The Demopolis Lady Tigers volleyball team got off to another slow start Thursday night, and fell to the Linden Patriots 3-1 (25-17, 25-12, 23-25, 25-21).

The Tigers and Patriots went back and forth for most of the first game before Linden pulled away late, winning 25-17.

In the second game, Linden took control early and never looked back, winning 25-12 and taking a commanding two games lead in the match.

In the third match, Demopolis fought back and made things tough on Linden with some taller players at the net. This helped the Lady Tigers to a close 25-23 win, to bring the match score to 2-1.

“In the third game, I had to put some taller players out there to try to mix things up,” said Blythe Smith, Demopolis High’s head coach.

In the fourth and final match, Linden jumped out to a big lead early, and it looked like that match would end with a lopsided final game, but the Tigers were able to fight their way back into it, and tied the game at 21 before the Patriots pulled away and won 25-21.

“We haven’t started well all season,” Smith said, “and I haven’t found good chemistry with six girls yet. Linden just worked harder today.”

For Linden, this marks the first win of the season, moving them to 1-2 on the young season. Teressa Bolden, the Patriots’ head coach, said she is proud of how her girls played.

“I am very proud of them tonight,” she said, “but we have got to learn to finish. We have let up too easy when we have a lead. We did a much better job tonight and I expect us to get better for our first area game next week.”

Demopolis is still winless this season at 0-3.

The Tigers host Thomasville on Monday, and the Patriots travel to Akron next Thursday.