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Hosting a first-round match in the NCHSAA 1A state playoffs, No. 9 West seed Draughn did enough at the net and at the service line in the final frame to preserve a straight-sets victory over No. 24 West seed Eastern Randolph on Tuesday, winning 25-11, 25-19, 25-22.

The win advances Draughn to Thursday’s second round as DHS will travel to face No. 8 West seed Union Academy in Monroe.

After outside hitters Bailey Mozeley (11 kills) and Lyrical Edwards (nine kills) helped Draughn take care of business in the first two sets, middle blocker Kylie Corpening (six blocks) and libero Macy Auton (six aces) were two of the heavy lifters to help finish things off in the third set.

Corpening, a 6-2 sophomore, made three big plays at the net early in the set and found a gap in the Eastern Randolph defense to score the match point.

“It was really amazing to have the opportunity to play with everybody, to be able to be big at the net and do what my team needs me to do and (my coaches) need me to do,� Corpening said. “I think I’ve improved a lot (since the start of the season). My team has taught me a lot, (head coach) Triniti (Lambert) has taught me a lot and (assistant coach) Kelsey (McGuire) has taught me a lot. Even my parents have taught me a lot. I think I’ve improved a lot at the net, being able to serve better and everything else.

“Even though they can’t teach me my height, I know I’m able to work with it. They can teach me so many different ways to work with my height. They’re the reason I’m able to have good balance now and be bigger at the net.�

Auton had three straight aces early in the third set to push Draughn ahead 5-3, then had another pair of consecutive aces later in the set to put the hosts ahead 18-15. Edwards also had two aces in the final set as Draughn proved its prowess at the service line.

“It feels great,� Auton said. “I love it whenever my teammates cheer for me when I’m in that big run like that. The main thing is that if you miss a point or something, you’ve just got to keep your head up and let your teammates bring you up. Just go back there, don’t listen to the crowd and do what you need to do.

“Service does bring in a lot of momentum for the team. It really hypes up the team. If you miss a serve, it gives the other team a free point and drops the level down. Serves are very important, and I’m glad I could be a big part of lifting up my team.�

After Draughn won the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference championship in Lambert’s first season at the helm, the former DHS player was thrilled to get her first postseason victory as a head coach.

“We needed a win like that and a win in three (sets) because it really gets our girls’ confidence up,� Lambert said. “They’re capable of winning any game in three, but it’s just doing it. I have really talked to them about being excited when you play and doing it for the love of the game. I feel like that’s what contributed to that three-set win.

“We focus on not just relying on two people or one position. We talked, ‘This is the game. You need to run plays. You need to try other things. Our serves need to be aggressive.’ Everything we did is exactly what we’ve been working on in practice for the past couple weeks. I’m very excited. This is what we’ve been planning for since the beginning, but we have to take it one game at a time. So, I’m trying not to get too excited and look ahead, but also have the confidence that we’re starting down that road.�

In addition to Mozeley (three aces) and Edwards (four aces), the Draughn offense was led by Ava Aldridge (three kills), Corpening (two kills), Ella Anthony (two kills), Bella Whitson (two kills), Allyson Auton (ace, 17 assists), Ashlyn Heavner (four assists) and Macy Auton (assist).

Corpening was complemented on defense by Edwards (two blocks, reception), Mozeley (block), Whitson (block), Macy Auton (14 receptions), Mozeley (two receptions), Heavner (reception) and Braylen Clontz (reception).

Union Academy (14-9) defeated No. 25 West seed Bradford Prep (7-14) in five sets in the first round on Tuesday. The Lady Cardinals finished second in the Yadkin Valley 1A/2A Conference this fall.

Draughn visited Union Academy in the third round of the postseason in 2022 with the Lady Cardinals winning 3-0 on their way to a 1A state championship.

Pine Lake Prep 3, Patton 0

The No. 21 West seed Lady Panthers (16-8) saw their season come to a close with a straight-sets loss to the No. 12 West seed Lady Pride (20-4) in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs on the road in Mooresville on Tuesday.

Pine Lake Prep advances to the second round on Thursday to visit No. 5 West seed East Surry (20-4), which defeated No. 28 West seed Mount Pleasant (9-14) in four sets in the first round on Tuesday.