Orange High School

“I like what you’re doing here. Keep it up.”

The words from Western Alamance head coach Jeff Snuffer to Orange head coach DeVante Pettiford following the postgame handshake served as a boost of confidence. Following a dismal performance on September 23 against Montgomery Central, a 46-6 loss at Wolves Den Stadium in Troy, Pettiford wanted to see more fight from his team in its Central Conference opener at Auman Stadium last Friday.

Orange hasn’t defeated an Alamance County team in league play since the Central Conference formed in 2021. While they’re still waiting for that elusive victory, Pettiford could only walk off the field proud of his team that played without its top two skill players, both of whom were injured against Montgomery Central.

It was the Warriors who had the deeper team, nearly twice as many players as the Panthers. In the end, the Warriors successfully made it a battle of manpower in a 24-7 victory, its third straight over the Panthers. Snuffer continued to run fullback Jordan Hall and H-back Esaiah Slade against a depleted Orange defensive front. While linebackers Deandre Brown and Nahjour Kenion, among others, were limping at the end as the clock drifted away, they refused to go down.

“We have a lot of things to improve on, but I felt like we were the more physical team,” Pettiford said. “I felt like we fought, we kept getting after it. We saw some things go our way on offense, we just have to get out of our own way. Whenever we have a chance to make the big play, that’s when we start to drop the ball. In terms of effort, it was like night and day compared to last week.”

James Newton, a wide receiver who has committed to Gardner-Webb, finished with 61 yard receiving and a touchdown. Warriors sophomore quarterback Ethan Oakley threw for a career-high 15 completions for 230 yards.

Orange did get a glimpse of its future when freshman wide receiver Owen Phillips caught an 81-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyse Devore, who was making his first career start in place of injured senior Hank Nunnery. The score tied the game at 7-7 with 1:32 remaining in the first quarter.

As has been the case for much of this year, it was 3rd downs that proved to be Orange’s downfall. Western Alamance overcame two holding penalties on its opening scoring drive. On 3rd-and-16 from the Warriors 38-yard line, Oakley found senior Will Clinkscales for a 35-yard gain to the Orange 27-yard line. On 2nd-and-10 from the Panther 13-yard line, Oakley hit Newton in the left corner of the end zone for the opening score.

The Panthers were 0-for-9 on 3rd down conversions. The Warriors were 6-for-12.

“We just have to focus more when it’s time to get off the field,” Pettiford said. “That’s something that we as coaches have to do a better job of communicating. They have a Division I receiver over there (Newton). He’s the real deal.”

Following Phillips touchdown, the game remain tied until there was 1:54 remaining in the first half. Oakley engineered an eight-play, 47-yard drive, where the biggest play came on a 3rd-and-6 when he found Clinkscales again for eight yards. On the next play, running back Collin Moylan took advantage of an extra tug from his left tackle to get around end and run into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. Camden Oliveira’s extra point put the Warriors ahead 14-7.

The Warriors exercised the clock perfectly in the final drive of the first half. Oakley hit Colten Hill for 16 yards on 3rd-and-10, leading to a 43-yard field goal from Oliveira that cleared the uprights by plenty.

Western Alamance’s Elijah Slade scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half from four yards out with 8:57 remaining in the third quarter, the game’s final score.

Orange crossed the 50-yard line once in the second half, but the drive stalled when Deandre Brown was thrown for a loss on 4th-and-9 from the Warriors 37-yard line.

WESTERN ALAMANCE 24, ORANGE 7

WA-7   10    7    0-24

OR-7     0     0     0-7

WA–James Newton 13 pass from Ethan Oakley (Nathan Oliveira kick)

OR-Owen Phillips 81 pass from Kyse Devore (Will Cooper kick)

WA–Collin Moyland 11 run (Oliveira kick)

WA–Esaiah Slade 4 run (Oliveria kick)

RUSHING–WESTERN ALAMANCE 34-150 2 TD (Jordan Hall 16-70, Oakley 8-39, Newton 3-12, Moylan 2-11 TD, E. Slade 2-9 TD, Asaiah Slade 2-5, Riley Poteat 1-4)

ORANGE: 20-19 (Deandre Brown 8-35, Kayden Bradsher 2-5, Garrett Sawyer 2-0, team 1-(-9), Devore 7-(-12)

PASSING: WESTERN ALAMANCE (Oakley 15-23 233 TD) ORANGE (Devore 8-19 147, TD INT)

