Ward and Milner each had two victories on Wednesday in Cedar Ridge’s season-opening 9-0 win over Eastern Alamance. Ward and Milner captured their respective singles matches. Ward teamed with Ivy Garner to win at #1 doubles. Milner joined Nora Sayers in a victory at #2 doubles.
Cedar Ridge had to wait 48 hours longer than expected to earn its first tennis win of the season, but it was worth the wait.
After Monday’s match against Bartlett Yancey was rained out, the Red Wolves stormed past Eastern Alamance 9-0 on Wednesday at Red Wolves Tennis Courts.
Ivy Garner earned her 1st win at #1 singles for Cedar Ridge, winning her match 6-0, 6-0. Sophomore Olivia Ward racked up two victories on the day, taking her singles match 6-0, 6-1. Ward teamed with Garner for a 8-0 win in doubles, which was the final match of the day.
Kate Milner captured her first singles match of the season 6-0, 6-2. Milner also teamed with Nora Sauers for a 8-1 doubles win. Sauers easily took her #4 singles match 6-0, 6-4.
Maddy Werner was also victorius at #5 singles 6-2, 6-1. Natalie Marochak earned her first varsity singles win 6-3, 6-4.
Marochak and Werner teamed to win at #3 doubles 8-2.
Cedar Ridge will have a short turnaround. They face Durham School of the Arts on Thursday. DSA was the only team to defeat Cedar Ridge in the regular season in 2016.
Going on the road after a tough 2016 season, Cedar Ridge found a way to grind out a 5-set thriller in the Bull City to start the new year.
The Red Wolves defeated Durham School of the Arts 3-2 on Monday night at Sykes Gymnasium.
Junior Sarah McCuiston finished with ten kills, three aces and two blocks. Macy Henry, who was limited last season because of injuries, made a solid return, registering 36 assists, six digs and a block. Alexa Pagnanelli had 15 digs. Tionna Carter, the shortstop for the Cedar Ridge softball team, finished with seven kills and three digs in her varsity debut Junior Juliann De Jesus ended up with ten kills.
Cedar Ridge will take a 1-0 record into its home opener on Wednesday against Eastern Alamance. The varsity match starts at 6 PM.
After losing five seniors from 2016, Orange volleyball had a sophomore lead them to victory in the season-opener.
Outside hitter Emma Clements racked up 19 kills in her first varsity game as the Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance 3-1 on Monday night at Jim King Gymnasium. Clements added eleven digs and one ace.
Orange captured the match on scores of 25-23, 25-23, 26-28 and 25-18. Senior Caroline Compton added 48 assists and nine digs, while senior liberio Faith Foushee finished with 20 digs. Senior outside hitter Avery Riley piled up 13 kills and two digs.
The last time Orange won its season opener, it was 2015 when they defeated Eastern Alamance 3-1.
Orange will get the rest of the week off and travel to Durham to face Jordan next Monday.
The 2016-2017 academic year was a lengthy one for Orange and Cedar Ridge. It started on August 19th and ended on June 3rd, which was the last day of the NCHSAA sports calendar, when Orange claimed the 3A State Softball Championship. Along the way, Cedar Ridge claimed the Big 8 Girls Tennis and Boys Lacrosse championships, while Orange won conference championships in football, boys and girls basketball, softball and wrestling.
Whether the upcoming season will be as successful is anyone’s guess, but it certainly starts with a full slate.
In boys soccer, Cedar Ridge travels to Durham School of the Arts. Orange will also play on the road against Carrboro.
In volleyball, Cedar Ridge also travels to Durham School of the Arts. Orange hosts Eastern Alamance.
In girls tennis, Cedar Ridge starts defense of its Big 8 Championship against Bartlett Yancy at home. Orange will host Eastern Alamance.
We will have complete coverage of all sports teams at Orange and Cedar Ridge all season. We’ll also have Friday’s broadcast of Cedar Ridge football vs. Carrboro with new play-by-play man Nathan Bernstein. Plus, we’ll broadcast Orange at Northern Nash live on Friday night, as well.
Cedar Ridge Volleyball starts its 2017 season tonight on the road against Durham School of the Arts in venerable Sykes Gymnasium. Under 2nd year coach Laura Fortner, the Red Wolves look to bounce back from an 8-14 season in 2016. Colby Rabalais is one player who wants to prove something to a new Big 8 Conference this year, which includes the additions of East Chapel Hill, Northern Durham and Hillside.
