Tuesday night will be the start of the final season for a special group of Orange volleyball seniors. Ava Wilkerson, Aubrey Jordan, Katie Silcott, Mariah Poole, Addison Guentensberger, Milleka Purcell and Gianna Negron have been the backbone of a team that won consecutive regular season championships, the 2024 Central Conference Tournament and the 2023 Eastern Regional championship. On Tuesday night, Orange will start the season against Southeast Alamance in Haw River. Silcott had 1,037 assists her sophomore year, a school record. Last season, she had a career-best 155 kills. She was second on the team with 279 digs. Sophomore Aubrey Hodges made an instant sensation in her rookie year. She led the team with 57 blocks. She also amassed 52 kills. In its scrimmage last week, Orange dominated Northern Durham. The Lady Panthers will face a daunting schedule. In addition to Southeast Alamance, the Lady Panthers will travel to perennial power D.H. Conley on Thursday. Orange will also face Green Hope, Green Level and host J.H. Rose later this month. In the new Big 7 Conference, Orange will face 2021 3A State Champion Cedar Ridge, 2017 2A State Champion Carrboro and Seaforth, which finished as the 2A Eastern Regional champion last year. The Lady Panthers first home game will be against Person on August 21.
