Pike Liberal Arts volleyball head coach Mendy Avant will take an ugly win over a pretty loss any day, but she doesn’t have to like it.

The Lady Patriots swept their was past Ft. Dale Academy Tuesday afternoon, claiming the match with wins of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-11.

Despite the clean sweep win, Avant said that the team still have quite a bit of work to do to be a successful team.

“The girls said that the game was kind of slow paced,” Avant said. “Well, slow paced or not, we have to step up our game from here out. We go to South Montgomery on Thursday, then play in the Eastwood tournament. There will be a ton of good teams there. We have to be ready everyday. We will see what we are made of on Saturday.”

Early on throughout each of the three sets, the Lady Patriots and Lady Eagles traded points and the lead.

However, each time Ft. Dale would attempt to pull away, Pike would respond with a rally big enough to get breathing room down the stretch.

Pike Liberal opened the season Monday afternoon with a four-set win over Glenwood.

Glenwood routed the Lady Pats 25-2 in the first set, before winning three straight.

“We can’t afford to keep getting behind and playing down to competition,” Avant said. “We have got to get some leadership out here and find some girls to step up. We are going to get out here tomorrow and get back to work at practice.”

Pike Liberal Arts travels to Ramer on Thursday to battle South Montgomery County Academy.

The Junior Varsity team will begin at 3:30 p.m., with the varsity match beginning soon after the conclusion of the JV game.