Orange Volleyball

It’s their time now–Orange volleyball wins 3A Eastern Regional title over Carrboro in five-set classic; faces Kings Mountain for State Championship

The emotion of the moment sank in quickly for Katie Silcott.

The tears of joy wouldn’t stop flowing as the celebration continued around her. After she won the match of her young life inside Orange Gymnasium, there was one fact that remained stuck in her head.

“I’m going to play inside Reynolds Coliseum!” Silcott said to several onlookers.

For Orange’s seniors, there was something else just as gratifying. For the past decade, Orange had been the overlooked team across all of Orange County. In the 2000s, East Chapel Hill won four straight regional championships. Over the past decade, Cedar Ridge, Chapel Hill and Carrboro have all captured state championships.

For seniors Ella Wimsatt, Sadye Porter, Josie Crawford and Blessiny Deronette, it was finally their time.

In possibly the greatest volleyball game ever played inside Orange Gymnasium, Orange defeated Carrboro 3-2 to win the 3A Eastern Regional Championship in front of a packed house on Halloween night. The Lady Panthers will face Kings Mountain on Saturday at noon inside Reynolds Coliseum for the State Championship.

It’s the first time that Orange has played for a state championship in volleyball since 2004. It will mark Orange’s first state championship appearance in any dual-team sport since the  wrestling team lost to Piedmont in the 3A State Championship in 2018.

Wimsatt finished with 19 kills and 29 digs, while sophomore Aubrey Jordan had 15 kills. Middle blocker Ava Wilkerson came away with 13 kills and three blocks in a match that was won at the net.

Orange coach Hope Heverly, who played on Orange’s 2004 Eastern Regional championship team, will return to Raleigh as a first-year head coach on Saturday. Heverly replaced Kelly Young, who was in attendance on Tuesday night, in April.

“I knew that these girls had the potential,” Heverly said. “I could see from the start that they had the talent and potential. They just needed a little push and drive. They have really been working hard all season to make this possible.”

It was the third straight five-set battle for Carrboro (29-2), who won at West Carteret and at Cape Fear leading into Tuesday’s classic in Hillsborough.

The Jaguars defeated Orange 3-1 on August 16 at Jaguars Gymnasium.

On Halloween night, Orange had moments where the end of its season appeared near, only to suddenly resurrect itself like Michael Myers in one of the numerous Halloween sequels. Carrboro’s Catherine Rucker, in her final match, finished with 20 kills and two blocks. Setter Rudy Van Gelder had 49 assists.

It was Orange’s depth that ultimately put them in Raleigh. In a match that spanned over two hours, Orange freshman Sawyer White, who was inserted into the starting lineup permanently starting with the Cedar Ridge match on October 18, had a season-best six blocks. Eight Lady Panthers scored points in the fourth set, while Rucker didn’t have another kill after Carrboro’s 12th point in the fourth set.

The irony is Orange lost the Cedar Ridge match where White took on a bigger role, but Heverly made the move to adjust Silcott to provide an additional attacker, while continuing as a setter. It paid dividends on Tuesday night. Silcott registered 26 assists, 20 digs and eight kills. While finished with 25 assists, 30 digs, five kills and seven blocks.

On a night full of turning points, naturally Wimsatt provided the final one. After Rucker knocked down a Wilkerson attack to tie the fourth set at 18-18, Wimsatt scored from the near pole off an assist from White, the first of seven straight Orange points that carried the match into a fifth set. Wimsatt continued the run with an ace to give Orange a 19-18 lead. Jordan had her best run of the night, scoring on a block, then another kill. Leading 22-18, Wimsatt dove headlong on an attack by Carrboro’s Carson McGuire, which led to a spike by Mariah Poole that sent the Orange student section into a complete frenzy. Jordan finished the set with consecutive kills as Orange broached into a fifth set for the first time in any of its 31 matches.

“I knew we would be able to take that energy and help us with the fifth set,” Heverly said. “I also know that Carrboro is a really strong team. They had come back from losing before so I knew that it wasn’t safe. But once Sawyer put up some solid blocks for us to start the fifth, I could quickly see that we had the energy.”

