ridge led 24-23 after an attack from Seaforth went into the net. Hawks freshman Naomi Singleton slammed down a kill to even things up, then delivered another spike to give Seaforth a chance to go up two-sets-to-one. Hargett scored on a kill to level the score at 25-25, but Singleton would score his sixth kill of the frame for a second Seaforth set point.
Singleton served on the subsequent point, but Cedar Ridge libero Sydnee Tapper had the eyes of a, well, hawk to let it go just beyond the end line.
Tied 26-26, Forbes delivered a return that went long. Solomon scored a block to end overtime and put the Red Wolves ahead of winning 28-26 in the third.
“I have a deep bench, which is really nice,” May said. “Everyone on the team contributes so much. Every single person contributes on and off the court.”
Once again, Seaforth got off to a blistering start in the fourth set, jumping out to a 10-4 lead. Cedar Ridge reeled off seven straight points starting with another kill from Marty. Stoll delivered a key block and two consecutive kills to give the Red Wolves its first lead of the set at 11-10.
The Red Wolves pushed its advantage to 18-12, at which point Josie Valgus moved from setter to outside hitter. It was a move that paid immediate dividends as the Hawks scored five straight points, including two aces from Forbes. Josie Valgus had five kills down the stretch, which reduced Cedar Ridge’s lead to 23-22.
Hargett delivered a soft palm push over the middle to set up two match points. Stoll would score match point on an unassisted kill.
