BY CHARLIE BERGMANN

Special to The Pilot

A Pinecrest volleyball team seeking career win No. 600 for its coach ran into a tough opponent in Jack Britt at James Moore Gym Thursday evening.

The Patriots gamely fought back from a 2-0 deficit before being knocked from the undefeated ranks by the Buccaneers 25-19, 25-12, 20-25 and 25-21. They take an 8-1 record into Tuesday's home match against Lee County.

"We'll try it again on Tuesday," Patriot coach Barbara Foxx, now in her 33rd season at Pinecrest said afterward. "This one or the next one, I know we're going to get it because we're a strong team."

Principal Joel County, athletic director Ernie Purnsley and James Moore, coach of two state -championship Patriot girls' basketball teams and the man the gym is named after, were among those -anticipating a milestone victory. The defending champions of the Mid South Conference had other ideas.

The Patriots were the sharper team at the start. A win at the net by Janea Williams gave them a 14-10 advantage before the Bucs took over. A set by Keegan Lynch for another kill by Williams tied the game at 18-18, but the visitors scored seven of the next eight points for the win.

The Bucs then scored 17 of the final 20 points in the second game against a discouraged Patriot squad to take the 2-0 lead.

"I think we were a little nervous," Patriot senior Addy George said. "It would have been Coach Foxx's 600th win. We wanted it and I think we underestimated Jack Britt.

"We made mistake after mistake. We all got down on ourselves and that's something we have to work on."

The Patriots rebounded, leading from start to finish in the third game. George, Williams and Felicia Painter dominated at the net as they took a 15-9 lead. With the Bucs trying to make a late rally, Lynch assisted on a kill by Uniqwa Morrison that made it 22-19.

The home team was -showing signs of extending the match to a 15-point tie-breaker when it took an 18-15 lead late in the fourth set. But a disputed call went against the Patriots after an apparent kill for the 19th point.

The Bucs then rallied to score the next seven. A smash by the Bucs' Michiko McIntyre closed out the match.

"Our team has that problem," Buccaneer coach Krista Marrara said about letting Pinecrest back into the match. "We think we have it in the bag and they show us different."

Marrara was aware of the countdown to 600 for the Patriot coach.

"We love playing Pinecrest," she said. "They have a great, great program and Coach Foxx is probably the best coach I've ever coached against. I'm sorry she didn't get her 600, but at the same time it's good for us."

George was credited with nine kills and 16 digs. Williams had eight kills and five blocks. Morrison contributed six kills, and Lynch accounted for 15 assists and five digs.

A calm as usual Foxx understood that her players might have been nervous because of the occasion.

"We've still got young players and we're making young mistakes in pressure situations," she said. "That happens when you're playing a strong team. I'm happy with us getting better each game."

The Patriots swept Lee County, their next opponent, on Wednesday in Sanford.

Jan Stanley, of West Henderson High School, is the state career leader in wins with 698.

The Pinecrest jayvee team defeated Jack Britt 25-13 and 25-18 in Thursday's first match to improve to 8-1 on the season.

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