MONROE — Mount Airy’s Lady Bears volleyball squad will be hosting a state playoff game for the first time in many years Tuesday after beating Central Academy 3-0 in the first round of playoffs.

“We went in and played real good. We started out strong,” said Coach Kim Lyons in a phone interview on the three-hour bus ride home Saturday evening. “You never know what you’re going to get when you go into a playoff game.”

In the first set of the match, the Bears dropped Central Academy 25-16, but the Monroe players fought back and gave the Bears a run for their money in the second set with Mount Airy coming out on top 26-24.

The third set the Bears took the win with a score of 25-20.

“We pulled together and played as a team,” said Lyons, who noted that this is the first time in six years the Lady Bears have won in the first round of the state playoffs to advance. “We were really excited.”

In a surprise upset, first seeded West Montgomery fell to the Community of Davidson School, which is a wildcard team, meaning Mount Airy will host Tuesday’s match against Community of Davidson School in the second round of play.

“This is the first time we’ve hosted in I don’t know how long, because when we won six years ago, we traveled,” Lyons said. “This is a big thing for the girls, and I’m really proud of them pulling together.”

In Saturday’s match, Dana Brown led in serving with 16-for-19 and seven aces, while Taylor Dollyhigh had 9-for-9, Jasmine Varney had 9-for-10 with two aces and Charlie Hiatt had 9-for-10 with one ace.

At the net, Kathryn Beasley led with 12 kills, and Dollyhigh added five kills to the team tally.

Varney had three blocks. Brown had nine assists, and Tessa Rodgers had 12 assists.

Lyons said she has not looked at the brackets to see who the team would play if it wins Tuesday’s match. But the third round of the state playoffs is scheduled for Thursday. “We’ve got to take care of business Tuesday first,” she said.

The second round match will begin at 6 p.m. at Mount Airy High School Tuesday.

Reach Wendy Byerly Wood at wbyerly-wood@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1923.