Pike Liberal Arts volleyball team hasn’t had a deep senior class in some time. Last year, the squad graduated just one player just as they did the year before. This season, the Patriots are leaning on a pair of senior to lead them to past the regional tournament and into state.

Josie Free and Lexi Pigott have helped lead Pike to a 9-3 record and a ninth ranking in the Alabama Sports Writers Association AISA poll.

“Our goal (at the beginning of the season) was to make it back to the regional tournament and then to state,” Free said. “As seniors, we try to lead the team and have good attitudes. When someone gets down, it’s our job to pick them up.”

Pigott echoed Free, but feels she accomplishes that in a unique way. While most athletes try to keep a seriousness about them, Pigott uses laughter as a way to pick her teammates up.

“I’m always cracking a joke with Grace (Capps),” Pigott said with a smile. “If she messes up, she seems down on herself, so I’ll say something to make her laugh. Everyone messes up sometimes.”

The Patriots knocked off Hooper at home on Tuesday 25-23, 25-10, and 25-18. The win comes a day removed from a disappointing loss to Macon-East.

While Pike has three matches left on its schedule, the seniors are already looking forward to the postseason.

“I think we have the team to win it all,” Free said.

The junior varsity Patriots had an exciting moment on Tuesday as they won their first match of the season over Hooper, 25-13, 25-16.