Eagles move into NCISAA playoffs in multiple sports

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Oct 17, 2023 | Cape Fear Christian Academy

Volleyball seniors, from left, are Madeline Brocious, Ella John Dupree and Perri Caroline Ennis. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)

Cape Fear Christian Academy is preparing to enter the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 1-A playoffs in boys soccer, girls tennis and volleyball.

The Eagles open play in the soccer bracket at Lee Christian on Friday at 4 p.m. CFCA hosts the Thursday winner between North Hills Christian of Salisbury and Kerr-Vance in volleyball on Saturday at 1 p.m. Girls tennis will be home to take on the Kerr-Vance-Oakwood winner on Tuesday, October 24.

Boys soccer

CFCA (5-7) is the defending state champion in soccer although only four players return from the 2022 team. One of the returners is sophomore Caden Scarborough, who has 19 goals. New addition Zeke Brock, a basketball standout, has three goals and six assists. Brock’s fellow senior, Jakson Cullen, is also playing for the first season as goalie.

Scarborough, Brock and Cullen were voted all-league in the Mid-Carolina Conference. Scarborough was joined by senior defender Wyatt Medlin on the MCC all-tournament team.

The Eagles are coming off a pair of one-goal setbacks — 5-4 at Lee in the completion of a suspended match and 1-0 at Crossroads in the MCC tournament semifinals. CFCA is the No. 5 seed in the NCISAA playoffs and Lee is No. 4. The winner advances to a match at top-seeded Crossroads.

Volleyball

The Eagles (16-6) are the No. 4 seed in the playoffs and will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of a Senior Night loss to Cresset in the MCC semifinals on Thursday.

CFCA sophomore Bailey Dorman, the MCC Player of the Year, leads the team in kills (272), hitting percentage (21.2), serving aces (90) and digs (517).

Dorman was joined on the all-conference team by Larah Tripp, the team leader in blocks with 89.

Lily Gotlibowski is the team leader in assists with 374.

Girls tennis

CFCA (9-1) is the No. 2 seed in the state tournament. The only team to beat the Eagles this season, Ridgecroft (9-1), is the No. 1 seed.

The Eagles were runner-up to Oakwood in the state final last year at Faith Christian in Rocky Mount.

If CFCA wins next week, it will advance to the state championship again in Rocky Mount, this time at North Carolina Wesleyan.

The lineup for Coach Page Jackson in a 5-4 win over Fayetteville Christian to end the regular season included Ella John Dupree at No. 1, Karson Hamilton at No. 2, Savannah Autry at No. 3, Lily Kate Dupree at No. 4, Ella Buts at No. 5 and Courtney Butts at No. 6.

Ella John Dupree and Hamilton combined in the top doubles, Autry and Lily Kate Dupree teamed at No. 2 and the Butts sisters played No. 3.