The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots volleyball team may have gotten swept by the Morgan Academy Senators, but they showed plenty of improvements since the last meeting with the Senators.

After falling in the first game 25-13, the Patriots fell in the next two by a total of 5 points at 26-24 and 25-22.

“They have come so far since the last time we played Morgan,” said head coach Mallory Floyd. “They worked hard, they worked hard as a team. They moved and they got into coverage. It was the small things that got us, but I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

After a lopsided opening game, the Patriots (3-2) came out firing in game number two. They jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with Mary Ramage on the serve. The Senators were able to catch up to the Patriots and even the score at eight a piece. The two teams battled back and forth until the Patriots earned game point at 24-21. The Senators scored five straight points to steal the game away from the Patriots.

“(Our players) moved their feet,” Floyd said. “They worked together so well. They are talking and they are communicating.”

The Patriots found themselves on the opposite end in game number three. The Senators found themselves with match point at 24-19 when the Patriots scored three points to cut the deficit down to two at 24-22. After a late Morgan timeout, the Senators put the game away.

The Patriots will be back in action today when they travel to Eufaula to take on Lakeside.