ROXBORO—The Orange volleyball team returned to where its 2025 season ended on Tuesday night.
Person, which defeated the Lady Panthers in the 5A State Quarterfinals last year.
This year, Orange and Person have plenty in common. They both lost four of their top six attackers from last year’s squad due to graduation. They’re both playing an inordinate amount of freshmen. They’re both playing in demanding conferences.
On Tuesday, the difference between the two teams proved to be two freshman Orange attackers who have adapted to the varsity level at warp speed.
Freshmen Avery O’Quinn and Kynlee Albert led the Lady Panthers in kills as Orange swept the Rockets 3-0 on scores of 25-19, 25-23 and 25-22 in front of a packed grandstand inside Rocket Gymnasium.
Orange senior Sawyer White, who was second on the team with 183 kills last year, has shifted to a setter role to open the season. White, who has committed to Troy University in the Sun Belt Conference, had 65 assists in Orange’s opening two matches against D.H. Conley and Southeast Alamance.
Orange took control of the match late in the second set. Person (0-4) locked up the frame at 23-23 after a kill by Tyler Massey. Following an Orange timeout, Albert took a lollipop around the net and slammed it down for an Orange side out. The subsequent set point ended when Massey attempted a dump attack, only to push the ball into the heart of the net.
Person roared out to a 5-1 lead to open the third set, which included two aces from Kylee Hayden, a returning starter. Orange junior middle blocker Aubry Hodges quickly got consecutive blocks as the Lady Panthers reeled off four in a row to even it up. Albert triggered seven consecutive Orange points with a kill assisted by White, who tied the set with a quick kill of her own. Orange senior Violet Tyll checked in and delivered an ace, which put the Lady Panthers ahead for the rest of the match. Orange increased its lead to 14-9 after the Rockets were called for a lift.
Lady Panther libero Daphne Tyll was the defensive presence of the match for Orange, making crucial digs and prolonging possessions despite the low roof inside Rocket Gymnasium. It created an atmosphere that resembled elevated pinball as quirky bounces off the rafters became the norm for both teams.
Fortunately for Orange, it didn’t catch them by surprise. As young as many of the players are, they have still played in Rocket Gymnasium for years.
Hayden and freshman Kensie Melton helped the Rockets fight back to reduce Orange’s lead to 14-2 off consecutive kills. Orange junior Mary Kate Ollis, a pitcher during softball season, delivered consecutive aces to push the Orange lead to 16-12
O’Quinn stepped up to erase any Person hopes. The freshman struck for back-to-back points to bridge the Lady Panthers lead to 19-14. After Massey delivered a strong swing from the far pole that ended a run of three straight Person points, cutting the Lady Panther lead to 19-17, O’Quinn came through again with another kill. That was followed by an ace from senior Rachel Durham, another new face in the Orange rotation.
Albert scored the final two points of the match for Orange, including match point off another feed from White.
Person led the opening set 4-3 before Orange reeled off eleven straight points. White served during the run, including an ace to give the Lady Panthers a 5-4 lead. Albert ended the run with her first kill of the match , vaulting Orange ahead 11-4. Sophomore Emilee Cothran scored set point to give Orange the frame 25-19.
Orange is now 2-2. They will play three matches in four days next week. On Monday, they will travel to Riverside. On Wednesday, they host Grimsley, followed by its Big 7 Conference opener against Carrboro in Hillsborough.
Person’s loss continued a rigorous schedule that included facing the defending 1A State Champions, Falls Lake Academy, along with Carrboro and Oak Grove out of Winston-Salem.
