The Union Pines cross country teams got off to a stellar start to open the regular season as both the Vikings boys and girls won a tri-school Cape Fear Valley Conference meet Wednesday in Cameron.

Each of the Vikings' first five runners placed in the top-10 at the meet to post a winning total of 23. Western Harnett placed second with 46, while Southern Lee (60) finished third.

Senior Joseph Morris won the race with a time of 19:15 and was followed by fellow Union Pines' seniors Trevor Morris (19:22) and Daniel Deardorff (19:43) who placed second and third. Storm Jessup finished seventh for the Vikings while Ryan Hull took tenth place.

Brittany Stevens claimed the top spot in the girls' race, leading Union Pines to a winning total of 19. The senior posted a time of 23:08, besting the second-place runner's time by one minute and forty-six seconds.

Union Pines claimed places four through seven in the event to secure the victory. Courtney Voss (27:28), also a senior, placed fourth followed by Laura Haulsee (27:45), Brianna Stengele (28:09) and Tyesha McLean (28:25)

Western Harnett finished in second with 36 points, while Southern Lee did not have enough runners to post a team score.

SCC Netters Win First Match

The Sandhills Community Colleg volleyball won its first match of the season Tuesday against Louisberg College in four games.

After dropping the first game 20-25, the Lady Flyers won the next three 25-19, 25-13 and 25-9.

Miranda Love registered 18 kills, nine service aces and 30 digs. Sarah Thomas had eight kills, nine service aces and 21 digs.

Paige Horne contributed eight service aces and 31 assists.

Alisha Ritter and Mandy Blair had nine and eight assists, respectively.

The Lady Flyers have a busy weekend on tap. They hosted Wake Technical Community College on Friday in their home opener and are scheduled to play a conference double-header against Wytheville Community College today.

O'Neal XC Hosts Meet

The O'Neal School cross country teams raced North Moore High School and Village Christian Academy on the Southern Pines reservoir Wednesday.

The Falcon boys team finished first with 34 points followed closely by North Moore with 37 points and Village Christian with 57.

The girls' team came in second with 38 points right behind Village Christian's leading 25 points and ahead of North Moore with 77.

First-time captains Austin Puleo, Alana Godbey and Teresa Berg helped propel the Falcons through their leadership, according to coach Josh Roberts.

Puleo and fellow junior Evan Davies paved the way for the guys, finishing first and second, respectively, with times of 19:07 and 21:23. Following close behind in fourth place was sophomore Ian Maynor (22:16). Eighth grader Josh Hager finished 13th( 24:58), just ahead of sophomore Maxwell Winter (14th, 25:01), to complete the O'Neal team score.

For the girls, Berg finished first at 25:34 with Godbey right on her heels for second at 25:37. In eighth place was sophomore Courtney Morrison (26:41). Rounding out the scoring were freshman Aleksandra Majka (15th, 30:44) and seventh-grader Hunter Atkinson (16th, 30:55).

O'Neal's next race is in Raeford at the Carolina Horse Park on Sept. 8 against Village Christian and other Cape Fear conference schools.

Viking Netters Lose

The Lady Viking volleyball team fell in four sets to Overhills in its Cape Fear Valley conference season opener Thursday in Spring Lake.

With the 25-18, 27-29, 21-25, 24-26 league loss, Union Pines (5-3) has now dropped three straight tilts after winning its first five contests.

The Vikes are back in action Tuesday as they travel to Gray's Creek for a conference match.

North Moore Tennis Wins

The North Moore girls tennis team defeated South Stanly Wednesday, improving its overall record to 2-4.

In singles competition Shannon Marley def. Shannon Gaines 6-1, 6-0; South Stanly's Lauren McCameron def. Camilla Cockman 6-2, 6-1; Maria Urquiza def. Ansley Smith 6-0, forfeit; Ciera McDonald def. Juda Efind 6-3, 6-2; Julie Williams def. Brittany Beck 6-1, 6-0; and April Warren def. Janna Murr 6-1, 6-1.

In doubles play, Cockman and Marley def. Gaines and Ashley Beck 8-0; South Stanley's McCameron and Efind def. Clarissa Gomez and Karina Renoyza 8-0; and Monica Ritter and Leslie Avilia def. Beck and Murr 8-6

North Moore travels to North Rowan on Wednesday.

O'Neal Volleyball Sweeps

The O'Neal varsity volleyball team defeated Flora Macdonald last night in three games.

The scores of the games were 25-11, 25-18, and 25-8. The girls played like a real team.

"They used good communication, played aggressive, and went for every ball," said coach Kendall Harper.

Jackie Chamberlain had 8 service aces and 7 digs, Claire Russell had 9 kills, and KellyAnn Miller had 21 assists.

Vike Kickers Fall

Harnett Central defeated Union Pines 9-0 in a nonconference soccer match Wednesday.

The visiting Vikings trailed 3-0 at intermission before allowing three early goals in the second half. From that point head coach Jeremiah Johnson began to clear the Union Pines bench.

With the loss, Union Pines is now 0-2-1 on the season. Next week the Vikings have two home matches as they face West Montgomery Tuesday at 7 p.m. before hosting Hoke County on Wednesday.

O'Neal Tennis Falls

On Tuesday, O'Neal's girls tennis team hosted Cape Fear Academy. The defending state champions had little trouble with the Lady Falcons, winning 9-0.

In singles competition Kristina Reinais def. Brianna Ek 6-0, 6-0; Susan Hyman def. Amelia Schirmer 6-0, 6-0; Adelyne Massey def. Victoria Scarpa 6-1, 6-1; Brooke Grafein def. Maggie Hakas 6-4, 2-0 (ret.); Taylor Brennan def. Mary Garner 6-2, 6-2; and Thai Varner defeated Greyson Keel 6-1, 6-3.

In doubles, Reinais and Hyman defeated Ek and Scarpa 8-1; Massey and Grafein defeated Schirmer and Garner 8-5; and Brennan and Emily Foster defeated Keel and Ally Hoehn-saric 8-3.

The Falcons were back in action Thursday at Cary Christian.