Prep Notebook: State playoffs in full swing across Vance, Granville County
Oct. 24—HENDERSON — As the high school football schedule enters the final week of the regular season, other sports across the surrounding area have begun postseason play with both the NCISAA and NCHSAA state playoffs.
Soccer and volleyball postseasons are in full swing as multiple local programs advanced to the next round over the weekend.
Soccer
After a 17-win regular season and a conference championship, Crossroads Christian extended its winning streak to nine games and advanced to the third round of the state playoffs on Friday.
The Colts cruised to a 7-2 victory over Cresset Christian Academy, their third win over the Eagles this season. Two first half goals gave them a cushion at the break, before netting 5 goals to continue their historic season.
Another home game awaits for Crossroads, who after earning a first round bye, find themselves in the NCISAA Final Four.
Two wins away from their first state championship in program history, the Colts will host Lee Christian (5-9-1) on Tuesday.
Volleyball
J.F. Webb clinched its first playoff victory since 2018 on Saturday, defeating Louisburg 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 25-27, 25-20) to take the season series over the Warriors.
Senior and outside hitter Courtney Williams dominated to keep her high school career alive, tallying 24 kills, 20 digs and 10 blocked shots.
Libero Chapman Burnette steadied the Warriors with 35 digs and 26 serves received, while Carly McGhee recorded a game-high 33 assists.
As the second round begins on Tuesday, J.F. Webb will hit the road, traveling to Princeton (18-7) at 6 p.m.
At the 1A level, both Oxford Prep and Vance Charter extended their seasons over the weekend.
A 3-0 sweep for the Griffins over Southeast Halifax has April Abbott's squad one step closer to replicating last year's playoff run.
Falls Lake (22-1) awaits on Tuesday with an 18-game winning streak on the line when Oxford Prep makes the trip to Creedmoor.
In Gaston, the Knights pulled off the upset over Weldon, taking down the Chargers in straight sets (25-18, 25-14, 25-5). As (28) Voyager Academy stunned Warren County on Saturday, Vance Charter will now host the second round of the state playoffs when the Vikings travel to Henderson on Tuesday.
As a historic season came to a close for the Warren County Eagles on Saturday, Crossroads Christian volleyball also suffered a loss in the postseason.
After a first round bye in the NCISAA playoffs, the Colts dropped a heartbreaker to Halifax Academy (18-25, 25-17, 25-13, 21-25, 14-16).
Fellow NCISAA member Kerr-Vance Academy dropped a state quarterfinal matchup to Pungo Academy (24-4) on Friday (12-15, 6-25, 14-25), ending their season after two playoff wins.
With three programs advancing in the postseason, a deep playoff run could still be in the cards for teams in Vance and Granville County.
