Photo from Salisbury University
Julie Altieri: The Division III Salisbury Sea Gulls opened the season with a sweep of Stockton (25-23, 25-14, 25-21) on Tuesday night at Maggs Physical Activities Center in Maryland. Altieri recorded the 50th double-double of her career, finishing with 25 assists and 16 digs. She also had three kills and an ace. Altieri, the setter for Cedar Ridge’s 2021 3A State Championship team, closed out the second set with a kill. Salisbury will host the Margie Knight Classic this weekend, starting with a match against Drew College on Friday afternoon.
Cameron Lanier: For the third time this year, Lanier led Elon in kills. Against UNC Asheville on Tuesday night, Lanier finished with 12 kills as the Bulldogs defeated the Phoenix in five sets on scores of 24-26, 20-25, 25-16, 25-12, 12-8 at the Justice Center in Asheville. Lanier also had three aces, two assists and seven digs. Elon is 1-3 and will face Robert Morris to start the Chik-Fil-A Robinson Tournament in Moon Township, PA on Friday morning. The Phoenix will also take on Duquesne on Friday.
Melissa Benkowitz: Franklin & Marshall opened its season with a 3-1 win over Rowan on Tuesday night (26-24, 11-25, 25-17, 29-27) at Esby Gym in Glassboro, NJ. Benkowitz totaled ten kills, including a kill for the 24th point of the fourth set. Benkowitz also had nine digs
Abby Silinksi: The libero for Orange High’s 2023 3A Eastern Regional championship team led Franklin & Marshall with 16 digs in the win over Rowan. Silinski also had an ace on match point to defeat the Profs. Silinski started her sophomore season on Tuesday. The Diplomats will make the long journey west for the Puget Sound Premier in Tacoma, WA this weekend. Franklin & Marshall will face Pacific Lutheran to start the event on Friday morning, then take on Pugent Sound to cap the doubleheader.
Grace Young: In another instance of two former players being on opposite sides of the net, Young suited up for Greensboro College to start her senior season on Tuesday. Young was the libero for Cedar Ridge’s state championship team. The Pride faced Washington & Lee, featuring Claire Hargett, Cedar Ridge’s all-time kills leader. Washington & Lee swept Greensboro (25-19, 25-20, 25-18) at Hanes Gymnasium. Young finished with seven digs and one ace. Greensboro will travel to Danville, VA for the Cougar Classic this weekend. The Pride will open against Guilford College on Friday afternoon.
Aubrey Jordan: The former Orange High outside hitter had her first ace as a member of the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb defeated North Carolina Central 3-1 (21-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-17) at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium in Durham on Tuesday night. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are 2-2 and will host the I-85 Invitational this weekend at Paul Porter Arena. They will open against UNC Wilmington on Friday.
Fiona Cunningham: The former Cedar Ridge head coach has started her second season as head coach of Le Moyne College in New York. In the Seahawk Classic in Wilmington, the Dolphins lost matches to UNC Wilmington, The Citadel and Kennesaw State last week. Le Moyne will play in the Sacred Heart Invitational starting on Friday in Fairfield, CT.
Payton Wilson: To the surprise of no one, Wilson made the final roster of the Pittsburgh Steelers. New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy finalized Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster on Sunday. Wilson will start his third season with the Steelers against the Atlanta Falcons on September 13 at Acrisure Stadium.
Bryse Wilson: The Milwaukee Brewers have placed Wilson on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain on Monday. Wilson has made 12 appearances since the Brewers claimed him off waivers last month. In 24.2 innings of work, he has struck out 22 batters while allowing seven runs and 28 hits. Wilson threw two-and-two-thirds innings against Texas on Sunday, allowing no runs, one hit and one walk. Texas defeated Milwaukee 7-4 at American Family Field. As of Wednesday night, the Brewers still have the best record in Major League Baseball at 86-53, leading the National League Central by eight games over the Chicago Cubs.
