Norwalk sweeps Bellevue in Lake opener

NORWALK — No slip up. After a week off after a big non-conference win at Huron in a sweltering hot gym on Aug. 22, the Norwalk volleyball team had seven days off entering Thursday's SBC Lake Division opener against Bellevue. The Lady Red pushed Norwalk to a tough four-set win at NHS a year ago, but there were no questions on Thursday. Norwalk controlled all three sets with scores of 25-16,25-14 and 25-17 to improve to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the league. "They weren't match environments, but the way they work through practice time is not down time," Norwalk head coach Sarah Kipp said. "It's the way things are structured. Our girls do a very nice job of driving that competitive energy during practice that simulates game play." In Thursday's win, Lucy Schlotterer finished with 10 kills, nine digs and served nine points with four aces for Norwalk. Mac Wineman served 11 points with three aces and led the defense with 17 digs. Emily Tyler had 29 assists and served five points with two aces, while Sawyer Wineman had nine points with four aces. Also for Norwalk, freshmen Maddie Gamble had seven kills and Ainslee King added five blocks. "I like the way that kids are playing in general right now," Kipp said. "I can't reiterate enough, we are just focused on what's directly in front of us. "The record of 5-0 is a great start to the season, but we can't let up." What's directly in front of Norwalk is its host Invitational on Saturday. Norwalk will start with Elyria Open Door Christian at 9 a.m., while Willard faces Firelands. At 10:15 a.m., Massillon Jackson takes on Elyria Catholic; and Vermilion faces Danbury. There is the potential for a Norwalk-Willard matchup in the semifinals at 11:30 a.m. "We talked to the kids about staying with our energy," Kipp said of Saturday. "They get to a point where we let up a little bit. We have to learn to close out a little better, and we're going to work on that Saturday."