Photo by Jacques Morin
Mary Alice Pike’s first week back as a high school volleyball coach went above exceptions.
On Tuesday, in her first high school match as a head coach in six years, her Orange Lady Panthers nearly defeated the defending 7A Eastern Regional champions.
There’s no such thing as moral victories around Orange, but Pike and her team came away from a tight loss with their heads held high and confident. Pike’s first win as Orange head coach wasn’t denied. It was just slightly delayed.
On Thursday, Orange made quick work of Southeast Alamance 3-0 on scores of 25-5, 25-11 and 25-13 in Hillsborough. In just her second varsity match, freshman Kynlee Albert finished with ten kills.
Senior Sawyer White, starting her fourth year at the varsity level, came away with 30 assists and seven digs, both team highs. Avery O’Quinn, who also made her varsity debut against Conley, finished with six kills. White and Emilee Cothran each had five kills.
Orange started the second set with a 9-1 run and pushed its advantage to 16-7 after a kill by Cothran. Albert finished a string of four consecutive Orange points with a kill assisted by White to push the Lady Panthers lead to 20-9. Albert earned set point with an unassisted kill.
Orange jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third set after Aubry Hodges slammed down a thunderous spike off an assist from White. Orange would push its lead to 9-3 after a kill by Albert. The Stallions got a block to cut Orange’s lead to 9-5, which was the closest they would get. O’Quinn scored a kill to trigger a 6-1 Orange run, pushing its lead to 16-8. Emilee Cothran had four kills in the third set. Albert earned the final point off an assist from Cothran.
On Tuesday, the Lady Panthers will head north to face Person. The Rockets defeated Orange in the 5A State Quarterfinals last year. Orange returns home to face Falls Lake Academy on Wednesday.
