The Pinecrest volleyball team made a strong bid to take undefeated Scotland High to a fifth set for the first time on Tuesday at James Moore Gym before falling 16-25, 25-18, 19-25 and 24-26.

The Scots had lost only one other set this season. The Patriots dropped to 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference and 16-5 overall, while the visitors improved to 7-0 and 17-0.

Four of junior outside hitter Caroline Pridgen’s 28 kills accounted for the final Scot points in the decisive fourth set. The Patriots’ Felicia Painter and Amber Goodwin finished with 14 kills apiece.

Swept in their first meeting in Laurinburg, it appeared the Patriots were in for more of the same when they fell behind 16-4 in the first set. Trading points early in the second, Ashleigh Welton began a serving run of four points with an ace to put the Patriots in front 19-12, a lead they maintained to win the set.

A serving run of five points by Kaitlynn Pace helped bring the Patriots from behind to take an 11-9 lead in the third set, but the Scots retook command with a long run of their own. Led by the attacks of Teborah Hollingsworth, the Scots appeared to be in cruise control with a 21-15 lead in the fourth game when the Patriots made their move.

With Callie Boone at the serving line, the Patriots scored seven points in a row to take a 22-21 lead. Goodwin had three kills in a row during the rally before a finish by Welton put the Pats in front. That’s when the Scots took over, setting up Pridgen for the four late kills.

Patriot coach Barbara Foxx felt her team went away from the game plan in terms of where they directed their serves and attacks.

“We hung in there, but hanging in there wasn’t want I wanted,” she said. “I was playing to win. Overall, we played a lot better than we played them the last time.”

Megan Thomas and Boone had 14 and 12 assists, respectively, for the Patriots. Carina Houseman has joined Keyasa Martin on the Patriot injury list. Molly Maples (knee), and Janea Williams (shoulder), who will both miss the entire season because of surgeries, were spectators. Williams, who had surgery on her left shoulder about 10 weeks ago, expects to be able to resume full activities in time for the basketball season.

The Patriots were scheduled to travel to Lee County for a non-league match on Wednesday before hitting the road again on Thursday for a conference match at Purnell Swett. They are in the driver’s seat to grab the second seed in the conference tournament that is about two weeks away.

“We want to do that,” Foxx said, “but more than anything we want to make sure we’re playing better. Our objective is to play a little better each game.”