The Norwalk boys golf team posted another solid early-season score and placed third in Tuesday’s Fort Dodge Invite. The Warrior volleyball team, meanwhile, played well in a season-opening three-set loss to Dowling Catholic.

BOYS GOLF

Ian Lux shot a 2-under-par round of 69 at the Fort Dodge Country Club, leading Norwalk to third place out of 16 teams. The Warriors shot a 291, trailing only first-place Dallas Center-Grimes with a 287 and Waukee Northwest’s 290. Norwalk ranks among the top five Class 4A teams in multiple scoring categories to start the season.

Lux placed third in the medalist standings at Fort Dodge, but his 69 tied Gavin Drake of DC-G and Blake Cronin of Northwest for the top score of the day. Lux fired a 3-under 32 on the front nine. Norwalk also counted Grady Sigrist’s round of 72, Mason Johnson’s 73 and Dayton Poen’s 77. Johnson shot a 33 on the front nine.

The Warriors play in their third tournament of the week on Thursday at Norwalk’s Legacy Golf Club.

VOLLEYBALL

The Class 4A 10th-ranked Norwalk volleyball team opened their season with a home game against 5A 2nd-ranked Dowling on Tuesday night. The Warriors were extremely competitive in sets one and three, but fell to the Maroons 22-25, 9-25, 21-25.

Norwalk head coach John Fulton tells KNIA Sports that it was a great learning experience for Norwalk to face a high-quality opponent such as Dowling. Fulton added that at least half of the Warriors players were seeing their first varsity action, and he was proud of the way that they settled in and competed.

Unofficial kill leaders for Norwalk were junior Ava Carlson and freshman Elle Hatlevig. Coach Fulton noted that Dakota Poen played a fantastic game in the back row, keeping plays alive and leading the team in digs.

The Warriors return to action for Thursday’s Southeast Polk Quad at 5:00 p.m. They will face the host Rams, Humboldt and 5A sixth-ranked Indianola.