After losing the first two singles matches, the O'Neal varsity tennis team rallied past Fayetteville Academy, 7-2 on Thursday.

O'Neal's Brianna Ek lost 6-2, 6-3 to Laura Hatcher. Falcon Katie Jenkins lost 6-4, 6-0 to Jessica Morales. O'Neal (6-3, 5-2 CFIC) won the rest of the matches.

Mary Garner won 6-1, 6-1 over Kristen McConnell, Virginia Scarpa defeated Christian Summer 6-1, 6-2, Amelia Schirmer defeated Gilean Manning 6-0, 6-0 and Jenny Lam won over Haley Bigler 6-0, 6-0. In doubles Ek and Jenkins turned the tables on Hatcher and Morales 8-3, Garner and Schirmer beat McConnell and Summer 8-4 and Virginia and Victoria Scarpa beat Manning and Maggie Daniels 8-0.

PHS Volleyball Earns Second Seed in Conference Tourney

The Pinecrest volleyball team wrapped up the second seed from the Mid-Southeastern Conference by defeating Jack Britt 25-17, 25-23 and 25-19 at home on Thursday.

With two conference matches remaining, the Patriots, 10-2 in the conference and 15-5 overall are expecting to entertain Wilmington Ashley, the third seed from the Mideastern Conference, next Thursday at 6 p.m.

Against the Buccaneers, the Patriots were only pressed hard in the middle game. Trailing 7-2, they scored 11 of the next 13 points to take a 13-9 lead. With the Bucs rallying, an Ashley Sweeting kill made it 24-21. Moments later the Pats got the final point on a close out-of-bounds call near the net.

An emphatic slam by Addy George at the net ended the third game.

The Patriots two conference losses have been to undefeated Scotland County.

Thursday's playoff match will also be Senior Night.

Raiders Down PHS Jayvees

Pinecrest went into Thursday's junior varsity football game looking for its second win in a row over undefeated Richmond Senior.

The Patriots scored a pair of second quarter touchdowns to tie the score at 14-all. But the visitors responded with 31 unanswered points and took home a 45-20 victory.

The Raiders opened up a 14-0 advantage on a 54-yard touchdown run by Walter Ellerbe and a 35-yard fumble return for a score by L.J. Stroman.

The Patriots (4-2, 1-2) made it 14-8 after a 25-yard touchdown run by Damion Pride and the conversion run by quarterback Kyle Ocheltree. After a stop by the defense, the Patriots tied the game on a 30-yard scamper by Raphael Alston.

The Raiders (6-0) scored twice in the final three minutes of the half, the back-breaker coming on an 18-yard pass from quarterback Laron Ellerbe to John Rich as time expired.

Falcons Handle Fayetteville Academy

The O'Neal varsity volleyball team defeated Fayetteville Academy last night 3-1, with scores of 25-20, 18-25, 25-16, 25-20.

For the victors, Jackie Woodyear had 15 kills, Ellen Cowherd had 41 assists, and Meri-Liz Faulkner had 15 digs.

The Falcons (13-5, 5-3) host Fayetteville Christian at 5 p.m. Oct. 14.l