And the Falcons know it.

"We're not the same dominant team we were last year and Panther Creek has more good players,” said senior Helen Wang. “But we still want to win another title.”

The Catamounts arrived at the Cary Tennis Park, Green Hope's home courts, matching the Falcons with an unbeaten conference records. In a lengthy Monday afternoon match that didn't finish until the lights were turned on, Green Hope eventually pulled out a 6-3 victory.

With the win the Falcons improved to 10-1 overall and 8-0 in the Tri-Nine, while the Catamounts dropped to 8-1 and 6-1. But the showdown was much closer than the final score indicates.

Despite Green Hope winning doubles 3-0 and taking a 4-2 lead after the first three singles matches concluded, Panther Creek pushed the Falcons to the brink. Green Hope only needed to win one of the three ongoing singles matches to clinch the victory, but the Catamounts were threatening to sweep all three of those matches.

In fact, Panther Creek senior Allie Nguyen won her match at No. 4 singles for a third team point, 6-2, 7-6.

At No. 5 singles, Panther Creek sophomore Marjorie Primm won the first set 7-5 and the second set was basically even with freshman Brantley Belk.

And at No. 2 singles, Wang, normally a steady player, won the the first set 6-3 before Panther Creek sophomore Katie Ryan rallied to overcome a 5-2 deficit and take a 6-5 lead in the second set.

"She stepped up her game and I got impatient,” Wang said.

But Wang, who says she feels a responsibility to lead the Falcons to another title as the team's only senior, settled down and pulled out a 7-6 second set win for the clinching fifth team point.

"This is my last year and I want to lead the team to a title,” Wang said. “I've been here the longest and I need to set an example for the younger players.”

Green Hope added the sixth team point when Primm had to retire with persistent leg cramps that caused lengthy delays. Belk, a freshman, was leading the second set 4-3 when the match was called.

The Falcons' other team point came from freshman Jurasia Horvat, who won at No. 4 singles, 6-0, 6-0.

Green Hope coach Beth Hedgepeth shuffled her lineup some, and the Falcons responded with a doubles sweep.

Wang and junior Audrey Channell, Amelia's twin sister, won at No. 1 doubles, 8-1; Horvat and Belk won at No. 2 doubles, 8-3; and Srinivas and sophomore Caroline Sigmon won at No. 3 doubles, 9-8 (8-6).

"Doubles is something we've always excelled in,” Wang said.

In addition to Nguyen, Panther Creek's other two team points came from Megan Smith at No. 1 singles and junior Brooke Namboodri at No. 6 singles. Smith won 6-4, 6-1 and Namboodri 6-1, 6-2.

Now the teams look ahead to a rematch Oct. 5 at Panther Creek that will likely decide either an outright title for Green Hope or a co-championship for Panther Creek with an upset.

"They're a tough team to play,” Smith said. “But we're not giving up. We're getting better as a team.”