(Photo courtesy of John Fulton)

The Norwalk volleyball team finished the regular season on a high note Saturday, going 5-0 at the Winterset Tournament. The Class 4A 11th-ranked Warriors won the team title without dropping a set, and will enter the postseason on an eight-game winning streak.

Norwalk earned 2-0 sweeps against Chariton (21-13, 21-10), Gilbert (21-17, 21-10) and South Central Calhoun (21-15, 21-18) in pool play. The Warriors defeated Winterset 21-19, 21-14 in the semifinals and claimed the championship with a 21-15, 21-15 win over Red Oak.

Head coach John Fulton tells KNIA/KRLS Sports that Norwalk was fantastic in serve receive throughout the tournament. He credited Reese Heim, Dakota Poen and Addie Fisher for keeping the team in system and allowing the Warrior hitters to put the ball away consistently.

Warrior statistical leaders included Elle Hatlevig with 40 kills, Hadley Michael 93 assists and 12 ace serves, Poen 26 digs and Emmory Toppenberg 10 blocks. Toppenberg added 24 kills, Jillian Hammond had 15 kills and five blocks, and Heim tallied 21 digs.

Norwalk will take a 27-13 record into Class 4A regional play. The Warriors will host Newton or Bondurant-Farrar in a Region 6 semifinal on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.