Orange Men’s Tennis

During a slump for the 1993 Pittsburgh Pirates, comedic right fielder Andy Van Slyke once cracked the year could have been retitled “the Summer of 4-to-3.” On the opposite end of the fortune spectrum, when the Orange men’s tennis team has won this year, it’s often boiled down to the final doubles match. On Monday…

Some of the best moments in the history of Orange men’s tennis have come against Walter Williams the past two years. Last season, Orange recorded the 1st state playoff win over the Bulldogs in team history. Just before spring break, Orange got another win over Williams in Hillsborough. Senior Zachary Cole earned wins in singles…

Dealing with the elements has been a common refrain for all spring sports across Hillsborough lately. On Monday, just hours before the tennis match between Cedar Ridge and Orange, it was a pleasant day in the mid-80s. By the time the opening singles matches started, the winds had kicked up to 33-mile-per-hour gusts, which left…

First serve in. Cross court spin. It’s become one of Nicky Walker’s instructive catchphrases over a 43-year tennis coaching career. It means to get your first serve in, then hit it across the court. Almost all of Walker’s former players from Orange High still recite it, whether it’s playing pickleball games alongside him or coaching…

There’s another milestone that Orange men’s tennis coach Justin Webb can include on his long list of accolades. In the first time of the history of the program, the Orange men’s tennis team has won a match in the 3A State Dual Team playoffs. Plus, it had an added flair of drama against a Central…

The Orange men’s tennis team earned an important non-conference victory over Voyager Academy on March 19. The Panthers two senior co-Captains, Cameron Foster and Porter Pelphrey, clinched the match with a win at #1 doubles. Foster and Pelphrey defeated Will Baker and Micah Smith 8-2. Foster and Pelphrey have been teammates in doubles the past…

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior tennis player Cameron Foster. This season, Foster has consistently been among the two two singles players for head coach Justin Webb. With his doubles partner Porter Pelphrey, Orange has won matches over Voyager Academy, Roxboro Community School and Cedar Ridge through the first month of the…

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is men’s tennis player Justin Conover. Last month, Conover and freshman Porter Pelphrey qualified for the 3A State Doubles Championship at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center in Greensboro. In the opening round, Conover and Pelphrey defeated Snyder Pearson and Hatten Gore of Wilson Fike 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)….