The Lady Warriors lost their first game of the season against Deep Creek High School.

Nansemond River High School’s girls’ volleyball team started its season off on the road Tuesday evening. It faced a Deep Creek team that defeated it 3-1. However, the score wasn’t indicative of the effort the Lady Warriors gave.

In the first set, the Lady Warriors were down 7-1. The Lady Warriors turned up their energy and rallied a comeback to take the set 26-24. Coach Nikka Gatling was satisfied with the effort the Lady Warriors showed in that first set.

“We started off so good,” she said. “We were talking and communicating, and they were all playing together.”

Communication fell apart in the second and third sets. They didn’t have the same intensity or steam that they showed in the first set.

Senior captain Ashira McClain knows her team is capable of more and vowed to do so in the next game. Gatling worked with her players Wednesday on keeping their intensity high throughout the game.

“I just want the girls to be confident in themselves,” Gatling said. “I believe in them, and I want them to do the same for themselves. I know they have it in them.”

The Lady Warriors don’t lack skill. However, they didn’t show the intangible things that consistently win games. High energy, effort and consistency don’t require skill. If the Lady Warriors tie all those things in along with their skill level as a team, a winning streak could be coming shortly.

Nansemond River faced Grassfield High School Thursday on the road. Gatling is excited and anxious to see how her team bounces back.