RECEIVING: WESTERN ALAMANCE (Newton 4-61 TD, Hamilton Plunkett 4-52, Will Clinkscales 3-46, Colten Hill 2-56, E. Slade 2-15)

ORANGE: (Phillips 2-92 TD, Brown 2-34, Kingston Purefoy Farrington 2-11, Hunter Albert 1-6, Jayden Medley 1-4)

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is men’s cross country runner Myles Jermyn. On September 10, Orange won its first meet of the season against Cedar Ridge and Western Alamance at Orange High School. Jermyn finished first at 17:32.00. Last season, Jermyn was a part of the Orange men’s cross country team that finished at Mideast Regional champions. In the 3A State Championships, they came in second place, only behind Croatan. Jermyn, a junior, has run on two Central Conference championship teams. In the Mideast Regionals last October, Jermyn finished eighth in the region as the Panthers won the team championship by 22 points over Northern Nash. Jermyn finished second in the conference championship last year at Lake Cammack Course in Burlington. Myles’ father, Kevin, is the men’s and women’s cross country coach at Duke University. His younger sister, Reilly, has started running for the Orange women’s team and finished 2nd in the opening conference meet two weeks ago. Last spring, Myles finished third in the 1,600 meters during the Mideast Regional Outdoor Track & Field championships at UNC Pembroke. He finished second in the region at 3,200 meters. During the 3A State Championships at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, Jermyn finished 10th in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters.

Orange Panther of the Week: Myles Jermyn

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is men’s cross country runner Myles Jermyn. On September 10, Orange won its first meet of the season against Cedar Ridge and Western Alamance at Orange High School. Jermyn finished first at 17:32.00. Last season, Jermyn was a part of the Orange men’s cross country team that finished at Mideast Regional champions.

The Orange men’s soccer team is off to its best start in 17 years. On Monday, the Panthers defeated Walter Williams 3-2 in Burlington. Junior Yurim Tapia Mendez scored a hat trick for Orange, who defeated the Bulldogs for the second time in two years. Instrumental in Orange’s success has been an experienced back line that includes Eben Petrides. On August 28, the Panthers defeated Eno River Academy in the first-ever meeting between the two teams at Orange Soccer Field. Joseph Lopez assisted on a goal for Orange. Issac Gallegos scored a goal in Orange’s 5-3 win over Durham School of the Arts on August 19. Lopez also assisted in Orange’s win over Williams. The Panthers are in pursuit of making the 3A State Playoffs for the third straight year. It would be the first time ever that Orange has made the state playoffs three straight years. This week, Orange’s game against Cedar Ridge was rained out. The opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby will be rescheduled for another date. In the meantime, Orange will hit the road to face Person in Roxboro on Monday. The Panthers will return home to face Southern Alamance on Wednesday night in Hillsborough. Orange is 6-3 overall, 1-1 in the Central Conference.

No Title

The Orange men’s soccer team is off to its best start in 17 years. On Monday, the Panthers defeated Walter Williams 3-2 in Burlington. Junior Yurim Tapia Mendez scored a hat trick for Orange, who defeated the Bulldogs for the second time in two years.

Cedar Ridge volleyball was due for good fortune in a five-set match.

Its first loss of the season came against East Chapel Hill, where they fell at home in five sets. The Red Wolves started this month by sweeping crosstown rival Orange, the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions at Panthers Gymnasium. The following night, Cedar Ridge faced Carrboro, the team that Orange defeated to win that Regional title.

Cedar Ridge led two-sets-to-nothing before Carrboro roared back to win in five sets, taking the fifth 15-7.

On Thursday night, the stakes were greater. Cedar Ridge faced a Person team that they had swept in its conference opener last month. But the Rockets arrived to Hillsborough healthier, wiser and determined to end its nine-match losing streak to the Red Wolves.

Cedar Ridge didn’t have momentum to start the fifth set. Person scored the opening three points, but it’s not how you start. It’s how you finish. Cedar Ridge’s Ellamarie Perel and Claire Hargett not only paved the way for a successful finish on Thursday night, but they greatly helped their long-term future.

Hargett finished with four kills in the final set as Cedar Ridge went on a 7-1 run in the final frame to pull out a 3-2 victory over Person. Cedar Ridge now leads Orange and Western Alamance by two games for first place in the Central Conference with a 7-0 league mark. The Red Wolves are 10-3 overall.

