Union Pines Lady Vike senior Neena Wanko earned her second straight 3A Mid-East Regional Title Monday in Cameron.

On the way to winning the 2009 regional singles crown, Wanko ran her three-year Union Pines' career record to 103-4.

She defeated McMichael freshman Masey DeMoss 6-2, 6-3 in the championship match to capture the title and enter this weekend's individual 3A State Championships as a No. 1 seed.

Wanko, who was the runner-up in last year's state final, is a three-time Cape Fear Valley Conference singles champion and will be for a full scholarship player on the East Carolina University women's tennis team next fall.

In the opening two rounds of her successful title-defending run, Wanko used two shutout victories on Friday to advance to Saturday's regional semifinals, where she then notched a 6-1, 6-0 win to advance to the championship match, which was reschedlued for Monday afternoon due to heavy rain.

Wanko, along with the Union Pines freshmen doubles pair of Melissa Tally and Madison Kramer, will compete at the 3A Individual Women's Tennis Championships on Friday and Saturday at the Burlington Tennis Center.

However first Wanko and the Vikings have some pressing matters of business to deal with, in the form of a second round 3A dual team tennis playoff match Tuesday in Rocky Mount. Union Pines' opponent in the match will be the Lady Gryphons, who are 16-4 on the year and the top seed from the Big East Conference. Last year Rocky Mount upset the Lady Vikes by a 6-3 score in the opening round of the 3A dual team playoffs at Union Pines.

Contact F.W. Manning at (910) 639-5481 or by email at frankwm2@gmail.com