Patton tennis opens season with win over EB

After back-to-back winless seasons, the Patton girls tennis team collected seven wins last fall under first-year head coach Ryan Hyde, including the program’s first-ever dual-team state playoff victory.

The Lady Panthers (1-0, 1-0 Western Piedmont 3A/4A Conf.) were also victorious in their 2026 debut, defeating host East Burke (0-2, 0-1 WPC) by a 7-2 score on Wednesday as they won four singles matches and swept the three doubles contests.

In singles action, Patton’s No. 1 Kinley Acord (8-0), No. 2 Coley Berry (8-3), No. 5 Madi Norman (8-5), and No. 6 Charlotte Wilson (8-4) emerged triumphant, while Acord/Coley Berry (8-1) won at No. 1 doubles, Mahi Shah/London Berry (9-7) won at No. 2 doubles, and Norman/Wilson (8-2) won at No. 3 doubles.

The Lady Cavaliers’ winners were Sarabeth Bradley (8-3) and Ava Garrison (9-8, 11-9 tiebreaker) at No. 3 and 4 singles, respectively.

EB previously lost by a 7-1 score at nonconference Bandys on Monday, with Thea Gilbert (8-2) nabbing the Lady Cavs’ lone victory on the No. 6 singles line.

In other recent action, Draughn (1-1, 1-0 WPC) suffered a 7-2 nonconference loss at South Caldwell on Aug. 13 before bouncing back with a 9-0 win at R-S Central in both teams’ league opener on Wednesday.

Makenzie Powell (2-6, 6-4, 10-8) at No. 5 singles and Roselyn Siong/Ryan Watson (8-6) at No. 3 doubles were the Lady Wildcats’ winners last week, while their sweep on Wednesday included the following victories: 8-2 from Maddy Hudson at No. 1 singles, 8-3 from Reagan Webb at No. 2 singles, 8-0 from Mati Kincaid at No. 3 singles, 8-0 from Siong at No. 4 singles, 8-3 from Powell at No. 5 singles, 8-1 from Watson at No. 6 singles, 8-2 from Hudson/Mati Kincaid at No. 1 doubles, 9-7 from Webb/Powell at No. 2 doubles, and 8-1 from Siong/Watson at No. 3 doubles.

Patton hosts Draughn on Aug. 24, while EB is at Hibriten the same day and Freedom and NCSSM-Morganton begin their seasons on Aug. 25 at Watauga and Owen, respectively.

BOYS SOCCER

Patriots blank EB; Patton, Draughn also nab wins

Freedom (1-2) earned its first victory of the season on Wednesday at East Burke (0-2-1), winning the match by a 6-0 final thanks to goals from Angel Gonzalez, Luzvin Ramirez, Dennis Mendez-Garcia, Bryan Lopez Agustin, Edwin Rodriguez, and Kevin Mejia.

Goalkeeper Elias Chavez recorded a shutout in goal for the Patriots, who previously lost to Patton twice — 4-0 on Aug. 13 at Patton, 1-0 on Monday at Freedom — although individual statistics were unavailable from the teams’ second meeting.

During last week’s victory, the Panthers received a goal and two assists from Samuel Quinonez, a goal apiece from Trevin Lavoie, Jacoby Bonkowske, and Noah Krogel, and an assist apiece from Brian Jacobo and Francisco Ailon Rodriguez.

Patton then dropped to 2-2 on the season following Wednesday’s 3-1 loss at Watauga. Individual stats were unavailable.

And Draughn (1-2) sandwiched a 2-1 road win over North Wilkes on Monday between a 3-2 loss at Bandys on Aug. 13 and a 10-1 loss at Lincolnton on Wednesday, getting a goal apiece from Sawyer Bollinger and Jacob Powell, an assist from Talen Denton, and 14 saves from keeper Ethan Joyner in the win.

The Wildcats also received a goal and an assist from Bryan Castanon-Yoc, a goal from Bollinger, and an assist from Abdiel Gonzalez against Bandys to go with a goal from Christian Ugalde and an assist from Bollinger in their most recent contest.

EB traveled to Bandys late Thursday, while the following matches are scheduled for Aug. 24: Freedom at Lincolnton, NCSSM-Morganton at Patton, and Bandys at Draughn.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Lady Patriots earn back-to-back wins; Draughn snaps 3-match skid

Following a four-set home loss (12-25, 25-23, 17-25, 21-25) to Hibriten on Aug. 13 that represented its third defeat in a row to begin the season, Freedom moved to 2-3 thanks to a four-set home win (25-10, 18-25, 25-10, 25-19) over East Burke on Monday and a home sweep (25-11, 25-13, 25-15) of West Caldwell on Tuesday.

The Lady Patriots didn’t report individual stats from any of their matches, while the Lady Cavaliers (0-3) were led on Monday by Sarah Angel (22 digs, two aces, two assists), Braleigh Carswell (14 assists, five kills, four digs, two blocks), Ava Bivens (eight kills, three digs), Amanda McLean (six digs, five blocks, four kills), Frankie Gwyn (four kills, three digs), Aubry Smith (four assists), Madi Clay (three blocks, three digs), and Emerie Setzer (three blocks, two kills).

Finally, Draughn (2-3) ended a three-match losing streak — which included a three-set loss (18-25, 26-28, 17-25) at South Caldwell on Aug. 13 and a four-set home defeat (25-20, 15-25, 23-25, 23-25) at the hands of Foard on Monday — with a road sweep (25-20, 25-16, 25-20) of Lincolnton on Wednesday, although individual stats were unavailable from the latter contest.

Macy Auton (13 digs, four aces), Lillian Collins (10 digs, eight kills), Braylen Clontz (10 digs), Shelby Proffitt (nine assists, five digs, two aces), Ashlyn Heavner (five digs), Kylie Corpening (four kills, four aces), Bella Whitson (four kills, three aces), and Hayden Moss (four kills) were among the Lady Wildcats’ statistical leaders last week, while Monday’s top performers included Auton (27 digs, four assists), Proffitt (22 assists, 13 digs, three aces, two kills), Collins (15 kills, nine digs), Heavner (13 assists, nine digs), Clontz (10 digs), Olivia Miller (seven kills, four digs), Corpening (five kills), Whitson (four kills, three blocks), Moss (three kills), and Madelyn Radabaugh (three digs, two kills).

Thursday’s late contests saw Freedom visit Hibriten, East Burke host Hickory-based University Christian, and Patton visit South Caldwell, while Draughn hosts R-S Central and NCSSM-Morganton travels to Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy on Aug. 25.