Also on Thursday night, Western Alamance defeated Orange 3-2 at Warriors Gymnasium. The Warriors and the Panthers are now tied for second place with a 5-2 league mark. Cedar Ridge hosts Orange next Thursday.

Person freshman Kylee Hayden had consecutive kills to open the fifth set, followed by another strike from Macey Bowes. Perel, who finished with 14 kills, ended the dry spell with a kill along the far post set up by junior Mia Marty. After a strike by Perel went long to vault Person ahead 4-1, the Red Wolves reeled off four straight points. Kayla Stoll scored a huge block. In the longest rally of the final set, Cedar Ridge libero Sydnee Tapper had a huge dig that led to Person sending an attack into the net. Marty put the Red Wolves ahead with an ace.

Hargett, who came away with 18 kills and 26 digs, put together two straight kills, one of which went off the face of Person’s libero to give Cedar Ridge an 8-5 lead. Person’s Kaylie Parker sent a light tap over the net off an assist from Kaiden Hawkins to cut the Rockets’ deficit to 8-76, but Calla Lundberg and Hargett had kills to start a 6-0 Red Wolf run. Tapper added on an ace. A kill by Perel put the Red Wolves ahead 14-7, but Person wasn’t done yet. Parker scored three straight kills, followed by an ace from Abby Sharlow. Hargett scored on match point off a feed from Marty.

Person’s last win over Cedar Ridge came on September 28, 2016 in Hillsborough.

Cedar Ridge won the opening set 25-20. Hargett had four kills. Marty had an ace on set point. Marty finished the set with ten assists, five digs and two aces. Person dominated the second set 25-11.

Cedar Ridge took control of the third set with six consecutive points to take a 12-5 lead. Hargett had consecutive aces during the run. Perel scored set point to give Cedar Ridge the frame at 25-19.

The Red Wolves led for much of the fourth set and appeared ready to put the match away when Marty scored on a block to give Cedar Ridge a 20-14 lead. But Person went on a 7-1 run to take a 22-21 lead, keyed by an ace from Sharlow. Junior Lilly Atkins scored Person’s final three points of the fourth, including set point.

Ella Wimsatt: The Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball team has matched its best start ever at 10-0. Ella Wimsatt, the Captain of Orange’s 2023 Eastern Regional championship team, has already broken into the Bears’ regular rotation. On Tuesday, the Bears started its South Atlantic Conference schedule with a sweep of Newberry at Shuford Arena in Hickory. Wimsatt had nine digs and played in all three sets. Last weekend, the Bears won all four of its matches in the Mount Olive Invitational at Kornegay Arena, including handing Shaw University its first loss of the season. Lenoir-Rhyne swept Shaw 3-0. Wimsatt finished with a kill and seven digs. In her first weekend as a college player, Wimsatt played regularly as the Bears won all of its matches in the Fairmont State Volleyball Classic at Joe Retton Arena in Fairmont, WV. Wimsatt’s first game came in a sweep of Virginia Union, where she had a kill and three digs. On September 7 against Slippery Rock, Wimsatt had six kills, two aces and 19 digs. On Saturday, Lenoir-Rhyne will host a conference doubleheader against Mars Hill and UNC Pembroke.

Lottie Scully: The Binghamton Bearcats won the Rutgers Invitational at College Ave Gym in New Brunswick, NJ last week. Binghamton swept both of its matches, starting with a victory over Rutgers. Scully, the starting setter, finished with 23 assists and four digs. On September 13, Binghamton defeated VCU. Scully registered 21 assists and two digs. On Wednesday, Cornell defeated Binghamton 3-1. Scully finished with 28 assists, eight digs and one ace. Binghamton is 7-4 and will start play in the Rose Hill Classic in the Bronx, NY today against Fordham. They will face West Virginia on Saturday.

Cameron Lloyd: The Bucknell volleyball team has won eight in a row. Lloyd has overcome an oblique injury to continue with regular appearances for the Bison. She had eleven digs, one kill and two aces in a sweep of Niagara at the Gallagher Center in New York last Saturday. It was the last of three wins for Bucknell in the Western New York Invitational. Last Friday, Bucknell defeated Canisius 3-2 at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo. Lloyd had eleven digs, two kills and three aces. Also last Saturday, the Bison swept Youngstown State. Lloyd finished with seven kills, ten digs and two aces. The Bison will try to continue its winning streak against Holy Cross later tonight in its Patriot League opener.

