Behind shutout matches recorded by Maggie Hakas, EG Landry, and Kennon Later, the O’Neal girls’ tennis team topped Harrell’s Christian Academy 7-2 Tuesday in home league action.

With the victory, O’Neal improved to 8-3 on the year. Falcon No. 1 seed Greyson Keel continued to boost her state match resume with a 10-3 victory over hard-hitting Ashley Kersey, while O’Neal second-seed Maggie Hakas defeated Allison Cottle in a match that saw Hakas deliver several aces.

The No. 3 match was won by O’Neal’s Emma Gentry Landry, who defeated Keri Graham by a 10-0 tally. Falcon No. 4 Kennon Later — playing a higher seed for an injured Sophia Renner — defeated Madison Phillips 10-0, and O’Neal fifth seed Dana Averbook topped Elizabeth Hood 10-4 to give the homestanding Falcons’s a 5-0 lead and clinch the overall dual-team victory.

With a 5-1 lead through singles action, O’Neal took two of the three doubles matches. “After a long fall break, I’m really proud our girls came out to play some focused tennis,” said O’Neal coach Carl Byan. “Greyson continues to build a solid resume for qualifying for the state playoffs, and the work that she and EG are doing in the No. 1 doubles seed is to be commended Their communication skills are improving with each match.

“Senior Maggie Hakas continues to improve upon an impressive cadre of serves, and with all of the movement in doubles with different partners, she is really a coach on the court with her teammates. The girls have a really special season going on if they remain focused on the team concept. However, they face some very solid tennis teams down this final stretch of the season.”

The Falcons traveled to Durham Thursday to take on Carolina Friend. They return to Southern Pines today for nonconference action against Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill.

The O’Neal School 7 Harrell’s Academy 2

Singles — Keel (ON) d. Kersey 10-3; Hakas (ON) d. Cottle 10-1; Landry (ON) d. Graham 10-0; Later (ON) d. Phillips 10-0; Averbook (ON) d. Hood 10-4; M. Stroud (HC) d. McGuirt 10-8.

Double — Keel-Landry (ON) d. Kersey/Cottle 8-1; Hakas-Coore d. Graham-Phillips 8-3; Hood/Stroud (HC) d. K.Salloum/A. Salloum 8-1.