This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior volleyball middle blocker Aubry Hodges. Last week, Hodges used her 6-foot-1 frame to alter the match against Jordan in Hillsborough, where the Panthers came back from two sets down to defeat the Falcons. Hodges finished with eleven kills and six blocks. Hodges has been a member of the varsity since her freshman season, when Orange reached the 3A State Quarterfinals and won the Central Conference Tournament championship. This season, she has had 13 kills against East Chapel Hill. On Tuesday, Hodges totaled seven kills and six blocks in a 3-1 win at Carrboro. Hodges is the third member of her family to win Orange Panther of the Week. Her cousin, Bryse was the first-ever winner of the award and now pitches in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Another cousin, Payton Wilson, currently is a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. For her career, Hodges had 170 blocks. She currently leads Orange with 57 blocks. She also had 91 kills. Hodges received lessons from Ava Wilkerson, who now plays with the University of Houston. Hodges presence in the middle poses a difficult obstacle for opposing team’s attacks. Hodges and the Lady Panthers will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Durham School of the Arts.