Cameron Lanier:  The Elon volleyball team won two of three matches in the Mercer Invitational in Macon GA last weekend. On Saturday, the Phoenix defeated Southern Miss 3-2 at Hawkins Arena. Lanier had 15 kills and four digs. She also had a block on match point. Last Friday, the Phoenix defeated Presbyterian 3-2. Lanier finished with 13 kills and four digs. Mercer swept the Phoenix last Friday. So far this season, Lanier has 73 kills over 27 sets. Elon is 6-5 and will face the College of Charleston to start Coastal Athletic Association play on Saturday.

Anaya Carter: Division II UNC Pembroke dropped its Conference Carolinas opener to North Greenville 3-0 at Hayes Gymnasium in Tigerville, SC on Wednesday. Carter played in two sets and finished with two digs. UNCP went all the way to Alaska for the Denali State Ice Block Classic in Fairbanks, AK on September 12-14. In four matches, the Braves only win came against Felician 3-1. Carter started and had eight digs and an ace. UNC Pembroke is 2-6.

Julie Altieri: The Division III Salisbury Gulls dropped two of three matches in the Randolph-Macon Tournament in Ashland, VA last weekend. The Gulls only victory came against Randolph-Macon by a 3-1 score. Altieri had her fifth double-double of the season with 24 assists and eleven digs with three kills. Against Washington & Lee, Altieri had 38 assists, ten digs, four kills and four aces. Salisbury is 8-2 and will open Coast-to-Coast Conference action against Mary Washington on Friday (today) at the Maggs Physical Activities Center in Maryland. So far in her sophomore season, Altieri had 302 assists over ten matches with 84 digs and 40 kills.

Melissa Benkowitz: Franklin & Marshall is 9-1 and have won eight in a row. Last Saturday, the Diplomats swept a doubleheader by beating Clarkson and Montclair State. In a sweep of Clarkson, Benkowitz started the match with three consecutive aces. She finished with four kills, eleven digs and five aces. Franklin & Marshall also swept Montclair State at the Mayser Center in Lancaster, PA. Benkowitz led the Diplomats with eleven kills and a team-best ten digs.

Allie Wilkerson: Division III Averett University defeated won its Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener by sweeping Guilford College at the Stuart James Grant Center in Danville, VA on Wednesday. Wilkerson, a sophomore, tied for the team lead with ten kills. Averett is 4-7 overall. Wilkerson is second on the team with 74 kills.

Bryse Wilson: For the third time in his Major League career, Wilson will be going to the Major League Baseball postseason. On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Brewers clinched its third straight National League Central division championship when the Oakland A’s defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-3 at Wrigley Field. It’s the first time in 42 years that the Brewers have won consecutive division championships. Wilson landed on the injured list on September 3 with a strained oblique muscle. Last week, Wilson threw a bullpen session and has a chance to return before the end of the regular season. This season, Wilson is 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA. He has appeared in 34 games, starting nine for the Brewers. He has 82 strikeouts with 31 walks.

Payton Wilson: Last week, Bryse’s younger brother became the first Orange Panther to play in an NFL game since Alvis Whitted played for the Oakland Raiders in 2006. Payton suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers in its season opener. Wilson, a linebacker, finished with three tackles as the Steelers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 18-10 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Wilson also played regularly for the Steelers in its 13-6 victory over the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Wilson will play in his first regular season game at Acrisure Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Trenton Gill: Despite having the largest punting average in the NFL preseason, Gill was released by the Denver Broncos last month. Gill averaged 48.6 yards per punt, the highest among all punters before getting released. Gill has reportedly worked out for the New Orleans Saints and the Cleveland Browns over the past two weeks.

Darius Satterfield: The former Orange High punter boomed a 69-yard punt for Elizabeth City State against Chowan on September 7. Overall, Satterfield averaged 46 yards on four punts as the Vikings defeated Chowan 12-7 at Roebuck Stadium in Elizabeth City. He also had a 54-yard punt in the second quarter. One punt was downed inside the 20-yard line. Last Saturday, ECSU shutout Erskine 20-0 at J.W. Babb Stadium in Greenwood, SC. Satterfield averaged 36 yards over five punts with a long of 52 yards. Two punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. The Vikings are 2-1.

