Draughn volleyball edges Patton in playoff thriller
Ninth-seeded Draughn (24-10) did it again, defeating eighth-seeded Patton (19-6) for the fourth time in 2026 in the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association girls volleyball 3A state playoffs on Tuesday in Morganton.Â
The Lady Wildcats outlasted the Lady Panthers in five sets, and scores were 25-21, 26-24, 21-25, 27-29, and 15-11.
OTHER PLAYOFF RESULTS
Prior to beating Patton — which received a bye in the opening round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3A state playoffs — Draughn previously earned a three-set home win (25-21, 25-12, 25-23) over 24th-seeded Madison in its playoff opener on Oct. 17.Â
In other postseason action, 1A No. 13 seed NCSSM-Morganton defeated 20th-seeded Winston-Salem Prep in five sets at home on Oct. 17 before hitting the road and being swept by fourth-seeded Revolution Academy on Tuesday, 4A No. 22 seed East Burke fell in straight sets at 11th-seeded Brevard on Oct. 17, and 6A No. 20 seed Freedom lost in four sets at 13th-seeded Scotland on Oct. 17.
The Lady Dragons posted an 8-9 record this season, while the Lady Cavaliers were 7-17 and the Lady Patriots were 8-16.Â
Draughn’s Ashlyn Heavner (left) sets the ball for teammate Kylie Corpening during the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association girls volleyball 3A state playoffs on Tuesday at Patton. The ninth-seeded Lady Wildcats (24-10) outlasted the eighth-seeded Lady Panthers (19-6) in five sets — scores were 25-21, 26-24, 21-25, 27-29, and 15-11 — as they notched their 10th win in a row and defeated Patton for the fourth time this fall to earn a spot in Round 3. Draughn visited top-seeded North Stanly (27-5) late Thursday, with the winner playing again today (Saturday, Oct. 24) in a fourth-round contest.
- LISA PRICE photos / THE PAPER
Draughn’s Lillian Collins (right) goes up against Patton’s Kynzlee Worley at the net on Tuesday in Morganton. Collins finished with 19 kills, nine digs, seven aces, and three assists in the match, while other statistical leaders for the Lady Wildcats included Ashlyn Heavner (47 assists, 17 digs, six kills), Macy Auton (25 digs, five assists, two aces), Braylen Clontz (18 digs, seven aces), Kylie Corpening (12 kills, four blocks), Bella Whitson (nine kills, three blocks, three digs), Ava Kurtz (nine digs), Kalia Randall (eight kills, three blocks, three digs), and Alyssa Vasser (five kills, two digs).
- LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
Draughn’s Olivia Miller (center) gets ready to send a shot over the net as teammates Ashlyn Heavner (left) and Bella Whitson (right) look on during Tuesday’s match at Patton. Miller recorded three digs and two kills in the Lady Wildcats’ five-set victory.
- LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
Patton’s Hannah Huggins (center) attempts a bump during Tuesday’s matchup with Draughn in Morganton. Huggins was one of the Lady Panthers’ top performers with 16 kills, 13 digs, four assists, and two blocks, with other standouts for the hosts including Soraya Hartman (19 digs, 18 kills, 18 assists, three aces, two blocks), Reagan Hatfield (17 assists, six digs), Hayden Carlson (16 digs, three aces, two assists), Lila Hudson (nine digs, six kills, two blocks), Jolann Buff (eight digs), Kynzlee Worley (seven kills, five blocks), Leah Clark (six digs), Mera Woodlee (five digs, two assists), and Hayden Hein (three kills, three digs). Woodlee (left) and Buff (right) are pictured with Huggins in this photo.
- LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
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Draughn’s Ashlyn Heavner (left) sets the ball for teammate Kylie Corpening during the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association girls volleyball 3A state playoffs on Tuesday at Patton. The ninth-seeded Lady Wildcats (24-10) outlasted the eighth-seeded Lady Panthers (19-6) in five sets — scores were 25-21, 26-24, 21-25, 27-29, and 15-11 — as they notched their 10th win in a row and defeated Patton for the fourth time this fall to earn a spot in Round 3. Draughn visited top-seeded North Stanly (27-5) late Thursday, with the winner playing again today (Saturday, Oct. 24) in a fourth-round contest.
- LISA PRICE photos / THE PAPER
Draughn’s Lillian Collins (right) goes up against Patton’s Kynzlee Worley at the net on Tuesday in Morganton. Collins finished with 19 kills, nine digs, seven aces, and three assists in the match, while other statistical leaders for the Lady Wildcats included Ashlyn Heavner (47 assists, 17 digs, six kills), Macy Auton (25 digs, five assists, two aces), Braylen Clontz (18 digs, seven aces), Kylie Corpening (12 kills, four blocks), Bella Whitson (nine kills, three blocks, three digs), Ava Kurtz (nine digs), Kalia Randall (eight kills, three blocks, three digs), and Alyssa Vasser (five kills, two digs).
- LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
Draughn’s Olivia Miller (center) gets ready to send a shot over the net as teammates Ashlyn Heavner (left) and Bella Whitson (right) look on during Tuesday’s match at Patton. Miller recorded three digs and two kills in the Lady Wildcats’ five-set victory.
- LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
Patton’s Hannah Huggins (center) attempts a bump during Tuesday’s matchup with Draughn in Morganton. Huggins was one of the Lady Panthers’ top performers with 16 kills, 13 digs, four assists, and two blocks, with other standouts for the hosts including Soraya Hartman (19 digs, 18 kills, 18 assists, three aces, two blocks), Reagan Hatfield (17 assists, six digs), Hayden Carlson (16 digs, three aces, two assists), Lila Hudson (nine digs, six kills, two blocks), Jolann Buff (eight digs), Kynzlee Worley (seven kills, five blocks), Leah Clark (six digs), Mera Woodlee (five digs, two assists), and Hayden Hein (three kills, three digs). Woodlee (left) and Buff (right) are pictured with Huggins in this photo.
- LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
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