Inside the Falcons Nest - August 29
O'Neal Athletics
O'Neal student-athletes showcased resilience, growth and sportsmanship across multiple sports this week.
Varsity Girls Tennis
O'Neal vs. Burlington Christian Academy: Final 7-2, Win
The Falcons hit the road again on Thursday, August 28, to take on Burlington Christian Academy at the Ole Forest Racquet Club, competing on both clay and hard courts. The girls adjusted well to the clay and came away with five singles victories and two doubles wins.
At line 2 singles, Vivienne Rhue battled through a tight first set before pulling away in the second to secure a 7–5, 6–1 win. At line 4, Valentina Roberts played a strong match, winning convincingly 6–3, 6–0. In doubles, Beth Cordero and Sydney Davis continued to shine with aggressive net play and strong serving—Beth even recorded a few aces.
It was a strong week for the Falcons, with three straight practices, several challenge matches, and a road win to cap it off. The team now travels to Fayetteville Academy tomorrow, and the coaches are very proud of the energy and effort the girls continue to bring on match day.
Varsity Boys Soccer:
O’Neal vs. Northwood Temple 1-4, L
The Falcons Varsity Boys faced Northwood Temple on August 22 in a challenging matchup that took a tough turn in the first half when starting goalkeeper Murphy Stanton suffered a near season-ending injury while making a save. Despite this setback, the team showed determination and resilience, with other players stepping into key roles and competing hard throughout the match. While the final score favored Northwood Temple, the Falcons’ effort and perseverance were evident.
O’Neal vs Fayetteville Christian School 1-9, L
The team then faced Fayetteville Christian on Tuesday, falling against a strong and experienced FCS squad. Liam Enslin stepped into goal for the match, was a beast in goal all game, diving for everything and reacting with incredible quickness against a relentless offense. Without their head coach on site due to illness, the Falcons worked to maintain composure under challenging circumstances. Despite the score, the team is focused on growth beyond the scoreboard, emphasizing effort, resilience, and controlling the culture and energy of the program as the season continues.
O’Neal vs. Freedom Christian 0-1, L
The Falcons varsity boys faced Freedom Christian on the smallest and toughest field in the conference in a tightly contested matchup. The game was winnable, but the short field made it difficult to convert strong plays into goals. A late penalty kick narrowly got past Liam Enslin, resulting in a 0-1 loss, but he continued to prove himself as an incredible goalkeeper, diving for everything and showing fearless play throughout the match. Matt Davis was aggressive in all the best ways, consistently challenging the opposition and showing his athleticism, while Jack Habets anchored the team with strong leadership and communication, especially guiding the younger players on the field.
Varsity Volleyball:
O’Neal vs. Northwood Temple 2-3 (16-25, 25-23, 26-24, 17-25, 8-15), L
The Falcons battled in a tight five-set match against Northwood Temple, showing grit and determination throughout. The team relied on strong serving from Ellie Hood, who notched 7 aces, and consistent kills from Kennedi Hamner with 8 to keep the rallies competitive. Lily Stanley anchored the defense with 14 digs, forcing the Falcons to navigate several out-of-system balls. The match highlighted strong attacks from both outside hitters and middles, and the team continues to adjust rotations and experiment with right-side hitters in new positions.
O’Neal vs Fayetteville Christian School 1-3 (17-25, 26-24, 17-25, 19-25), L
In a hard-fought four-set match against Fayetteville Christian, the Falcons displayed energy and resilience while facing a fierce, experienced opponent. Lily Stanley led with 30 assists, while Myer Johnson contributed 24 digs to anchor the defense. Kennedi Hamner added 14 kills and 4 aces, and Ellie Hood reached double-digit kills with 10. Strong serving and attacks kept the Falcons competitive in each set, even as rotations and new positions continued to settle in. The captains noted that the team is on an incline, emphasizing that while the results aren’t yet reflected on the scoreboard, the squad is improving steadily and building toward their peak.
Varsity Cross Country:
The Falcon cross country team has been putting in the miles these past three weeks—long runs, time trials, and plenty of interval workouts. The early mornings and hard training sessions are already showing results, and the team’s excitement is building. With their season opener coming up this Tuesday, September 2nd, at Freedom Christian, the Falcons are more than ready to trade in practice miles for racing miles. Expect plenty of energy (and maybe a few pre-race jitters) as they finally get to put all that hard work to the test!
Contributed.
Photo by Wendy Hodges.
