Union Pines’ sophomore Melissa Tally continued a season-long stretch of strong play Saturday at the Burlington Tennis Center finishing as the NCHSAA 3A Mid-East Regional runner-up.

Tally, who entered the event unseeded, became the second Lady Viking in the program's history to become a singles finalist in regional competition since Union Pines moved up to its current 3-A classification. (Neena Wanko, 2009 3A State singles champion, was the first Union Pines' player to accomplish the feat.)

In Saturday’s semifinals, Tally defeated Morehead’s Tori Huffman, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, in straight sets before falling 6-2, 6-0 in the championship match to top-seeded Masey DeMoss, from McMichael High.

Tally now has a career record of 64-8 as a Lady Viking. She will be back at the Burlington Tennis Center for opening round action in the 3A State Championships on Friday. The quarterfinals will also be held on Friday, while the semifinal and championship rounds will be contested on Saturday.