Falcon’s Nest September 26th

Varsity Volleyball:  
O’Neal vs. Trinity Christian School: 3-0 (25-11, 25-11, 28-26), W 
The Falcons traveled to Fayetteville on Monday ready to compete and came out with a purpose. The team set the tone early, controlling the pace of play and keeping the first two sets consistent and efficient. Strong serving and quick offensive transitions kept Trinity on their heels, never allowing them to get into a rhythm. 
The third set told a slightly different story as a few too many Falcon errors gave Trinity a chance to build some momentum and close the gap. The Falcons regrouped, dialed up the intensity, and closed out the set in extra points — capped by a big kill from Kennedi Hamner to side out and an ace from Elli Hood to seal the victory. 

Hamner led the stat sheet with 10 kills and 5 aces, while Laura Shulze was just behind with 9 kills. Setter Lily Stanley distributed the ball beautifully, racking up 25 assists and keeping the offense balanced. Defensively, Myer Johnson anchored the back row with 7 digs, helping keep long rallies alive. It was a solid road win and a great test of composure to finish strong under pressure. 

O’Neal vs Fayetteville Academy: 3-0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-11), W 
Less than 24 hours later, the Falcons were back on their home court, and they came out firing. From the opening serve, they controlled every aspect of the match — from the service line to the net — and never let up. The serving game was on fire, as the team piled up an incredible 36 aces across three sets. 

Laura Shulze was nearly unstoppable behind the line, scoring 12 aces, while Jordin Reed added 8 of her own. On the attack, Elli Hood led the team with 8 kills, and Stanley ran the show with 17 assists, spreading the ball to keep the offense unpredictable. Because of the commanding lead the Falcons built, the coaching staff was able to rotate players in and give many athletes valuable court time. 

Defensively, there weren’t many tough swings to deal with thanks to the strong serving and net play, but Johnson still contributed 4 digs to keep the floor clean. It was a fun night to watch as lots of players stepped in ready to contribute and handle business with confidence.  

Varsity Boys Soccer: 
The O’Neal Falcons Boys Varsity Soccer Team endured a challenging week on the road, taking on back-to-back conference opponents in Grace Christian and Fayetteville Academy. Though the results went against them, the Falcons showed determination and resilience while competing against two strong sides. 

O’Neal vs. Grace Christian: 0-9, L 
With limited substitutions and legs still heavy from recent matches, the Falcons traveled to Sanford to face Grace Christian. From the start, the Crusaders applied pressure and took advantage of O’Neal’s fatigue. Despite the Falcons’ efforts to fight back and stay organized, Grace Christian proved too much, pulling away for a 9-0 victory. 

O’Neal vs. Fayetteville Academy: 0-6, L 
Two days later, the Falcons faced an even bigger challenge—an away matchup against Fayetteville Academy, the top-ranked team in the state. The Eagles showcased their quality in the opening half, striking for five goals despite O’Neal’s best defensive efforts. 

In the second half, however, the Falcons showed their pride and toughness. Goalkeeper Neelix McLaurin turned in a standout performance, making a series of impressive saves to frustrate the high-powered Eagles’ attack. He was aided by a disciplined defensive stand from Jack Habets and Joseph Lucas, who battled throughout the half to keep Fayetteville Academy at bay. Their collective effort limited the hosts to just a single second-half goal as O’Neal held firm to the end in a 6-0 defeat. 

While the scoreboard didn’t favor the Falcons this week, the second-half performance against Fayetteville Academy highlighted the team’s fight and defensive potential. With lessons learned from these tough contests, O’Neal will look to regroup and bounce back at home. 

The Falcons return to action on Tuesday, September 30, at 5:15 p.m. when they host Freedom Christian in their Senior Recognition match. 

Varsity Cross Country:  
The Falcons took on the Adidas XC Challenge, racing against fields of more than 200 athletes and holding their own in the big-race atmosphere. Highlights included Natalia Henderson and Haddie Habets working together throughout the girls’ race, showing the power of teammates pushing each other. On September 23rd, the Falcons returned to a familiar course for their third race in just eight days while also battling some ongoing sickness. Though times weren’t the fastest, the team showed grit by pushing through fatigue and challenges—gaining mental toughness that will pay off in the weeks ahead. 

 
Varsity Girls Tennis 
O’Neal vs. Seaforth: Final 2–7, L 
The Falcons continued their season on Thursday, September 18, welcoming a tough Seaforth squad to O’Neal’s home courts. Play began with doubles, where Seaforth’s sharp net play and quick returns proved difficult to beat. In singles, however, Sydney Davis delivered the match of the day — grinding through a marathon battle at Line 3 and coming out on top by moving her opponent side-to-side with relentless consistency. Vivienne Rhue also picked up a victory at Line 2, securing the win thanks to a Seaforth forfeit. 

O’Neal vs. Fayetteville Academy: Final 3–6, L 
Next up was the rematch against Fayetteville Academy on Tuesday 9/23, this time on home courts and highlighted by Senior Recognition Day. Before first serve, the Falcons celebrated senior captain Hannah Claire Nesbit, honoring her leadership and impact on the program. Energized by the moment, the Falcons fought hard in doubles, with all three pairs falling just short in heartbreaking 6–8 battles. Despite the high temperatures, O’Neal carried that fire into singles play. Sydney Davis, Beth Cordero, and Izzy Grotzke all came away with strong victories at Lines 3, 5, and 6 — clear signs of the team’s growth since the first meeting with Fayetteville. 

O’Neal vs. Carolina Friends: Final 3–6, L 
Closing out a grueling three-match week, on Wednesday 9/24 the Falcons hit the road to Durham to face Carolina Friends in blistering heat. Both teams agreed to play 8-game pro sets, which led to some quick but hard-fought contests. In doubles, Hannah Claire Nesbit and Sydney Davis nearly snatched a win at Line 1, falling just short in a nail-biting 7–9 finish. Singles play brought one of the best highlights of the season, as Hannah Claire powered through for an impressive 8–4 victory at Line 1 by neutralizing her opponent’s firepower and wearing her down with patient consistency. Joining her in the win column were Valentina Roberts and Izzy Grotzke, who each added hard-earned singles victories of their own. 

With the regular season winding down, the Falcons now set their sights on home matches against Cape Fear Christian Academy and Burlington Christian Academy. The team is eager to build momentum and carry it into the upcoming conference rounds. 

 
Varsity Girls Golf 
Maddie Leland and Olivia Garcia had a strong practice session on Monday 9/22 at Legacy Golf Links. They began by spending time on the practice range to fine-tune their swings and ball striking. Afterward, they shifted their focus to on-course drills, emphasizing short-game work to sharpen their skills around the greens. To close out the session, the girls played a few holes to put their practice into action in a real-game setting. Following this productive day of preparation, they are set to return to competitive play next Monday 9/29 at Gates Four Country Club. 

Contributed. Photo by Wendy Hodges.