A relaxed and recommitted Pinecrest volleyball team shook off a tough loss on Tuesday and swept Purnell Swett 25-18, 25-18 and 25-15 Thursday evening at James Moore Gym.

The Patriots improved to 6-2 in the Southeastern Conference and 19-5 overall while the Rams dropped to 3-5 and 9-7. Coach Barbara Foxx’s squad will be at home again on Tuesday for a Senior Night contest against Richmond Senior. It will also be Middle School and Breast Cancer Awareness Night.

Scotland County and Jack Britt have each defeated the Patriots twice this season. Tuesday’s sweep by the Scots in a conference match was a particularly bitter pill to swallow.

“We had a team talk,” senior outside hitter Uniqwa Morrison said after the win over the Rams. “We put everything in the box and shipped it out into the ocean. We got the positive into our hearts and played like we wanted to play like. After Scotland beat us like that, we said, ‘no more’.”

The Rams, coached by former Union Pines volleyball and basketball standout Corey Marks Deese, jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set. A smash by Morrison that fell just inside the end line gave the Patriots their first lead at 9-8. The last point of the 25-15 first game win came on a service ace by freshman Mollie Maples.

Morrison had three more kills in the second game that ended on a kill by Janea Williams.

“I actually got on top of the ball,” Morrison said of her early hitting success. “I actually got it in my mind that I could hit the ball and put it down.”

Maples served for five points in a row as the Pats jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the final set. Addy George had four of her team-high 11 kills, helping stretch the advantage to 10-1.

“When we played Purnell Swett the last time it took us five games,” Foxx said after recording career win No. 610. “I think we were really relaxed tonight so the passes went to the target easier and better.

“Our attackers are sometimes on and off and Addy is on most of the time. Our key is to make sure we’re passing the ball well. When we play the tough teams everybody has to come to play.”

Williams finished with nine kills and Morrison had five. Callie Boone was the assist leader with 15. Megan Thomas contributed five assists to go with as many digs.

People are encouraged to wear something pink to Tuesday’s conference match against Richmond in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Donations to the cause will be welcomed. It all gets started with the jayvee match against the Raiders at 5 p.m.

The Pinecrest jayvee team (6-2, 19-3) dropped their first game to Purnell Swett on Thursday, and trailed 14-13 in the second, before rallying for a 23-25, 25-17 and 25-11 victory.

Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@nc.rr.com.