FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope Lady Pirates improved to 3-0 in 6A Area 3 volleyball with a sweep over visiting Foley Tuesday.

The Lady Lions fought hard in games one and three to avoid the shutout, but Fairhope rallied to close the match in three straight games 25-17, 25-8, 25-19.

Rachel Cooper led the Pirates at the net with 7 kills and 6 blocks as Fairhope teammates Briege Donahue (3 blocks) and Kali Martin (5 digs) added 6 kills each and Melissa Rew 6 blocks up front while Courtney Ellis assisted on 20 points and scored 6 kills for Fairhope.

Foley's Brittney Davis had 13 kills and 3 blocks, Natasha Johnson added 10 kills, Emily Robertson had 4 blocks, Kelsey Cassebaum had 3 blocks and Vanessa Dilley set for 23 assists while scoring 7 kills, 3 digs and 2 blocks for the Lions.

Still looking for their first area win, Foley coach Brooke Powell said her team was working to improve and playing hard to win every point, not giving up.

“Our passing is much better along with our hitting. Both were a lot better today,” she said. “Everything was up. Intensity level was up. If we can get our defense together and keep passing and hitting and playing better offense, we can win. We had more kills today than ever, so — and that's against a good team — so, that's a good thing, I think.”

Fairhope head coach Melissa Plash is pleased to be in the area lead at the halfway point in the season.

“It’s a good thing, to be 3-0, but we hope it carries over into the second half. All of those (area) wins were at home. Now we have to prove ourselves on the road. We have to use the momentum positively to continue to keep pushing, playing hard as a team.”

Both teams are playing in the battle of Spanish Fort tournament this weekend at SFHS which concludes Saturday afternoon.