Ivy Garner: For the first time ever, the Liberty women’s soccer team is nationally ranked at #24 in the country. The Flames are 8-0-2 overall. Last week, Liberty defeated George Mason 6-0 at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, VA. Garner scored his second goal of the season in the 8th minute. She also assisted on a goal by Avenley Monteith. On September 8, the Flames played to a 1-1 tie with West Virginia. Garner, who played her freshman year at Cedar Ridge, played 61 minutes as a forward. Liberty defeated #21 Virginia Tech 2-1 on September 5 at Thompson Field in Blacksburg, VA. Garner assisted on the game-winning goals in the 51st minute scored by Halle Engle. Overall, Garner has started all ten of Liberty’s games. She has scored two goals with three assists. She is second on the team with 27 shots.

Emerson Talley: The Division II Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team is off to a 2-0-2 start. Talley scored on a penalty kick in the Bears’ 3-2 win over #24 Florida Tech at the Moretz Sports-Athletic Complex in Hickory on Tuesday. Talley started at forward and played all 90 minutes. Lenoir-Rhyne played to a 1-1 tie against Lincoln Memorial in Harrogate, TN on Saturday. Talley played 69 minutes and had one shot on goal. On September 12, the Bears played to another 1-1 tie against Lee University in Cleveland, TN. Talley, the all-time leading goal scorer in Cedar Ridge history, played 69 minutes and fired two shots. Lenoir-Rhyne opened its season with a 4-1 win over UNC Pembroke at Lumbee River EMC Stadium in Pembroke on September 8. Talley had her first career two-goal game, including the opener in the 19th minute. Talley also scored in the 49th minute off an assist from Nicole Auger. Lenoir-Rhyne will host Emory & Henry on Saturday night.

Photo by Kim Petrdies

Orange 3, Walter Williams 2: The rain was enough to stop most outdoor sporting events on Monday. But it wasn’t enough to stop Yurim Tapia Mendez.

Orange’s striker had his first career hat trick to lead the Panthers past Walter Williams 3-2 at Springwood Park in Burlington. It was the Panthers second straight win over the Bulldogs and continued Orange’s best start in over a decade. They improved to 6-3, 1-1 in the Central Conference, beating a perennial power that won consecutive league titles in 2021 and 2022.

Mendez now has nine goals through the opening nine games of the season. He started the year by scoring the game-winning goal in Orange’s first-ever victory over Carrboro. In all, Mendez has three game-winning goals this season.

Mendez’s first came off a corner kick that was assisted by senior Joseph Lopez. His second goal was assisted by Brendan McDonald, which put Orange ahead 2-0 in the first half. Mendez completed the hat trick with a tally off a penalty kick.

Lucas Stroud scored in the first half for the Bulldogs, who fell to 6-4-1 overall, 1-1 in the Central Conference. With Orange leading 3-1, sophomore Aurelio Figueroa added a goal for the Bulldogs off an assist from Daniel Angel.

Orange sophomore goalkeeper Hector Garrido made four saves. Orange’s backline of Eben Petrides, Dallas Johnson, Logan Edwards and Jay Parker kept the Bulldogs from tallying a game-tying goal amidst a driving rain onto the turf field in Burlington.

Orange will face Cedar Ridge in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby on Thursday night at Panther Soccer Field.

Cedar Ridge 8, Person 0: Sophomore Niko James had his first career hat trick as the Red Wolves won its Central Conference opener in Roxboro last Wednesday.

James, who leads the Red Wolves with seven goals, notched the game-winner as Cedar Ridge improved to 2-3-2 overall. James also had the game-winning goal in the Red Wolves other win on the season against Eno River Academy on September 3.

Freshman Alex Rosales added two goals. He now has three on the season. In a testament to the Red Wolves youth after losing rising senior Dominic McNerney at the last minute, all of Cedar Ridge’s goals were scored by freshmen or sophomores.

Freshman Rodrigo Arellano added his second varsity goal for the Red Wolves. Sophomore Andy Tarija had a goal and an assist. Sawyer Smith, a sophomore, added his first varsity goal. Senior Edwin Huerta, who also wrestles for the Red Wolves, had two assists. Noah Koehler had an assist, as did senior Salomon Hernandez.

Goalkeeper Erik Galunas earned the clean sheet.

Western Alamance 2, Orange 0: Orange tested itself against the very best that the Central Conference had to offer last week and stood toe-to-toe with them. On a night of close calls, Orange couldn’t find one to go its way as they fell to the defending Central Conference champions in its league opener.

