Cedar Ridge Volleyball

Cedar Ridge 3, Person 1: Winning at Person just means a little bit more. Regardless of the Rockets record in volleyball, the visiting team can always count on the home grandstand being close to full, if not full capacity. Cedar Ridge claimed its third straight victory over Person in Roxboro on scores of 28-30, 25-21, 25-16 and 25-22.

Senior Grayling Serge finished with 21 kills, a season-high, along with nine digs. Sophomore Claire Hargett finished with 17 kills and 29 digs. Senior Rachel Alverson finished with 38 assist and eleven digs.

The first set went to a thrilling overtime where the Red Wolves fought off three set points until Person finally took the opening stanza. There were seven leads changes in the opening frame. Serge had nine kills in the opening set, but Person built a 17-12 lead after an 8-3 run. Cedar Ridge rolled to tie with seven consecutive points while Hargett was serving. Senior Addie Reid scored an electric kill off an assist from Alverson to even the set 22-22. Person took the lead back with a block. Serge sent the match into overtime with a kill. Person finally scored match point when a Red Wolf volley went into the net.

The Red Wolves recovered and took the final three sets. The second set was even 20-20 when Cedar Ridge closed with five of the final six points. Ellie Woolson put the Red Wolves into the lead as she reached over the next to interrupt a Person possession and score a kill.. Alverson clinched set point with an ace.

The Red Wolves led from wire-to-wire in the third set. Senior Natasha Buchler-Fosado, now a libero, had a run of three consecutive aces to put Cedar Ridge ahead 8-3. Cedar Ridge (8-5, 5-1 in the Central Carolina Conference) finished the frame with three of the last four points, ending with a kill by Serge.

At one point in the fourth set, Person led 9-4. The Red Wolves started a comeback after back-to-back aces from Serge. Cedar Ridge scored five consecutive points to take a 19-17 lead, ending the run with a joust that Reid won at the net. After a kill by Hargett put the Red Wolves ahead 24-22, a return by Person went into the net on match point.

Cedar Ridge will return home to face Southern Alamance on Tuesday.

Orange 3, Western Alamance 0: Orange only trailed twice in the entire match in a sweep of Western Alamance on Thursday night, ending a span of three home matches in three days for the Lady Panthers.

Orange scored the first seven points of the first set, but the Warriors made a rally to narrow the Lady Panthers’ lead to 7-4. Senior Ella Wimsatt, who led Orange in kills, spiked home the final two points of the first set, winning 25-16.

Western Alamance took a 2-1 lead to open the second frame behind a kill from Reese Walker. Orange responded with seven straight points to take control of the set. Wimsatt had an ace while Sophomore Ava Wilkerson scored two kills. The Lady Panthers finished the set on a 8-2 run to win it 25-7 behind a spike from sophomore Aubrey Jordan.

Orange won the final set 25-11. They opened by scoring seven of the first nine points. starting with consecutive kills by Wilkerson. Leading 3-2, Orange reeled off four straight points. An ace by freshman Sawyer White sewed up the victory on match point.

Orange has now won 13 in a row. They’re 15-3 overall, 6-0 in the CCC. Midway through its conference schedule, Orange has won all 18 of its sets in conference play. Overall, they’ve won 38 of the last 39 sets. The only exception came on Wednesday night when they dropped the opening set against Falls Lake. The Lady Panthers would eventually win 3-1.

Orange will travel to Walter Williams on Tuesday night. They will return home to face Cedar Ridge on Thursday in a rematch from earlier this year. Orange defeated Cedar Ridge on September 5.

–There are some very special conference championship chases going on right now. The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is in first place in the Central Carolina Conference after a resounding night at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday. Salomon Hernandez scored on a header with 4:17 remaining in game off an assist from Illah Babchenko. The Red Wolves have never won a conference championship as a 3A team in men’s soccer. While they still have seven conference games remaining, the Red Wolves on the pitch is bringing a lot of energy to Red Wolves Stadium. They return home to face Northwood on Tuesdays.

–Who can beat the Orange volleyball team in the CCC? Orange swept Western Alamance on Thursday night to improve to 6-0 in conference play. Orange has won all 18 sets in league play and 38 of its last 39 overall. Cedar Ridge travels to Orange next Thursday. If the Red Wolves can’t beat Orange, the Lady Panthers could gain the elusive conference championship well before the regular season ends.

