For the second time in three years, the Norwalk volleyball team has qualified for the Class 4A State Tournament in Coralville. The sixth-ranked Warriors led for 95 percent of the match and answered every Ballard challenge on Tuesday night, sweeping the 14th-ranked Bombers in a 4A regional final. Norwalk won on its home floor by scores of 25-19, 25-20, 25-16, improving to 29-11 and breaking last year’s school record for wins in a season.
Norwalk head coach John Fulton tells KNIA Sports that he’s proud of his team and loves the adrenaline rush that comes with qualifying for state. “I’m so happy for our girls,” he said. “It’s always the goal at the beginning of the season to play this game on your home floor. The girls worked hard all season to get this moment, and then when it came they didn’t let it go. Just happy for our girls, and to have this opportunity to take these pictures on our home court. I said we can stay as long as we want because we won’t shut the lights off.”
Playing in the program’s fifth straight regional final, the Warriors were focused and business-like on Tuesday. Their largest run was five consecutive points in set three, but they always seemed in control. Sophomore outside hitter Elle Hatlevig finished all three sets with a kill and led the team, unofficially, with 15. Junior Delaynee Steele, meanwhile, was unstoppable from the right side, racking up 12 of her 14 kills in sets one and two. Senior middle Jillian Hammond saved her best for last, spiking seven of her 11 total kills in the third.
Coach Fulton liked how junior setter Hadley Michael was able to distribute the ball to multiple hitters. He also credited the Warriors’ aggressive serving for keeping Ballard out of system for much of the night.
Norwalk will face a familiar foe in the first round of the Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament on Monday, November 3. The Warriors’ quarterfinal opponent is Little Hawkeye Conference rival Pella. The third-ranked Dutch are 31-10 overall and defeated Norwalk 3-0 in their conference match early this season. Monday’s match is scheduled for a 6:25 p.m. start at Coralville’s Xtream Arena.