The Union Pines girls’ tennis team earned a 9-0 sweep over the Overhills Jaguars Tuesday in Spring Lake.

With the 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference opener victory, the Lady Vikings improved to 3-0 on the season. Senior Laura Cameron had two wins in the league tilt to improve her career record to 78-17 and claim the 40th spot on Union Pines all-time victories list.

The squad is back on the court Monday at 4:30 p.m. in Cameron for its home opener against CFVC foe Gray’s Creek at the John S. Frye Tennis Facility.

Union Pines 9, Overhills 0

Singles — Mary Beth Jackson (UP) defeated Kat Caskey 10-1; Melissa Tally (UP) def. Brianna Lee 10-0; Cameron (UP) def. Katherine Bonesteel 10-0; Elena D’Argenio (UP) def. Cailin O’Kelley 10-0; Megan Smith (UP) def. Shelby Williams 10-0; Kailee Southworth (UP) def. Marianne Long 10-0.

Doubles — Jackson-Tally (UP) def. Caskey-Lee 8-1; Cameron-D’Argenio (UP) def. O’Kelley-Christen Pickel 8-1; Smith-Southworth (UP) def. Williams-Micaela Hickle 8-0.

O’Neal Falls in Soccer

The O’Neal boys’ soccer team suffered its first loss of the season Thursday when it dropped a 3-2 decision to Carolina Friends in Durham.

The Falcons took a 2-1 lead in the second half but Carolina Friends scored twice after that in taking the nonconference win. Carolina Friends improved to 5-0, while the Falcons fell to 3-1.

Falcon coach David Wood said his squad felt good about the fact that they went toe-to-toe with an very good, older and more experienced Carolina Friends in a game that could have easily gone either way.

Carolina Friends jumped out to a 1-0 first-half lead. Early in the half it looked like O’Neal was in control, Wood said, with several missed opportunities, including a header off a corner kick from junior Jack Johnston that bounced off the post.

But Friends got the first goal of the game when Nick McLeod powered through the O’Neal defenders to score, giving the home team the 1-0 halftime lead.

O’Neal came out in the second half and promptly put two scores up on the board to take the one-goal lead. J.R. Moore scored a goal in the first five minutes of the second half. Five minutes later Jacob Talbert gave O’Neal the lead by scoring off of a breakaway that was set up by a through ball from Rick Catania.

But Carolina Friends came roaring back. Isaac Dalsheimer had a laser of a shot off of a free kick to tie up the game at 2-2. Two minutes later, MacLeod scored for the second time, again using his strength to power through the O’Neal defense.

O’Neal plays a Cape Fear Independent Conference rematch against Cape Fear Academy, who the Falcons defeated last Friday for the first time since 2007, at home this coming Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Falcons Win in Volleyball

The O’Neal volleyball team defeated Carolina Friends School in Durham Thursday by a 3-1 score.

The undefeated Falcons (3-0 overall, 1-0 Cape Fear Independent Conference) bounced back from an opening game 25-23 loss to take the next three games by 26-24, 25-23 and 25-18 scores.

Outside player Katja Ehlers led the team with 16 kills and setter Scotti McGowan had 24 assists. Taylor Shelton had a total of five blocks.

Ehlers also led the team with four service aces, followed by Teresa Donner with three service aces. Libero Kelly Griffin led the team with 11 digs.

O’Neal travels to North Moore High School for a Monday contest before returning home on Tuesday to face Cape Fear Academy.