Five games into the Big 8 volleyball season, there’s little question who the team to beat is. Certainly no one in Hillsborough is disputing it after this week.
The Chapel Hill Tigers, the defending 3A Eastern Regional Champions, rolled over Orange 3-0 on Thursday night at CHHS. The Tigers are 5-0 in Big 8 play and haven’t dropped a set against a league foe yet.
Chapel Hill claimed the match with ease on scores of 25-12, 25-21 and 25-23.
The Tigers improved its overall record to 8-3 behind 19 kills from sophomore Kaya Merkler. Another sophomore, Julia Chaney, finished with six aces. Junior Hanna Wander had 18 digs with sophomore Samantha Breschi came away with 35 assists.
Orange, which has lost consecutive games for the first time this season, had a solid game from senior Caroline Compton, who finished with a kill, eleven assists and eleven digs. Sophomore Emma Clements had two aces, eight kills and nine digs. Senior co-captain Faith Foushee recorded 15 digs.
Orange is now 6-3 after a loss on Tuesday to Northwood. They are in 5th place in the Big 8 with a 2-3 record. On Friday night, the Panthers travel to Roxboro Community School.