Following a scoreless first half, the Warriors earned a penalty kick on a borderline call on the edge of the Orange box with 19:47 remaining in regulation. Noah Barnett opted to go straightaway against Orange goalkeeper Hector Garrido, who made the save. Barnett led the Warrior charge on the rebound and chested the ball into an empty net.

Orange appeared to tie the game with 15:50 remaining when Tapia got the ball in on the goal line, but Warriors goalkeeper Eamon Hipps trapped the ball on the chalk of the goal line.

McNerney, the transfer from Cedar Ridge, added an insurance goal with 12:57 remaining on a gorgeous lead pass from Franky Maya. McNerney now leads Western Alamance with eleven goals.

Not to be outdone, Garrido made another save on a penalty kick in the final minutes of the second half. Garrido, who started Orange men’s basketball season-opener last year, is in his first year as the Panthers starting goalkeeper.

MEBANE–The public address announcer inside Tal Jobe Gymnasium ripped off Michael Buffer and bellowed “Let’s get ready to rumble” to conclude pregame festivities for Orange vs. Eastern Alamance volleyball on Tuesday night.

Orange did most of the rumbling.

The Lady Panthers concluded the first half of its Central Conference schedule with a 3-0 sweep of the Eagles on scores of 25-11, 25-6 and 25-15. It was Orange’s (7-6, 5-1 in the Central Conference) sixth sweep of the year.

Junior Ava Wilkerson finished with 15 kills while outside hitter Aubrey Jordan came away with seven kills. Setter Katie Silcott finished with 27 assists, eleven digs and four kills.

Playing with blowing fans on both ends of the court, Orange didn’t leave any room for suspense early on. The roared out to a 6-1 lead after an ace from sophomore Addison Guentensberger and a kill from Milleka Purcell, who earned her first varsity start. After the Eagles got to within 7-5, Orange took control with an 8-1 run that started when Wilkerson slammed down a spike onto the light brown hardwood off an assist from Silcott. Mariah Poole delivered consecutive aces to put Orange ahead 15-6. Wilkerson had an unassisted kill on set point.

Wilkerson had eight kills in the second set, which started with Orange leading 13-2. It wouldn’t get any closer as Poole delivered two more aces. The Lady Panthers scored the final four points with Wilkerson scoring consecutive kills to close out the set.

Eastern Alamance’s Kayden Manning gave the Eagles its first lead of the night when she scored a block on the opening point of the third set. Orange would easily overcome that with a 7-1 run, which included an ace from Abby Silinski and a kill from Sawyer White. Orange led 16-13 before they closed out the match with nine consecutive points. Guentensberger served Orange out and White had back-to-back kills leading up to match point.

Orange will travel to Western Alamance for a crucial Central Conference match on Thursday night.

Cedar Ridge 3, Roxboro Community School 0: Cedar Ridge honored seniors Charlotte Lowry, Ellie Miller, Alleah Fredrick and Leah Pritchard before sweeping Roxboro Community School on Monday night. The Red Wolves won on scores of 25-19, 25-18 and 25-13 to improve to 9-3 overall.

Junior Ellamarie Perel finished with nine kills, while outside hitter Claire Hargett had eight kills and five digs. Setter Mia Marty finished with eleven digs, 18 assists and four aces.

With Hargett serving, Cedar Ridge scored eleven consecutive points in the opening set to take an 11-1 lead. Hargett had four aces in that run, while Perel had two kills assisted by Marty. Roxboro’s Delayna Welch had consecutive aces during a 5-0 Bulldog run, but Cedar Ridge reeled off seven straight points behind an ace from Miller and a block from Kayla Stoll. Cedar Ridge built its lead up to 23-14 and withstood a late charge by RCS, who got three aces from Welch. Perel scored set point off a feed from Marty.

Hargett had six kills in the second set, where the Red Wolves jumped out to a 5-2 lead. The Bulldogs came back to even the frame at 11-11 after two aces from Cecelia Fitzgerald. Marty delivered consecutive aces to start a 7-1 Red Wolf splurge. Hargett and Fredrick had kills to push the Red Wolves lead to 18-14. Marty scored back-to-back points, including an ace to make it 24-18. An attack by the Bulldogs went wide on set point.

The two teams split the opening ten points in the third set before Cedar Ridge went on a 6-0 run. Hargett scored a block, followed by consecutive aces by Miller that made it 11-5. Pritchard closed out the match with two aces.

Midway through the Central Conference slate, the Red Wolves are in first place at 6-0. They will host Person on Thursday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium.