The Norwalk volleyball team competed in a power-packed Ankeny Centennial Tournament on Saturday, finishing with a 3-3 record and placing 10th out of 16 teams. The Class 4A 10th-ranked Warriors lost to Sioux City East in the consolation bracket final by scores of 27-29, 24-26, one of many tightly-contested matches on the day.

Norwalk coach John Fulton tells KNIA Sports that the Warriors “battled for every single point (in) one of the best tournaments as far as strength of teams until probably the state tournament.” Class 1A top-ranked Ankeny Christian managed to win the tournament, which included 12 of the top 14 rated teams in Class 5A.

Norwalk went 1-2 in pool play, with both losses vs. top-ranked teams. They lost to 5A No. 1 Pleasant Valley 24-26, 13-21 and Ankeny Christian 15-21, 13-21, then beat 5A No. 11 West Des Moines Valley 21-14, 21-18. The Warriors won a pair of three-setters in bracket play prior to their loss against Sioux City East. They outlasted 5A No. 13 Bettendorf 26-28, 25-21, 15-13 and rallied past 2A No. 6 Dike-New Hartford 20-25, 25-23, 16-14.

“Crazy close volleyball in every single set,” Fulton said.

Norwalk stat leaders on the day included Elle Hatlevig with 45 kills, Hadley Michael 122 assists and Dakota Poen 45 digs. Hatlevig and Jillian Hammond combined for 17 ace serves. Fulton added that middles Emmory Toppenberg and Hammond dominated at the net, and he credited Poen, Reese Heim and Addie Fisher with fantastic serve receive passes throughout the day.

The Warriors will take a 5-5 overall record into their Little Hawkeye Conference opener at Oskaloosa on Tuesday night.