CFA wins unprecedented fifth straight girls tennis state title

Photos courtesy of Cape Fear Academy

Dynasty. 

No other words are needed to describe the Cape Fear Academy girls tennis team. 

The top-seeded Hurricanes claimed their fifth consecutive NCISAA 3A state title with a 5-1 victory over No. 3 Carolina Day School on Saturday afternoon at N.C. Wesleyan. 

It was a perfect way for the six seniors – Gunnie Beacham, Taylor Garriott, Olivia Hollingsworth, Piper Otero, Libby Wells and Alex Zakszeski – to end their careers. 

“They are really great girls who come from great families,” McGrath said. “I’ve gotten to be close friends with their parents, so we’re all just like one big family. I will always be there for them, and they know that.”

Beacham, Garriott, Hollingsworth and Zakszeski were members of all five teams. Over that stretch, the Hurricanes had an overall record of 81-10. 

On Saturday, CFA (16-2) jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a dominant 8-1 performance at No. 3 doubles from Hollingsworth and Ava Mason. 

Carolina Day School evened the score with an 8-5 win at No. 2, but Garriott and Rynley Elvington battled back from a 5-1 deficit at No. 1 for a thrilling 8-6 victory. 

The bottom three players in the singles lineup – Beacham (No. 4), Hollingsworth (No. 5) and Claire Furmidge (No. 6) secured the final three points. 

Furmidge didn’t drop a game in either set to increase the lead to 3-1. Beacham had a score of 6-0, 6-2 to set the stage for Hollingsworth, who prevailed 6-2, 6-1 to set off a huge celebration. 

“A great thing about tennis is it doesn’t matter where in the lineup you are playing because every point counts exactly the same,” McGrath said. “Each player is valued equally, even if you aren’t necessarily getting the limelight from being at the top of the lineup.”

No other girls team in school history has won five consecutive state titles. It was the 10th overall for the program.