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He knows that, in time, the Warriors will get better. As they do, they'll start learning how to sustain a lead, something they struggled to do in their first competitions of the regular season.

The Warriors opened at the Pellston tournament, with coach Stremlow still on his way back from a trip to Egypt, and it was then that they showed a tendency to falter when in the lead.

After losing to Frankfort, 24-25 and 22-25, the Warriors defeated Mio-Au Sable, 25-18 and 25-12. Cheboygan beat them, 15-25 and 11-25. Forest Area also lost to Boyne City, 17- 25 and 10-25.

Kayla Helsel was 12- for-13 serving on the day, with nine digs. Chelsea Snyder had nine kills and 10 digs, Molly Lockwood was 20-of-22 serving with five aces and 11 digs. Kassie Magee finished 21-of-22 serving, Allison Garrett had 17 assists.

"It just felt like we never got in rythym as a team," assistant coach Susie Greter told Stremlow later. "We were feeling each other. We just have to relax more, and get back to playing normal ball.

"They looked pretty tight. But, for a lot of them, this was their first match. We're only returning two starters, and just four of the 12 varsity players have played before." Stremlow was back for the team's next competition, a quad at Pine River.

Have to learn to finish games

Forest Area split a pair of games with the host Bucks, 12-25 and 25-14. The Warriors also divided two games with Kalkaska, 20-25 and 25-23; lost two games to Traverse City Christian, 14-25 and 25- 27.

Helsel had another great day at the service line, finishing 25-of-25 serving, and she also had 22 assists and 10 digs. Kate Hodges was 18-of-19 serving, with nine digs.

Dani Orr contributed 10 kills and five blocks. Snyder pounded down seven aces, had 10 kills and 11 digs. Chelsee Strine had five kills. Lockwood and Magee both had outstanding floor games.

"Our girls played better than they did the first quad," coach Stremlow said. "We have to learn just to finish the games a little better. We had the lead in a couple of games that we lost, 22-25 and 25-27. "But, we started playing a little better, and moved a little better. Kalkaska and Traverse City Christian both returned five starters each." In a quad at Kingsley, the Warriors lost to Pellston 14-25 and 24-26 (squandering a 24-18 lead), beat Marion (23-25, 25-14 and 15-9) and lost to Kingsley 9-25 and 11-25).

Stremlow sees bright spots

Helsel was 22-of-23 serving, with 16 assists. Hodges had 14 digs. Snyder had 11 kills and 17 digs. Lockwood was 12-of-12 serving, with five kills and 10 digs. Mazie Johnson finished 18-of-18 serving, with three aces, five kills and 12 digs. Garrett went 7-of-7 serving, with 12 assists. Strine was 6-of-6 serving, with five kills and nine digs.

"We just have to bring some energy every night out," coach Stremlow said. "We're young, so we have to make sure that we bring our game every day. "But, I did see some bright spots that we're going to work on. We'll gradually get better."

The Warriors make their home debut tonight against JohannesburgLewiston with the junior varsity match at 6 p.m. The junior varsity is at Cadillac and the varsity goes to Manton for tournaments on Saturday.