Tournaments begin!

Although some teams would appear to be a little more legitimate than others at this late stage, tournaments at the end of hard-fought regular seasons represent a chance for new beginnings, an opportunity for every team to finally prove their championship mettle.

Hoping to avoid any surprises, Thompson Falls Lady Hawk coach Sandra Kazmierczak will guide her team into the District 7B tournament this week as the conference's No. 1 seed. The tournament will open with Troy playing at Mission Tuesday evening, with the winner advancing on to play the Hawks in a tournament semifinal at Thompson Falls Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

No. 3 Bigfork will play at No. 2 Eureka in the other semifinal Thursday. With the higher seeds hosting, the championship and consolation matches will be played Friday at 5:30 p.m. All four remaining 7B teams will then advance on to the Western B divisional tournament in Anaconda November 5-7.

Kazmierczak is hoping her girls continue to have fun while also continuing to play great volleyball. The Hawks swept through the 7B conference schedule without a loss this fall, wrapping up regular season play with a 25-9, 25-9, 25-3 win over Troy in Thompson Falls Thursday and a four-set road win over Bigfork Saturday.

"We have improved during the season but everyone else has too," she said. "We want to keep improving, to stay upbeat and excited because that is when we are at our best, when we are relaxed and having fun."

Thompson Falls looked like a team of happy Hawks in the easy win over Troy.

Scarlette Schwindt slammed 11 kills, hit 11 assists and ripped four service aces to lead the Hawks, Jody Detlaff floored 10 kills and a block, Riley Wilson hit 10 assists, Cheyla Irvine rifled in seven aces and hit three digs, and Ariana Wood had four digs.

Leah Clay and Elaine Folkerts had five digs each for Troy, Folkerts had an assist, Kiersten McCully hit two kills and Jaylee Leighty an ace.

Details from the Lady Hawks' win over Bigfork Saturday were not available.