LA GRANGE — In their first-ever matchup according to MaxPreps, the North Lenoir Hawks displayed their playoff readiness by sweeping Clinton in straight sets, 25-16, 25-15, 25-20, in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A playoffs. The win improves North Lenoir’s record to an impressive 21-1 on the season.

“I am proud of them; they battled all year and came out today and played awesome,” said Head Coach Heather Carson following the game.

Dominant Team Performance

Lakyn Whitley led the offensive charge with 15 kills, 11 service points, and 5 digs. She was well supported by RiCayla Warren and Kaylee Kennedy who contributed 7 kills and 7 blocks, and 7 kills and 3 blocks, respectively.

“I think we did good, thanks to my teammates. I thought Alyssa did a great job setting me up,” Whitley noted.

Alyssa Hatcher indeed had a notable performance, racking up 9 service points, 1 ace, 4 digs, and a whopping 17 assists. Maya Lynch matched Hatcher with 17 assists and added 3 digs of her own.

“I thought I played good. Thanks to my team, they helped me out a lot,” said RiCayla Warren, summing up the team’s sentiments. Warren played huge at the net.

Room for Improvement

While the Hawks had a commanding win, Coach Carson believes there’s room for growth, especially in their court coverage. “We still have to work on our coverage; they are covering, but we still have some spots to work on. They are diving on the floor, so I am really proud of them,” Carson said.

What’s Next?

The Hawks move on to host the second-round matchup against the winner of the game between the #19 seed Bartlett Yancey and #6 Seaforth. With the form they’re showing, North Lenoir looks poised for a deep run in the playoffs.

For North Lenoir, the journey continues, and if their first-round performance is any indication, it’s going to be a thrilling ride.