The Orange Volleyball team starts its season tonight against Eastern Alamance at home starting at 6. The Panthers have plenty to replace after the graduation of Jordan Lloyd, Macy Hughes, Eva Porter, Julia Lovingood and Mileah Shriner. Orange finished 11-10 last season and made it to the 3A state playoffs. Senior Bailey Lucas won’t play tonight because of an injury suffered on the first day of practice, but she hopes to return in time for the start of Big 8 Conference play next month.
On paper, it was a scrimmage. The atmosphere at Auman Stadium on Friday night felt like something more.
A tweet on Friday afternoon from the Orange Football account read “We only have 4 home football games this season. So we are treating this scrimmage tonight like a game!” The visitors from Eastern Alamance packed the visitors grandstand, possibly as full as it will be for any of Orange’s four regular season home games. And it was certainly no scrimmage to Marvante Beasley.
The Orange senior running back rushed for two touchdowns in the second quarter as the Panthers defeated the Eagles 27-13. It was Orange’s final tuneup before its regular season opener at Northern Nash next Friday.
Last year’s scrimmage against Eastern Alamance teased the potential of the Panthers. They held the Eagles to four first downs, but struggled offensively, which proved to be the team’s undoing months later in the state playoffs against Havelock.
Transitioning away from a double wing setup to a spread offense under new offensive coordinator Steve Burdeau, Orange looked like a team learning a new offense early. In its initial drive, a shotgun snap went over starting quarterback Rodney Brooks’ head at the 3-yard line. The subsequent punt traveled ten yards, leading to Eastern Alamance scoring on a two-yard run by running back Tre Boseman.
Orange Coach Van Smith says the team is ready to delve deeper into the spread offense, but first they must learn the basics.
“They’re eager to learn it,” said Smith. “Right now, (Coach Burdeau) has the vanilla ice cream in the bowl. As he starts adding in the sprinkles and the chocolate chips and the syrup and all that good stuff, it’s going to get better and better as it goes. I’m exciting to see where it goes.”
Brandon Huss, the backup to starter Jackson Schmid, entered the game on the next drive and found wide receiver Payton Wilson, who carried three Eagles with him over midfield for a 21-yard gain that also vaulted Orange out of its doldrums. After an interception by Colin Guetensberger, Beasley scored on a 34-yard toss sweep.
The Panther defense returned to form in the second quarter, limiting the Eagles to one yard of total offense. After Beasley converted a 3rd-and-6 with a ten yard run, junior running back Hunter Pettiford scored on a 16-yard run to give Orange a 14-6 lead. Beasley ended the first quarter with a 52-yard scamper.
The Panthers played four quarterbacks with Brooks getting the start. Huss, the backup to starter Jackson Schmid last season, also saw action during the first half. Wilson and Travis Ray played during the final quarter. Smith has yet to name a starter for opening week.
“We’ll have it nailed down by Monday,” said Smith. “That’s up to the quarterbacks coach and the offensive coordinator. All three are looking pretty good.”
In the final minute, Ray found Sebastian Flores for a 45-yard gain. After a dropped pass in the end zone, Ray found Milton Purcell on a short dump off, but Purcell escaped early turbulence and found the wide side of the field to score a 15-yard touchdown on the final play of the night.
Beasley finished with 97 yards on six carries. Of the four quarterbacks, Ray finished 3-of-6 for 66 yards and a touchdowns. Huss finished 4-for-8 for 34 yards.
You can hear the Orange-Northern Nash game next Friday at 6:45 here on HillsboroughSports.com.
In its scrimmage against Eastern Alamance, Orange’s offense was stuck in neutral before Marvante Beasley changed things. He scored on a 40-yard touchdown run early in the 2nd quarter, then followed with a 52-yard score to put Orange ahead 21-6 against the Eagles. Most of all, Beasley was very proud to not have said the word “like” during this interview.
After a sluggish start, Orange scored four touchdowns in the final three varsity quarters in Friday’s night scrimmage against Eastern Alamance at Auman Stadium. Going into next Friday’s opener at Northern Nash, there’s still plenty of questions, including who will be the starting quarterback?
