Norwalk sweeps Clyde for key Lake win

NORWALK — The test was coming. But every time things got down to crunch time, state-ranked Norwalk passed the test with flying colors. Visiting Clyde (7-5, 1-2) was in position to win each of the three sets in Thursday's SBC Lake Division match against the Truckers at Norwalk High School. But ultimately, Norwalk had the answer at every key point late in the sweep, 25-20, 25-20 and 25-22. With the win, Division II No 12-ranked Norwalk improved to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the league. "In the long run, we were able to control the ball a little better," Norwalk head coach Sarah Kipp said. "My kids played a tremendous out-of-system game tonight. Second ball, sending them, we try not to send a lot of free balls, and I think in the long run that made us successful tonight." Looking for the sweep, Norwalk found itself in trouble in the third set. An ace from Clyde's Miley Glass gave the Fliers a 16-15 lead. An out of bounds tip by Norwalk extended the Clyde lead, and a miscommunication on the Norwalk side of the net made it 18-15. Still down 20-17 on a kill by Brooklyn Hemminger, the Truckers got to work. Clyde hit the ball out of bounds on the next point, then two straight aces by Sawyer Wineman tied the set at 20-20. Two powerful kills down the left side by Lucy Schlotterer put Norwalk ahead 22-21, then Clyde was unable to hit past a Norwalk block to make it 23-21. After getting a point back, the Fliers again couldn't block Schlotterer (24-22), then a net violation gave the set and the match to Norwalk (25-22). "Lucy was a difference maker down the stretch in that last set," Kipp said of her junior standout, who finished with 17 kills and 11 digs. "We talk a lot in practice about the "next ball" mentality, and to be able to just come back. "When we're down in those moments, it's about playing the next ball and focusing on what comes next. We were doing that consistently and played not afraid to go after the ball." Norwalk mostly controlled the first two sets, though the Fliers trailed 23-20 and 22-20 with the serve in each set. The Truckers were without freshman starter Bella Hernandez, who has been a pleasant early surprise at the front of the net this season. We had a new lineup on the floor and had to shift a few things around," Kipp said. "It was a tremendous job by the kids who had to step in to different positions and were able to be successful." Also for Norwalk, Ava Tyler had 23 assists. Skyler Cassidy had 14 digs and served three aces, while Sawyer Wineman had 12 digs and Mac Wineman added eight digs. Sydney Moehlman had five blocks and Sammi Chappell had three. Emma Gebhardt finished with five kills. Norwalk has two non-league tests on Saturday in a tri-match at Shelby (7-3) with Lexington (8-2). The first match is scheduled for 10 a.m. "It's not about one person," Kipp said. "We can talk all night about all the great things Lucy does. But without Skyler's defense, Ava's setting … and without every other kid on the floor — those big swings don't happen. "And Lucy knows that, too. It's a great feeling to watch them be successful and care more about that than what the stat sheet says."