For the only time in the match, Orange won the opening point in the fifth set when Jordan scored off a crosscourt kill that stayed inside the left sideline, then added another. Carrboro tied it up at 3-3 after a block by Caroline Jones, then took its only lead of the frame after an ace from Max Jordy. White quickly tied things with a block, which triggered a decisive 6-0 run that came with senior Josie Crawford serving. Crawford would deliver an ace that landed in front of Jaguars libero Sophia Datto, while White and Poole had consecutive blocks. Another Kill from Wimsatt made it 10-5. Silcott set up the first match point with a light poke that bounced on the white line barely five feet from the net. Jordan ended the night with a spike off a feed from White.

In addition to winning a regional championship, Orange showed its mental toughness after dropping a classic third set, which had eight lead changes and 18 ties. Carrboro had five set points, starting when they were ahead 24-22. White scored on a block for Orange, and a return by Rucker that went long evened it up at 24-24. Orange fought off another set point when McGuire sent a serve into the net. Rucker scored off a kill to make it 26-25, but Wimsatt extended the set. Carrboro ended the struggle when McGuire scored off a block to put Carrboro ahead 28-26.

It was the first time all year that Orange won a match where they trailed by one set.

Orange captured the opening frame 25-20. In another example of Orange’s depth, five different Orange players had kills in its opening seven points. Jordan scored set point off an assist from White.

In the second set, Orange led 12-8 after a kill by Wilkerson. Jordy triggered five straight points to put Carrboro ahead 13-12. Jordy had an ace and a kill in that run. She evened the match with an ace to give the Jaguars the second set 25-21.

Orange principal Jason Jordan and several security guards kept the massive amount of Orange students from rushing the floor. After Athletic Director Jason Knapp presented the regional championship trophy to the Lady Panthers, the students and players joined as one in a joyous celebration that was a long time coming.

 

Orange’s Ava Wilkerson, Ella Wimsatt & Sadye Porter discuss win over J.H. Rose

Is this the time for the Orange volleyball team? They certainly looked like a team ready to make a trip to Reynolds Coliseum in Saturday when they defeated J.H. Rose 3-1 in the state quarterfinals on Saturday. The Lady Panthers earned its first trip to the regional semifinals since 2004 with a victory over the Rampants, the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions. Ella Wimsatt finished with 19 kills, 33 digs, two aces, one assist and one block as the Lady Panthers improved to 26-4, its best mark since they reached the 2004 3A State Championship match. Middle blocker Ava Wilkerson had 14 kills with four blocks, including a crucial point in the fourth set that gave Orange a 21-19 lead. Senior libero Sadye Porter had her usual solid defensive performance with 13 digs, along with two assists. Orange is now one match away from the state championship match. They will host Carrboro tonight (Tuesday) at 6PM inside Orange Gymnasium. The Jaguars, who have won two state championships, defeated Orange 3-1 on August 16 in Jaguars Gymnasium. The Lady Panthers defeated Carrboro 3-1 last year in Hillsborough. The winner will face either North Iredell or Ashe County for the 3A State Championship in Raleigh on Saturday.

New Heights and Old Foes; Orange volleyball knocks out Rose after Jordan’s 17 kills, faces Carrboro in State Semis Tuesday

Reaching a regional championship game means something to Orange volleyball. It has only happened twice before.

When you beat J.H. Rose to do it, it means a little more.

The Rampants have won five Eastern Regional Championships, including last year’s victory over Cedar Ridge in Greenville. They have claimed three state championships.

On Saturday, pressed with playing its best, the unique blend of veterans and underclassmen combined to play its best game of the season and knocked Rose out of the state playoffs in the 3A state quarterfinals.

In possibly her best game in a season full of stellar presentations, senior Ella Wimsatt had 18 kills and 33 digs, while sophomore Aubrey Jordan registered 17 kills as Orange defeated Rose 3-1 at Orange Gymnasium on scores of 25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 25-19.

It was a double dose of good news for Orange on Saturday. In Fayetteville, 4th-seeded Carrboro rallied from two sets down to beat Cape Fear 3-2. That means Orange will host the 3A Eastern Regional Final in Hillsborough on Tuesday night at 6PM.

It is the third time in eight years that the East Final has been played in Hillsborough. In 2021, Cedar Ridge swept Rose. In 2015, Asheboro knocked off Cedar Ridge in four sets.

