The Pike Patriots volleyball team lost in straight sets to the Northside Methodist Knights on Monday.

The Patriots losing 23-25, 27-25, 25-15 in what was one of their more competitive matches of the year.

“I saw more heart than I have seen in a long time,” said Patriots head coach Jacqui Wynn. “They are starting to figure out the team. They put it together in the second. They are starting to understand that you have to trust the one standing next to you.”

The Patriots began the first game trailing by as many as nine points. They were able to even the score at 20 before the Knights earned four of the next five points to secure the win.

In game two, the Patriots once again found themselves down early and had to fight their way back into the match. After evening the score at 13, the Knights regained the lead until the Patriots once again evened the score 22. The Patriots held match point at 25-24, but the Knights secured the win when they rattled off three straight points.

The Patriots had their best start of the match in game three. They led by five points early, prompting the Generals to take a timeout. The Knights were able to even the score at 7 and then went on to score seven out of the next eight points to take control of what would be the final set.

After working heavily on their rotation, Wynn is starting to see payoffs.

“We worked hard on our rotation so they knew where to go,” Wynn said. “They are getting there.”

The Patriots are still in search of their first win.

“At the beginning they were very high in confidence, then they dropped off a little after a loss,” Wynn said. “They are starting to see that it is coming back. They have to find that will to finish. We can get there and almost get it done then we drop off a little bit, and we get a little scared.”

The head to Selma to take on Morgan Academy Tuesday afternoon beginning at 4 p.m. beginning with the junior varsity.