Katie Belle Sikes: The most accomplished swimmer in Orange High history will start her junior season at the University of Georgia on Friday. The Lady Dawgs will open the 2026-27 season in Westmont, IL against N.C. State, Alabama and Virginia. Sikes earned a second-team All-American status in the 400 freestyle relay from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America last season. She was a member of the Georgia 400 freestyle relay team that finished 14th in the NCAA Championships last year. In four years at Orange, Sikes won three straight 3A State Championships in the 50 meter freestyle and two individual state championships in the 100 meter freestyle. She was the Most Outstanding Female Swimmer of the 2024 3A State Championships.
Katie Paulakonis: The former Cedar Ridge striker has started her sophomore season with the University of Bellarmine Knights. Paulakonis scored a goal in the Knights 1-1 tie against North Florida on Thursday. Paulakonis finished with three shots, two of them on goal. Paulakonis scored two goals in Bellarmine’s 2-1 win over Morehead State on Sunday at Frazier Stadium in Louisville, KY. Paulakonis scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute. Paulakonis scored a goal in a 4-2 loss to Marshall on September 13. Bellarmine is 2-4-2 overall and 0-0-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Katie Silcott: As a freshman, Silcott was named the Sunshine State Conference Setter of the Week for Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball. In wins over Embry-Riddle and Rollins, Silcott had 81 assists across eight sets. She had a career-high 49 assists in a five-set victory over Rollins. On Thursday, Barry, ranked #10 in Division II, swept the Sailfish on scores of 25-15, 25-12, 25-20 at the Health and Sports Center in Miami Shores, FL. Silcott led the Sailfish with 24 assists with four digs and one kill. Palm Beach Atlantic is 9-5 overall, 2-1 in the SSC.
Cameron Lanier: Elon earned its first Coastal Athletic Association win of the season with a sweep of Hampton on Thursday night (25-20, 25-14, 25-11) at Holland Hall in Virginia on Thursday. Lanier had a match-high eleven kills and added ten digs. She had a .250 hitting percentage and added two aces and two blocks. The Phoenix is 4-9 overall, 1-2 in the CAA. Elon will face Hampton again on Friday.
Anaya Carter: The Division II UNC Pembroke Braves suffered its first loss in Conference Carolinas action on Tuesday. Frances Marion defeated the Braves 3-1 (23-25, 25-11, 26-24, 28-26) at Smith University Center in Florence, SC. Carter played three sets and finished with eight digs. UNC Pembroke is 10-5 overall, 5-1 in Conference Carolinas.
Sydnee Tapper: Ferrum College defeated Wilson in five sets (25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 15-13) at Swartz Gymnasium in Ferrum, VA on Tuesday. Tapper, a freshman who was the libero for Cedar Ridge last year, played one set for Barton. The Bulldogs are 4-10, 2-5 in Conference Carolinas.
Grace Young: The Division III Greensboro College volleyball team split two matches in Raleigh last weekend. On Saturday, Meredith College defeated the Pride in five sets (25-20, 21-25, 24-26, 25-23, 15-8) at Weatherspoon Gymnasium. Young had seven digs and played all five sets. The Pride swept Mary Baldwin (25-15, 25-19, 25-17) on Saturday afternoon. Young finished with nine digs. On Wednesday, Greensboro defeated Southern Virginia (22-25, 25-12, 22-25, 25-20, 15-12) at Knight Arena in Buena Vista, VA. Young delivered four aces, one assist and 17 digs. The Pride is 11-2 overall, 3-1 in the USA South Conference. Greensboro will face Methodist and Sweet Briar on Saturday at Hanes Gymnasium.
Allie Lane: Averett University won its first match of the season on September 15. The Cougars swept Sweet Briar (25-8, 25-15, 25-9) at Williams Gymnasium in Sweet Briar, VA. Lane had three kills, an ace and a dig. On Wednesday, the University of Lynchburg swept Averett (25-22, 25-16, 25-9) at the Stuart James Grant Center in Danville, VA. Lane came away with three kills, two aces and a dig. Averett is 1-6 overall, 1-1 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
Claire Hargett: The Washington & Lee Generals swept Hartwick College (25-5, 25-15, 25-11) at the John Long Center in Scranton, PA on Saturday. Hargett played all three sets and finished with one kill and three digs. Washington & Lee is 8-1, 1-0 in the ODAC.
