NestedViewTemplate - first item not expanded

I am following the demo from this link http://demos.telerik.com/aspnet-ajax/grid/examples/hierarchy/nestedviewtemplate/defaultcs.aspx except I am working in a VS2010 visualWebPart project for Sharepoint2010.

Is there a way to have the same loadOnDemand functionality this demo provides but without the first item being expanded by default?
 protected void RadGrid1_PreRender(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if (!Page.IsPostBack)
            {
                RadGrid1.MasterTableView.Items[0].Expanded = true;
                RadGrid1.MasterTableView.Items[0].ChildItem.FindControl("InnerContainer").Visible = true;
            }
        }
If I remove "RadGrid1.MasterTableView.Items[0].Expanded = true;", I get the below javascript error
Sys.ArgumentUndefinedException: Value cannot be undefined.
Parameter name: type

I have been messing with this for awhile now and can only get it to work with that first item expanded.