This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior volleyball outside hitter Sawyer White. This week, White was named to the All- Region team by the North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association. White had a spectacular season for the Orange volleyball season as the Lady Panthers finished third in the Big 7 Conference, reaching the 5A State Quarterfinals. White got a Baptism by fire when she joined the Orange varsity as a freshman late in the 2023 season, playing regularly in the Central Conference Tournament. Her addition paved the way for the Lady Panthers to win the 3A Eastern Regional Championship. In the state title match against Kings Mountain, White led Orange with 26 assists with 13 assists and five blocks. This season, White averaged 3.7 assists per set. She also had a career-best 2.1 kills per set. White finished the season with three triple-doubles, including 13 kills, eleven digs and 20 assists in a win at Carrboro. She had ten kills, eleven digs and 25 assists against Seaforth in Pittsboro as the Panthers defeated the eventual 5A Eastern Regional champions. White was second on the team with 166 kills, including 15 against Carrboro on September 15. White had eight matches with double-digit kills. She has become one of the most versatile players in Orange history.