“We know coming in that they were a very well respected volleyball team,” said Orange coach Hope Heverly. “So we focused that we were tightened up on some of the Xs and Os. The girl respect Rose and knew they had to play their best game. I believe that they did that.”

It’s the first time since 2019 that Rose hasn’t reached the Final Four of the state tournament.

For the fifth straight match, Heverly started freshman Sawyer White with sophomore Rachel Silcott as the two alternated between setter and outside hitter. The arrangement, which started in a loss to Cedar Ridge in the Central Carolina Conference Tournament championship game two weeks ago, started shaky but has improved with every match. White finished with 16 digs, 23 assists and six kills. Silcott came away with 27 assists, nine digs and four kills.

Heverly made the change to increase Orange’s finishing weapons, which paid dividends against Rose. Five different Panthers had kills in the fourth and decisive set.

Senior libero Sadye Porter  had 14 digs.

Orange opened strong with a 10-2 run. Junior Abby Silinski had back-to-back aces while Wimatt registered her first kill of the day to put the Lady Panthers ahead 8-2. The closest the Rampans could get was 22-18 after they racked up five straight points, with a block and a kill by freshman Kate Wallen. Moments later, Wallen was whistled for walking into the net, leading to an Orange side out. Jordan had the final two kills of the frame, including on set point.

Rose used its power at the net to control the second set, which they never trailed. Senior Emily Smith had eight kills and a block for the Rampants in the second frame alone. A kill by Rose senior Shea Jenkins put the Rampants ahead 18-11. Orange mounted a rally when Wimsatt scored a kill, followed by an ace to reduce the Rose lead to 21-17. But Smith scored kills on the final three Rampants points to even the match.

The two teams opened the third set with an 8-8 tie before Wimsatt took control. After White scored off an assist from Silcott to put Orange ahead for good in the set at 9-8, Wimsatt had three straight kills during a 6-1 Orange run to put the lead at 21-13, leading to a Rose timeout. Naturally, Wimsatt’s spike on set point gave Orange a 2-1 lead.

Orange struggled to take the lead in the fourth set. Rose wouldn’t allow the Lady Panthers to score off serves, building a 10-8 lead off kills from Smith and Jenkins. Sophomore Ava Wilkerson, who finished with 14 kills and five blocks, evened the set at 13 with a rejection of an attack by Jenkins. Jordan inserted her influence with her best finishing sequence of the day down the stretch. After Wimsatt scored an ace to give Orange a 17-16 lead, Wimsatt scored two crucial digs on a point that ended when Jordan scored off a feed from White. Silcott followed with another kill.

Rose came back with three straight point to even the set at 19-19, ending with a kill from Wallen. That’s when the Orange sophomores came through with their biggest plays. Jordan earned a side out with an overhand blast from the near post. With Porter serving, Wilkerson scored her third block of the set off an attack by Shea.

Jordan and Wilkerson each had kills to set up match point at 24-19. Rose failed to return Porter’s serve, leading to the Orange student section rushing the floor in jubilation.

On Tuesday, Orange will face Carrboro for the second time this year. On August 16, the Jaguars started its season with a 3-1 win over the Lady Panthers at Carrboro Gymnasium. They will arrive in Hillsborough on a 24-match winning streak.

Orange will go for its second-ever appearance in a state championship match. They reached the 2004 final, where they lost to Mooresville.

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Aces High–Wimsatt piles up 16 kills in Orange volleyball’s sweep of Union Pines, faces Rose in State Quarters today

It’s not just that the Orange volleyball team is winning state playoff matches. It’s that they’re dominating them.

Now, for the first time in 17 years, the Lady Panthers are in the state quarterfinals behind another strong performance from its finishers.

Senior Ella Wimsatt piled up 18 kills and 15 digs, her 18th double-double of the season, as the Lady Panthers defeated Union Pines 3-0 on scores of 25-9, 25-14, 25-16 in the third round of the 3A State Playoffs. Orange will face J.H. Rose, the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions, on Saturday (today) inside Panther Gymnasium at 3PM.

Facing the top 3A seed from the 4A/3A Sandhills Conference, Orange only trailed once when the Vikings scored the opening point. Orange racked up eight aces against the Vikings, including five in the opening set.

