The doors may not open until next week, but an inexperienced Pinecrest volleyball team was taken to school by Triton in Monday's season opener at James Moore Gymnasium.

The Patriot girls were defeated 25-14, 25-15, 25-27, 25-10 by a Hawk squad that has compiled a record of 54-4 over the past two seasons. Coach Barbara Foxx's Patriots were scheduled to travel to Western Harnett on Wednesday. They complete a busy first week with a 5:30 p.m. rivalry contest at Union Pines on Thursday.

With 580 career wins, and beginning her 31st season as the volleyball coach at Pinecrest, Foxx knows this year's team, that included two freshmen starters on Monday, will go through some growing pains.

"The positive is that the potential is there," the coach said afterward. "They just have to play and get used to each other. And it's my job to find the right combination. That's what I'm looking for right now."

Freshman Megan Thomas had a pair of assists and freshman Janea Williams a kill as the Patriots took a 5-3 first set lead against a Hawk squad that dominated the Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conference for eight years. But it was all Hawks from then until midway through the third game when the Patriots came to life.

Trailing 16-11, Kelly Lovely served for three points in a row and Williams had a win at the net as the Pats closed the gap to 16-15. Another kill by Williams and two smashes by junior Addy George put them in front 22-21.

A pair of tips by Triton star Lindsey Coats gave the visitors the lead at 24-23 and 25-24, but senior Paige Horne set up Williams for the two kills that gave the Patriots the 27-25 win. The Hawks then jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the one-sided fourth game.

"Janea is going to be good for us," Foxx said of the 6-foot-2 middle blocker. "She's doing real well at this point of the year. If she can continue to get better, we'll be strong."

Williams finished with six kills and five blocks. George led the home team with seven kills. Horne recorded eight assists and Thomas contributed seven. Lovely was the leader in service points with seven.

The Patriots hurt themselves throughout the match by committing numerous fouls at the net and letting balls fall in between them.

"We played a lot of new people and our communication isn't good," Foxx said. "They're a little timid right now and I expect that to get better. Right now we just have to play and play until we get it."

Triton also prevailed in the junior varsity match by scores of 25-12 and 25-17.