PORTLAND — Match by match, the Thornton Academy volleyball team has improved, as the Trojans venture through their first season as a varsity program. On Tuesday night against Cheverus, that improvement was evident from one set to the next. But there is still a ways to go for the Trojans, who were swept 3-0 by the Stags at Cheverus High School, said TA coach Keith O’Leary.

The Trojans got service points from Hannah Maddix and Ashley Howe as they took a 4-2 lead in the first set. But by the next time Thornton won a service point ”“ by Maddix ”“ Cheverus had taken a 16-8 lead. The Trojans only won one more service point the rest of the set ”“ an ace by Mackenzie Foley ”“ as they dropped the set 25-15.

The Stags jumped out to leads of 7-1 and 10-3 in the second set before Thornton started matching points with Cheverus.

Senior Lauren Keskowsky was inserted into the Thornton rotation in the second set, and proved to be tough at the net, blocking the Stags on multiple occasions.

“Lauren ”¦ is a great blocker, a great hitter. And she brings a presence to the game; she brings height,” said Thornton senior captain Olivia Shaw. “She’s a great player, and I think she helped us in that second set.”

The Trojans got to within 21-16 in the set before Cheverus won the last four points ”“ including three-consecutive aces by Caroline Petitti to close out the set.

Thornton won the first point of the third set ”“ the lone time it did that in the match ”“ but Kaylee Burns sent her first serve into the net to tie the set 1-1. The two teams traded points early in the set, and the Trojans won two service points in a row for just the second time in the match, but the Stags reeled off six-straight points to take a 13-9 lead.

The teams traded single points before Thornton won four-straight ”“ the Trojans longest run of the match ”“ to tie the set at 14-14.

“That third set, everyone was like ”˜we can still do this.’ It’s a best three out of five, so there’s still a chance,” said Shaw. “We pushed for it, and it just didn’t happen for us tonight.”

Cheverus got on the cusp of completing the sweep when it took a 24-22 lead, but the Trojans fought back to make it 24-24. Burns made three digs to keep Thornton alive.

“It showed character of the girls. They’re a first-year team, and they could have given up, but I think the very end of that third set showed a lot of character, and where they should be every play,” O’Leary said.

The Trojans went ahead 26-25 with Howe serving, but couldn’t complete the rally, as Cheverus won three of the final four points to win the set 29-27.

“The last set was really fun. Everyone was involved ”“ we got a lot of people into the game that haven’t played in a while. They did a really awesome job,” said Shaw. “It didn’t go our way at the end, but we’re getting there.”

“It’s a good way to end. I’m not going to call it a moral victory, because we have pretty high expectations for ourselves, even in the first year,” said O’Leary. “It was definitely a learning experience, and it was good to see them finish tough.”

Thornton returns home on Wednesday, when the Trojans will face Cony at Linnell Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m.

— Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.