Orange’s new tandem setter combination of freshman Sawyer White and sophomore Katie Silcott produced its best game yet since head coach Hope Heverly shifted to the new alignment. Silcott had 20 assists, nine digs, three kills and two aces. White registered 17 assists, seven digs, two kills and an ace on match point.

“I think they’re starting to enjoy making it a little further than they have in the playoffs before,” Heverly said. “They’re pushing themselves and really holding themselves accountable. They definitely had more of a drive tonight.”

Unlike the second round win over Northern Nash, the Lady Panthers didn’t have a hiccup early, mainly because of better serving. Wimsatt, senior libero Sadye Porter, Josie Crawford, Silcott and Abby Silinski all had aces in the opening set. Orange opened with a 5-1 run, capped by an ace from Porter and a spike from Wilkerson, who wound up with seven kills and a block.

Leading 16-7, Orange ran off eight straight points with Wimatt serving late in the set. Sophomore Aubrey Jordan, who finished with eight kills, scored on set point with a crosscourt spike that stayed inside the right sideline to put Orange up a frame.

“I think our seniors know that at any moment, this could be their last game,” Heverly said. “I noticed an increased sense of urgency. No matter when the end may come, we want to go out with our heads high.”

Orange took control of the second set with a 9-2 run that started when Wimsatt earned a side out with a light palm thrust at the net. Wimsatt scored off another kill to make it 9-5, which turned into five straight Orange points, ending with a point from sophomore Mariah Poole. The Lady Panthers built a 21-12 lead following another kill from Wimsatt. White’s first kill of the match came on set point, assisted by Wimsatt.

The Vikings managed to tie the third set three times early, but Orange’s outside hitters took control to build a 7-1 run. Wilkerson had consecutive kills and a block during the run. After the Vikings were called for a double hit, Orange took a 12-6 lead..

Union Pines best run of the match came when they scored five of six points to reduce Orange’s lead to 15-14, but Orange immediately reeled off five straight points. Senior Josie Crawford had an ace, followed by a kill from Wimsatt, which led to the Vikings calling a timeout. Afterwards, Wimsatt put up two more points before White’s ace ended the match.

Now, Orange prepares to face one of the most established named in North Carolina volleyball. J.H. Rose last journeyed to Hillsborough in 2021, where they lost to Cedar Ridge 3-0 in the 3A Eastern Regional Championship match. Last year, the Rampants turned the tables, beating the Red Wolves to advance to the state championship match.

Though Orange will be the home team on Saturday, there is a sense that the Lady Panthers may be an underdog to a Rose team that has been to the Final Four each of the past three years.

Though Heverly has been with Orange as head coach just five months, she isn’t surprised that her team is playing for a spot in the regional championship game on Saturday.

“I could always see the potential in them,” Heverly said. “I told them several times that we’re a whole different team than we were at the beginning of this season. I’m hoping that by the time our season ends, we’re still stronger than the way we’ve been going. It will be a great matchup with Rose. I know our girls will come out ready.”

 

Orange volleyball’s Ella Wimsatt & Sadye Porter discuss state playoff win over Union Pines

For the first time since 2005, the Orange volleyball team has advanced to the 3A State Quarterfinals. On Thursday night, the Lady Panthers impressively defeated Union Pines 3-0 in Hillsborough on scores of 25-9, 25-14, 25-16. Senior Ella Wimsatt finished with 16 kills and 12 digs, her 18th double-double of the season. Liberal Sadye Porter had 12 digs, two assists and one ace. Orange has won 25 matches, the most in 18 years. It wasn’t just Orange’s third straight playoff win, but the Lady Panthers were dominant. They only trailed once the entire match, which came after the first point of the match. Orange has swept all three of its state playoff opponents, Swansboro, Northern Nash and Union Pines. It’s particularly gratifying for Wimsatt, who has been a varsity performer the past four years. Before Tuesday, Wimsatt hadn’t advanced past the second round of the state playoffs. Now, Orange will host J.H. Rose on Saturday. The winner will advance to the 3A Eastern Regional championship game on October 31. Orange, the Central Carolina Conference regular season champions, will face the Rampants at 3PM on Saturday.