–Really hope the Person football coach slept well last Friday night with his team leading Cedar Ridge 67-0. With seconds drifting away on a running clock in the fourth quarter, his team ran hurry up to the line so they could tact on another touchdown. The situation for Cedar Ridge football is tough, but I’ve been around long enough to see programs that appeared to have little hope turn things around. Happened at Jordan. Happened at Chapel Hill. Happened at Hillside. Come to think of it, I can recall a Hillside team that trailed Northern Durham 51-0 at halftime in 2000. Northern kicked a field goal on the final play of the first half. The next year, they beat Northern. In fact, Hillside had the game won and elected to throw a 47-yard touchdown in the final minute in an example of what Hillside’s then-coach called “Steve Spurrier coaching.” I hope Cedar Ridge’s returning players have long memories.

1. Graylinn Serge, Cedar Ridge, Sr: Finished with a season-high 18 kills against East Chapel Hill in a five-set win inside Wildcats Gymnasium. On September 12 against Western Alamance, Serge had 13 kills with 14 digs, and four aces in a 3-1 Red Wolves win. In a sweep of Walter Williams, Serge had eleven kills, 14 digs and two aces as the Red Wolves won three matches in four days.
2. Naomi Dyreng, Cedar Ridge, Jr.: Dyreng had her second consecutive first place finish for the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team. She led the pack during a CCC meet at Orange High with a time of 21:54.00. On September 7, Dyreng finished first at a meet on her home course. The Cedar Ridge women finished first at the Orange meet.
3. Erik Galunas, Cedar Ridge, Soph.: The goalkeeper for the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team, Galunas had a clean sheet against Southern Alamance in Graham on September 11. Galunas made a diving save in the final minute to keep the game level in the final minute. Two nights later, the Red Wolves earned a 2-1 victory over Orange in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby at Red Wolves Stadium. Galunas had eight saves.
4. Ava Wilkerson, Orange, Soph.: Had 12 kills against Roxboro Community School on September 13. She also had an ace and three digs. Wilkerson finished with eight kills in a sweep of Southern Alamance in Graham. Orange has won 13 in a row. Wilkerson has 223 kills for an Orange team looking to win its first conference championship in volleyball since the mid-2000s.
5. DeAndre Brown, Orange, Jr.: Brown led the Orange football team with 16 tackles in a rugged game at Western Alamance last Friday. He added his first rushing touchdown on a four-yard run in the third quarter. Midway through the season, Brown leads Orange with 60 tackles and has four sacks, one shy of the team lead.
6. Ellie Wilson, Orange, Fr.: Wilson had the longest match of her young career in the Orange women’s tennis team’s win over Roxboro Community School. Wilson defeated Elizabeth Ess 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 10-8. Two days later against Southern Alamance, Wilson won another three-set match against Morgan Edmunds 4-6, 6-4, 13-11.
7. Cameron Mayhew, Cedar Ridge, Sr: Mayhew continued an impressive season for the Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team with a singles win against Western Alamance’s Amelia Weaver 6-1, 6-2. Against Walter Williams, Mayhew won her #1 singles match over Abigail Brown 6-3, 6-1. Mayhew is 8-1 in singles action this year.

Photo courtesy of Elon University Athletics 

Cameron Lanier: Lanier was named the Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Week on Monday, becoming the first Cedar Ridge Red Wolf to earn a Division I Conference honor. In Elon’s CAA opener against Hofstra on Saturday, Lanier had a double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs, along with four digs and two aces. Hofstra swept the match against the Phoenix on scores of 35-33, 25-20, and 25-21 at the Mack Physical Education Center in Hempstead, N.Y. On Sunday, Hofstra defeated Elon 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-21, 25-11). Lanier had 12 kills, four digs and two aces. Elon is 3-8, 0-2 in CAA.

Lottie Scully: The Binghamton Bearcats had two five-set thrillers in the UConn Dog Pound Challenge at Gampel Arena in Storrs, CT on Saturday. Brown University defeated Binghamton 3-2 (25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 25-18 and 15-12). The Bears improved to 8-0. Scully had 41 assists, 16 digs, three kills, and one ace. Later that day, Connecticut defeated Binghamton in five sets (26-28, 25-23, 15-25, 25-18 and 15-6). Scully, the Bearcats starting setter, finished with 39 assists, eleven digs, and two kills. On Sunday, Michigan State defeated Binghamton 3-1 (25-12, 23-25, 25-15 and 25-19). Scully had 24 assists, eight digs and two kills. Binghamton is 6-7 and will face Colgate on Tuesday.

