The Union Pines volleyball squad swept Purnell Swett 3-0 in its season opener Monday in Pembroke.

“It was nice to finally get out and play a game,” said six-year Vike head coach Leslie Fish. “We are excited to start the season 1-0 and hope we can finish the week off at 3-0.”

The Vikings took the tilt 25-18, 25-19, 25-15.

Senior captain Crystal Hicks had 11 kills and four blocks on the day, while her sister, sophomore Tiffany Hicks, collected eight blocks and eight kills.

Morgan Bridgers led Union Pines with 35 assists and four aces, while fellow senior Anna Sadler had seven kills and four blocks.

Union Pines traveled within Moore County to play The O’Neal School Tuesday. The Vikings wrap up their first week of action Wednesday (today), on the road in Fayetteville against Terry Sanford at 6 p.m.

Mustangs Open With Win

North Moore opened its girls’ tennis season with a 7-2 win Monday over visiting Albemarle.

The Mustangs are scheduled to play Chatham Central at North Moore today. The match starts at 4 p.m.

North Moore 7, Albemarle 2

Singles — Shannon Marley defeated Mallory Folley 6-1, 6-3; Ciera McDonald (NM) defeated Maria Kamboures 6-3, 6-2; April Warren (NM) def. Karina Snikquer 6-1, 6-1; Julie Williams (NM) def. Madelyn Blalock 6-1, 6-0; Sara Comer (NM) def. Cassie Morgan 6-1, 6-1; Melanie Steward (NM) won by forfeit.

Doubles — Folley-Kamboures (A) def. Leslie Avila-Clarisa Gomez 8-4; Snikquer-Blalock (A) def. Melanie Stewart-Sabrina Garner 8-3; Kelly Morris-Anna Hagen (NM) won by forfeit.

O’Neal Wins Twice

The O’Neal volleyball team started the season with a bang.

The Falcons defeated Richmond Senior in a five-set scrimmage Monday to go on top of a three-set win over Kerr Vance Academy in its opener last Friday.

The Falcons and the Raiders traded wins in the first four sets — 25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 19-25 — before the Falcons collected the victory with a 15-12 triumph in the fifth set. O’Neal’s leaders were Katja Elhers and Claire Russell, both with four serving aces. Jackie Chamberlain put down 13 kills, Taylor Shelton added another eight kills and six blocks, while Kelly Griffin had nine digs.

In the 26-24, 25-14, 25-21 nonconference win over Kerr Vance, the Falcons were led by Kelly Griffin with nine digs, while Chamberlain with five kills and Maeve Bartiss with four kills led the way offensively. Russell had four service aces, while Ehlers contributed three.

The Falcons (1-0) were scheduled to play North Moore on Thursday.

Vike Girls’ Golf Gets Win

After starting last season on the brink, the Union Pines girls’ golf team opened its 2011 campaign with a victory Monday in a tri-school, nine-hole nonconference match in Sanford.

The Vikings’ winning total was 164. Lee County posted a 167 to place a close second, while Southern Lee tallied a 170.

“Although the scores were not where we want to get,” Vike head coach Raymond Groseclose said, “we are extremely pleased to be competitive with Lee County and Southern Lee. I was also pleased with the efforts of our other girls, who were not far behind in their scores.”

Match medalist Lindsay Dakin led Union Pines. The sophomore all-conference selection from last season finished with a score of 50.

Senior Mackenzie Koppenhofer and sophomore Channah Valkos both carded 57s for the Vikings

“I know our scores can improve,” Groseclose said, “but the big thing is to develop a winning attitude. It is important to think you are going to win.

“Hopefully we can build from here.”

Vike Netters Cruise

Union Pines picked up a 9-0 sweep on the road against Asheboro Monday in its girls’ tennis season-opener.

Melissa Tally (10-4), Madi Kramer (10-7), Brittany Jones (10-4), Virginia Priest (10-4), Elena D’Argenio (10-1) and Celine Bullock (10-5) all won as the Vikes claimed each of the six singles matches.

In doubles play, the Union Pines duos of Tally-Kramer (8-1), Jones-Priest (8-4), and D’Argenio-Maddie Walden (8-1) each earned victories to complete the overall 9-0 sweep.

Union Pines is 1-0 on the season and Asheboro is 0-1.

With two wins, Brittany Jones captured her 56th career victory to reach No. 51 on the Vike career-win list.

Union Pines travels to Scotland County today for another nonconference match.