The Merrimack girls volleyball bench celebrates a big point during Monday's 3-2 win over Hollis Brookline at the 'Hawks' H.Dana Taylor Gym. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

MERRIMACK – Hollis Brookline High School girls volleyball coach Becky Balfour, whose Cavaliers have won their share of championships over the years, knows a good team when she sees one.

“That’s the best I’ve seen Merrimack play in a while,” she said. “They’re a good team.”

There you go. Yes, the Tomahawks are one of the best stories of the local fall season, mired in mediocrity or tough rebuilds for the last several years but now owners of a 10-3 record in Division I after their 3-2 win over Balfour’s Cavaliers on Monday at the H.Dana Taylor Gym.

If you ask Merrimack coach Tammy Lambrou, this is not a surprise. Lambrou said prior to the season that for the first time in a long time she had a tourney team, but this good?

“I did,” Lambrou said. “The respect for each other, for sure, the work ethic with these girls is unbelievable. They all have a role, they fit into their role very nicely and they play together, so I can’t ask for anything more.”

“This was a big night. Every game for us is a really big game for us right now, coming off of last season. For the last eight years, we haven’t been in the playoffs.”

That changes this fall, after the ‘Hawks last year finished below .500 but were very competitive, while Lambrou was away on personal leave. She’s back, and having eight seniors gives her program a big boost. The ‘Hawks last won the title in 2014.

When you think of what has sparked their current success, you’ll be reminded every time you drive past a 7-11. The ‘Hawks’ No. 7, Amelia Walker, was deadly from the outside with 18 kills while fellow senior hitter Rachel Flett was just as lethal with 21.

“Walker’s the kind of versatile player I can put her anywhere and when she gets on a run, she really turns it on,” Lambrou said. “Rachel same thing. One of my go-to kids. … They’re a great example for leadership for our kids moving up, which is nice.”

Flett’s serving got the ‘Hawks started in the decisive fifth set, which Merrimack won 15-10 after a start of 6-0, then 8-1. HB (8-3) came back, closing to 12-10, but after Flett had a kill to make it 14-10, Walker finished it with a big hit.

“I just think the girls are putting their all into every single game,” Walker said. “I’m just so proud of the way we’re playing as a team. The team dynamic is insane. We all love each other so much. … I think this (win) shows that we’re in it to win it, and we’re going to do a good job this year, I think.”

The match was close throughout. The ‘Hawks took the first set 25-21 before HB grabbed set 2, 25-22. Merrimack won the third set 25-19 but couldn’t close it in the fourth as the Cavs led 19-14 then hung on for a 25-23 win. Anika Carlson had 14 kills while Kate Berrigan had four kills, two aces. Lolly Adair added five kills and an ace while Maggie Noble was tough on serve five aces plus a kill.

Hollis Brookline’s Shelby Klaasens (10) goes up for the block against Merrimack’s Rachel Flett during Monday’s Division I match in Merriack. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Hollis Brookline’s Shelby Klaasens (10) goes up for the block against Merrimack’s Rachel Flett during Monday’s Division I match in Merrimack. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Besides the team-high in kills, Flett added a whopping nine aces plus five digs, while setter Noor Eldeib added 38 assists and Libero Sofia Victal had 11 digs.

“We went to five, really close,” Balfour said. “We kind of closed it, considering (in the fifth set). It’s OK. We’ve got a number of matches left. … They’ve got some really consistent hitting from 7 and 11.”

“They’re just resilient,” Lambrou said of her team taking control in the fifth set then holding the Cavs off. “We had this same situation last week, we had to go into a fifth set vs. Salem (a 3-2 loss). So we were there, we remember what it felt like, we just knew we just had to clean up our game.”

When Walker was set up nicely at match point, someone in the crowd yelled, “game over”. They were right. But for the ‘Hawks, they hope their good times have just begun.