The Union Pines Vikings volleyball team dropped its first match of the of the year in a five-set battle atop the Cape Fear Valley Conference standings versus Western Harnett, Tuesday at Bob Ward Gymnasium in Cameron.

With the 17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 21-25 and 6-15 loss, Union Pines moved to 11-1 overall and 4-1 in CFVC play – locked in a three-way tie for first in the league standings with Western Harnett and Overhills.

After dropping Tuesday’s opening set, the Vikings grabbed momentum with defensive play up the middle and in the back and heavy hitting in the middle to take sets two and three.

The Vikes held leads of 19-15 and 20-16 in set four only to see the visiting Eagles close with a fury by scoring 10 of the final 12 points and force the fifth and deciding set.

Today the Vikings venture out of conference, traveling to Southern Pines for a cross-county clash with the Pinecrest Patriots (10-2) at 7 p.m.