Cameron Lloyd: Bucknell got underway with its Patriot League schedule on Friday. Army swept the Bison at Davis Gym in Lewisburg, PA on Friday on scores of 25-21, 25-22 and 25-23. Lloyd had seven kills and eleven digs. On Saturday, Colgate defeated Bucknell 3-1 (25-11, 25-22, 22-25 and 25-21). Lloyd led the team with eleven kills, along with eleven digs and two aces. Bucknell is 4-7 overall, 0-2 in the Patriot League. The Bison will host cross-state rival Lehigh on Friday.

Grace Young: UNC Asheville split two matches in the Spartan Tri-Match at UNC Greensboro on Saturday. The Bulldogs defeated UNC Greensboro 3-2 (27-25, 23-25, 17-25, 25-17 and 15-9) Young played two sets and had one ace with four digs. Earlier in the day, Charlotte defeated UNC Asheville is another five set match (25-12, 30-32, 25-20, 15-25 and 15-13). Young played one set. The Bulldogs are 6-7 and starts its Big South Conference slate against USC Upstate on Saturday in Spartanburg, SC.

Anaya Carter: The Division II UNC Pembroke Braves won both matches of a tri-match on Saturday. The Braves defeated Chowan 3-1 at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court in Pembroke (25-21, 22-25, 25-14 and 29-27). Carter played all four sets and had three kills, seven digs and two aces. Pembroke defeated Winston-Salem State 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 26-28 and 25-18). Carter was second on the team with 14 kills, along with eight digs. She had one ace. UNC Pembroke is 6-5, 1-0 in Conference Carolinas.

Allie Wilkerson: Division III Averett University defeated the University of Lynchburg 3-1 on September 12 in a match that had two former Orange Panthers on opposite sides. Wilkerson was third on the squad with nine kills. She also had one assist, one ace and one dig. Wilkerson faced Ashlyn Davis, who graduated with Wilkerson from Orange in June. On Thursday, the Cougars defeated Virginia University of Lynchburg 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-11) at the Stuart James Grant Center in Danville, VA. Wilkerson registered two kills, one ace, one block and two digs. On Thursday, Averett defeated Pfeiffer 3-0. Wilkerson was second on the team with six kills. She also had two aces and two digs. The Cougars have won three in a row, are 6-4 overall, 1-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Julie Altieri: The Division III Salisbury Seagulls split a tri-match against William Smith and Gettysburg on Saturday. The Seagulls opened the day with a 3-1 win over William Smith (25-23, 25-17, 15-25, and 25-20). Altieri was tied for the team lead with 14 assists. She also had seven digs and one ace. Gettysburg defeated Salisbury 3-1 (25-23, 24-26, 25-21 and 25-16). Altieri had 12 assists and six digs. Salisbury is 7-2. They will open play in the Hopkins Invitational on Friday against Mount Union.

Melissa Benkowitz: Division III Franklin & Marshall journeyed down to San Antonio for three matches over the weekend, going 2-1. The Diplomats defeated Whittier 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-20 and 25-14). Benkowitz had 13 kills, eight digs, three aces and two assists. #12 Trinity (Texas) defeated Franklin & Marshall 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-21 and 25-19). Benkowitz finished with 13 kills, six aces, ten digs and one assist. The Diplomats defeated Pomona-Pitzer 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 8-25 and 15-13). Benkowitz had ten kills, five aces, and eight digs. The Diplomats are 6-4.

Ashlyn Davis: The Division III University of Lynchburg defeated Trinity (D.C) at Giles Gymnasium in Lynchburg on Saturday 3-0 (25-3, 25-4 and 25-4). Davis played two sets and finished with one kill. The Hornets are 3-4.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore outside volleyball hitter Claire Hargett. In her second year on the varsity, Hargett is currently second on the team with 96 kills. She’s also second on the team with 120 digs. In the Red Wolves conference opener against Person on August 29, Hargett had 14 kills and 15 digs as the Red Wolves swept the Rockets. Two days later, Hargett had her strongest game of the year at Southern Alamance. She registered 13 kills and a season-high 19 digs as the Red Wolves defeated the Patriots 3-0. Among Hargett’s digs was one that saved the first set when she scooped it off the nest on a set point for the Patriots. Hargett’s dig led the Red Wolves to a point and they would ultimately take the set. Last year, Hargett played on the varsity as a freshman, where she learned from an array of Cedar Ridge seniors that captured the 2021 3A State Championship. This year, Hargett has a season-high 19 kills against Carrboro on August 23. She matched that with 19 kills against Southern Alamance. Hargett has double-digit kills in eight of Cedar Ridge’s eleven matches.

