The Union Pines Lady Viking tennis team defeated Burlington Williams 5-4 Tuesday in the district championship round of the state playoffs.

It is the first time since 2006 that Union Pines has made it past the second round of the NCHSAA 3A women’s dual team tennis playoffs. That season, the Vikes made it all the way to state finals by winning the East Region, before falling 5-1 to Hickory in the Championships match to finish as the 2006 3A state runner-up.

In Tuesday’s postseason tilt, everything came down to a tiebreaker in the No. 1 doubles match. With all other matches completed, Union Pines’ sophomore duo of Melissa Tally and Madi Kramer prevailed 7-3 in a tiebreaker to secure the match-winning point for the visiting Vikings.

After the match, Union Pines head coach John Frye said, “My girls played a quality opponent on the road and came away with a victory that we could not have won in September.

“Tally, Kramer and Virginia Priest would not be denied in singles giving us a split, and Tally-Kramer and Priest-Shannon Simpson came up big in doubles scoring the decisive points.”

Due to top-seeding priority, Union Pines will host Cardinal Gibbons in the Sectional Finals of the NCHSAA 3A dual team tennis state tournament next Tuesday (Nov. 1) at the John S. Frye Facility.

Cardinal Gibbons (18-8) is currently ranked third in the NCHSTA 3-A poll and defeated fifth ranked Nash Central 6-0 in the second round of the playoffs. The Lady Vikings improved to 17-1 on the season with their playoff victory against Burlington Williams in district finals, and are currently the eighth-ranked 3A team.

The third-round playoff match between the Lady Vikings and the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2 nd in Cameron.

Singles—Melissa Tally, UP d. Rosheny Edathil, BW 6-4, 1-6 (10-3); Sydney Brooks, BW d. Brittany Jones, UP 6-0, 6-3; Madi Kramer, UP d. Lucy Stadler, BW 6-2, 7-5; Mary Alice Cox, BW d. Laura Cameron, UP 6-4, 6-2; Virginia Priest, UP d. Sara Gurley, BW 6-4, 7-5 Lauren Adams, BW d. Shannon Simpson, UP 6-2, 6-0

Doubles—Tally-Kramer, UP d. Edathil-Jones, BW 11-10 (7-3); Stadler-Cox, BW d. Jones-Cameron, UP 10-2; Priest-Simpson, UP d. Gurley-Adams, BW 10-4