CFNN Reporter: Nicolle Owens

The Cape Fear High School ladies’ tennis team is officially headed to conference! Adding another win to their undefeated season, the Lady Colts defeated Terry Sanford on Sept. 28. The team has continued to show strong performances throughout the season, and Cape Fear couldn’t be more proud of what the girls have accomplished so far.

Haylee Hall and Kennedy Hancock have officially gone undefeated in doubles during conference play. The two have been working hard together ever since they were paired up. Their chemistry, along with their strong mindsets, has helped them stay focused throughout their matches and prepare for every opponent they face. Their hard work and connection on the court have definitely started to show.

Hall, a four-year senior who plays on the second court, and Hancock, a first-year freshman who plays on the fourth court, shared their thoughts on the team’s latest win against Terry Sanford.

“Last time we played them, it was a super close match, so we knew that we had to go in super prepared and ready to go. We focused on hitting it over the net, ultimately taking the win,” said Hall.

“We walked into the game yesterday knowing we wanted to beat Terry Sanford again. We secured that when our third-court doubles finished and won. But that wasn’t the end for me and my doubles partner, Haylee. We had a long, hard-fought match and came out on top, 8–6. I was super proud of me and her in that match! Go Colts!” said Hancock.

Playing singles on the first court, Alyssa Fulghum did not have the strongest start to her match, but she refused to let that affect her mindset. Instead, she stayed confident and reminded herself that she was capable of coming back. Fulghum fought her way back after losing the first set and eventually earned an exciting 11–9 tiebreak victory.

Fulghum, a four-year senior who plays on the first court, talked about her comeback and what helped her stay confident throughout the match.

“I went into the Terry Sanford match confident in myself and knowing I could do it because I’ve beaten her before. I lost the first set 2–6, came back in the second 6–3, and ultimately won in a tiebreak, 11–9,” said Fulghum.

Also playing singles, Isabella Spruill faced a battle during the first set. She stayed locked in and kept a strong mindset, allowing her to pull out a 7–6 victory. The second set was a completely different story, as Spruill finished with a 6–0 win. After the match, Spruill spoke about how proud she was of herself for staying focused and fighting for every point.

“The first set was a battle, but I stayed locked in and pulled out the 7–6 tiebreak win. The second set was a whole different story, finishing it 6–0. I’m proud of how I stayed focused and fought for every point. It is definitely a match that I won’t forget. I’m proud to be undefeated and on an undefeated team,” said Spruill.

Morgan Odom, the team’s new coach, has been leading the girls throughout their successful season. With the team continuing to perform at a high level, Odom is hoping the Lady Colts can carry their momentum into the regional championship on Monday, Oct. 5.

“We are hoping to continue this strong performance into our regional qualifiers on Monday and excited to see when our dual-team bracket is released on Oct. 9,” said Odom.

The Lady Colts have worked hard all season, pushing through every match and supporting one another along the way. Now, they are ready to take the next step and compete in the conference, bringing the same determination, teamwork, and confidence that have helped them throughout the season. As they take the court, the girls will look to finish strong, represent Cape Fear proudly, and make the most of the opportunity they have earned