Cedar Ridge 3, Western Alamance 1: One-third of the way through the Central Carolina Conference slate, it appears that the center of volleyball is in Hillsborough once again this year.

After getting swept by Orange last week, Cedar Ridge has responded with three straight wins. The latest came on Tuesday night when the Red Wolves outlasted Western Alamance 3-1 at Red Wolves Gymnasium. It marked the first time that the Warriors took a set from Cedar Ridge since the two teams became conference rivals in 2021.

The Red Wolves (7-4, 4-1 in the CCC) won on scores of 25-9, 23-25, 25-21 and 25-18.

Cedar Ridge was never challenged in the first set behind a 17-4 run to start the frame. Senior Addie Reid had three blocks in the opening set, while Claire Hargett had three kills and two aces. Senior Graylinn Serge racked up kills on four of the last five Cedar Ridge points, including on set point.

The Warriors battled back from a 13-8 deficit in the second set to take the frame. A kill by freshman Reese Walker evened the set at 20-20. Avery Wilson had a key block to square things at 22-22, while junior Haley Clayton notched a kill to put the Warriors ahead,. Walker scored set point and evened the match off a block.

Cedar Ridge didn’t trail in the third set. Hargett had consecutive kills set up by senior Rachel Alverson to put the Red Wolves ahead 7-3. After Walker scored another block, Cedar Ridge went on a 5-0 run with Hargett serving. Hargett had an ace while Reid tallied an unassisted kill. Another point by Hargett put the Red Wolves ahead 19-11 and led to a Warriors timeout. Serge, Reid and Ellie Woolson had the final kills of the third set to put the Red Wolves ahead two-sets-to-one.

The third set had three early ties before the Red Wolves went on a 6-2 spurt to take a 15-10 lead. Sophomore Kayla Stoll stepped up for a big unassisted kill, followed by another finished form Hargett.

Cedar Ridge will travel to Walter Williams on Thursday night.

Orange 3, Southern Alamance 0: Orange stretched its streak to 20 consecutive sets won with a sweep of Southern Alamance on Tuesday night in Graham to remain undefeated in Central Carolina Conference play.

Sophomore Aubrey Jordan finished with eleven kills, while Ella Wimsatt finished with nine kills, five digs and three aces. Sophomore setter Katie Silcott had 17 assists, three kills and 18 digs as Orange won its ninth straight match.

Southern Alamance falls to 2-7, 0-3 in the CCC.

The Patriots were even with Orange at 13-13 midway through the first set. On a crucial point, Silcott made three digs during a long rally which ended with Jordan scoring off a spike from the outside post off a feed from Silcott to put Orange ahead 15-13. It remained tied 20-20 before Orange scored the final five points of the set, starting with a return by the Patriots that went long. Jordan scored off an assist, while Wimsatt had back-to-back aces. An attack by Southern Alamance was out to give Orange the set 25-21.

Wimsatt had five kills in the second set, but the Patriots jumped out to a 5-1 lead. That advantage was erased after a 5-0 Orange run that included an ace by Silcott and kills by Wimsatt and Ava Wilkerson, who finished with eight kills, three assists, a block and an ace.

Orange scored the final three points of the second set, ending with a kill by Wimsatt.

Jordan had five kills in the third set, where many Orange players had a chance to get off the bench. Seven different Orange players scored points in the final frame. Jordan spiked home match point off an assist from freshman Sawyer White.

Orange will host Roxboro Community School in Hillsborough on Wednesday night. The Lady Panthers swept the Bulldogs on Friday night in Person County.

Photo Courtesy of Salisbury University

Julie Altieri: The Division III Salisbury Seagulls went 2-1 during the Garnet Invitational in Swarthmore, PA over the weekend. On Friday, the Salisbury defeated Arcadia inside Tarble Pavilion (25-16, 25-19 and 25-18). Altieri had 16 assists, two digs and one ace. On Saturday, Salisbury went the distance in a 3-2 win over Bowdoin (25-18, 25-10, 24-26, 18-25 and 15-11). Altieri finished with four kills, 17 assists, one ace and ten digs. Later, Swarthmore defeated Salisbury 3-1 (14-25, 27-25, 25-15 and 25-23). Altieri finished with eleven assists, one kill, two aces and four digs. It was the Seagulls first loss of the season. Salisbury is 5-1.

