Charles Henderson head coach Jennifer Sikes saw plenty of improvement in her team despite losing to G.W. Long in straight sets on Tuesday.

The Trojans lost 11-25, 16-25, 17-25.

“I can tell you it’s going to be easier for me to go home and lay my head on my pillow tonight,” Sikes said. “Tonight they executed and they listened. They are starting to believe in themselves.”

With the loss the Trojans fall to 0-11 on the season and 0-1 in area play, but the Trojan coaching staff has faith that their team can begin to turn things around for area play.

“We believe in them. The coaches believe in them,” Sikes said. “When they get that first win, I think they are going to pick it up.”

Senior Lindsay Fox picked up three points on her serve, with two aces and six kills on the net. Mykyia Milton finished with four kills on the net along with Abigail Salmon who also had two kills. Sydney Watson finished with two blocks while Salmon had one.”

Sikes said the team is starting to overcome its communication challenges.

“The score shows it tonight,” Sikes said. “They did better on their communication tonight. They were talking, they were getting up on the bench and that is what they have to have.”

One thing that plagued the Trojans throughout the match was giving up large runs of points. In game one, the Trojans were even with the Generals at 5 until the Generals scored nine consecutive points.

“G.W. Long is a good team, but that is sort of our signature,” Sikes said. “That is what we are trying to get them out of. We play with them from point to point to point in all three games, and then it’s a roller coaster. They peak and then they drop. We have to get on an even keel. We have to keep that energy up and play hard for those 25 points.”

The Trojans will take the next couple days off and begin to prepare for a tournament at Carroll High School on Saturday.

“I am hoping I can get in there and do some drills that is going to make them communicate,” Sikes said. “That is the one place we are really lacking. If we do that I think going into area play we will get better.”

The Trojans will kick off the Carroll High School Tournament at 8:30 a.m.  Saturday.