Welcome to the comfort zone.

Coach Sandra Kazmierczak said her young Lady Hawks are finding their comfort zone in playing volleyball with each other, as was on full display during Thompson Falls’ 25-19, 25-19, 19-25, 26-24 win over the Loyola Breakers in Missoula Thursday.

“It’s a matter of playing a lot together, of getting familiar with each other," she said. "Of learning how people move and respond to the people next to each other. You get a sense of connection after a while.”

In other net action last week, the Hawks dropped a 5-18, 25-14, 25-15 decision to visiting Florence in their season opener in Thompson Falls Sept. 1. Now 1-1 in non-conference play, the Hawks open District 7B league action at Mission in Thompson Falls’ only match this week. The Hawks play Stillwater Christian in Kalispell Sept. 15.

Building their sense of net connection as they move ahead, Kazmierczak was quite pleased with her Lady Hawks in Missoula last week.

“They were fantastic games, we stayed focused throughout the match,” she said. “We fell behind by a lot in the third game but made it tough for Loyola in the end of that one, and then we edged them out in the fourth for the match.”

Kazmierczak said Addy Deal led the Hawks in Missoula with 20 kills, a stuff block, six aces and 13 digs, Jasmin Risch hit a team-high six aces and added three kills and two blocks, and Audrey Fairbank passed out 26 set assists, hit a kill and an ace.

Freshman hitter Shea Haas hit four kills, senior first-year player Aubrey Baxter added two kills, three stuff blocks and two aces, and sophomore libero Marley Robinson seven digs.

Against Florence, Deal clobbered 10 kills, Baxter added two blocks and a kill and Fairbank hit 11 set assists.

    LADY HAWK sophomore Audrey Fairbank hits a set shot in action against Florence in Thompson Falls Sept. 1. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)