Lottie Scully: In her first match of the year, Scully returned for the Binghamton Bearcats volleyball team for the Lehigh Invite in Bethlehem, PA. On Friday, Binghamton defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 3-2 on scores of 19-25, 25-17, 25-27, 25-21 and 15-8. Scully had 20 assists, four digs, and two aces. On Saturday, Binghamton defeated Lehigh 3-0 (25-23, 25-19 and 25-17). Scully finished with a team-high 20 assists, nine digs and two aces. Delaware State defeated Binghamton 3-1 in the final match of the event (25-21, 28-26, 21-25 and 25-18). Scully finished with 23 assists, four digs and two aces. Binghamton is 6-4.

Cameron Lloyd: The Bucknell volleyball team finished non conference play with a win over Cleveland State. In the Cleveland State Tournament, the Bison opened with a wild 3-2 win over Akron where they rallied from two sets downs win (13-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-22 and 15-13). Lloyd had seven kills, nine digs, and two aces. On Saturday, Harvard defeated Bucknell 3-0 (25-16, 28-26 and 25-23). Lloyd had three kills, six digs and one ace. Bucknell defeated Cleveland State 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-27, 25-23 and 15-13). Lloyd had ten kills, 18 digs and an ace. Bucknell is 4-5 and will start its Patriot League schedule against Army on Friday.

Cameron Lanier: For the second time this year, a former Cedar Ridge volleyball player when against her former head coach when Elon defeated North Carolina Central at the Schar Center on Sunday. Lanier, who was a middle blocker on the Red Wolves 2021 3A State Championship team, faces Central assistant Fiona Cunningham. Lanier had ten kills and five digs. The Phoenix swept the Eagles (25-22, 25-22 and 25-22) in the finale of Phoenix Volley for Unity. On Friday, Elon swept Western Carolina (25-19, 25-20 and 25-23). Lanier had seven kills, two digs and an ace. Elon will start play in the Coastal Athletic Association (formerly the Colonial Athletic Association) on Saturday against Hofstra.

Grace Young: The UNC Asheville volleyball team finished 2-1 in the Queens Fall Classic at the Levine Center in Charlotte. On Sunday, the Bulldogs defeated South Carolina State 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-19) Young had three digs and an ace. Last Tuesday, Western Carolina swept UNC Asheville (25-13, 25-21 and 25-18). Young played one set and had two digs. UNC Asheville is 5-5 and travels to Georgia Southern on Tuesday.

Anaya Carter: The Division II UNC Pembroke team went 1-3 in the UC Invitational in Charleston, West Virginia over the weekend: On Friday, the Braves defeated Fayetteville State 3-2 at Wehrle Athletic Arena (25-23, 22-25, 25-11, 21-15 and 15-9). Carter played two sets and had one kill and four digs. Millersville defeated UNC Pembroke 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-14). In four sets, Carter had four kills, one ace, one assist and 21 digs. On Saturday, Gannon swept UNC Pembroke (25-17, 25-18 and 25-8). Carter finished with six digs. Charleston (West Virginia) swept the Braves (25-14, 25-18 and 25-8). Carter had one kill, two aces and six digs. UNC Pembroke is 4-4 and will face Lenoir-Rhyne on Thursday night.

Allie Wilkerson: Over the weekend, Division III Averett University participated in the Case Western Reserve University Tournament in Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University swept Averett (25-20, 25-20 and 26-24). Wilkerson had five kills. On Saturday, Mount Union swept Averett (25-21, 25-19 and 25-12). In three sets, Wilkerson had three kills and one dig. Allegheny College swept Averett 3-0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-20). Wilkerson finished with four kills, one ace, one block and two digs. Averett is 3-4.

Melissa Benkowitz: Division III Franklin & Marshall went 2-2 last week. On Wednesday, the Diplomats swept DeSales (25-19, 25-18, 25-13). Benkowitz played three sets and had four kills and four digs. #11 New York University defeated Franklin & Marshall 3-1 on Friday in New York City (25-21, 27-29, 25-23 and 25-21). Benkowitz played two sets. On Saturday, Springfield swept the Diplomats in Montclair, NJ (25-23, 26-24, 25-18). In two sets, Benkowitz had two kills and two digs. Later that day, Franklin & Marshall swept Montclair State (25-21, 25-18 and 25-8).

Ashlyn Davis: Davis made her debut for the Division III University of Lynchburg last week. Davis played one set in the Hornets 3-1 win over Dickinson (25-21, 25-19, 9-25, 25-19) in Harrisonburg, VA.