The record heading into Wednesday’s scheduled finale against Brookfield is perfect, and Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team members have been pleased with how well things have gone despite the mandate to wear a mask during match play due to the coronavirus.

Not a bad season at all for the Nighthawks, especially considering only a little more than a month ago they did not even know if the campaign would be allowed, even after outdoor sports were given the go-ahead following a wait-and-see process they went through as well.

“I’m pleasantly surprised we’ve been competing considering the masks and stuff,” player Maggie McInerney said. “We play hard in practice with them so in the games it’s even better.”

Wearing masks throughout practices and matches was a bit challenging at first since the teammates are accustomed to being around each other so much, Keyera Smith added.

“I feel like we’ve gotten used to it and transitioned really well,” Smith said. “We trust each other which makes it easier.”

Easier to stay focused on the task at hand, which is to develop in practice and win matches. Despite the success, and really only being pushed by Pomperaug of Southbury in a five-setter, the Nighthawks are never content.

“Once we get a lead we tend to get a little lenient and confident,” said McInerney, adding that the Hawks can improve on keeping up their momentum and closing out matches as they look to continue winning ways in the South-West Conference North Division playoffs this month.

“They’re improving — they’re getting better,” Coach Tom Czaplinski said. “We want to get better every game. That’s our main objective, to get better for next year.”

The Nighthawks, on October 28, took care of visiting New Milford for their eighth three-set sweep in ten matches, winning by scores of 25-12, 25-10, 25-14. McInerney had three aces and a trio of digs; Smith added three digs and two kills; Sarah Nowacki compiled six kills and five digs; Delia Clouden had six kills; Grace Miller logged two digs and four kills; and Kate Petersen added three kills.

Newtown won yet another 3-0 decision, beating visiting Abbott Tech of Danbury 25-10, 25-13, 25-18 on November 2. Nowacki tallied a trio of aces and seven kills; Amanda Colonel had four digs; Grace Miller and Maddie Patrick both had two aces and four kills, and Miller came up with three digs; Petersen had three aces and two kills; Smith had five aces and two kills; Arden Hildenbrand and Hana Kodzodziku each had a trio of aces; Chloe O’Connell tallied a pair of aces and two digs; and Zosia Teraszkiewicz had an ace and two digs.