Bellevue tops Norwalk for key Lake win

NORWALK — Not much separated Norwalk and Bellevue on Tuesday. In a match featuring two of the three Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division teams entering the evening with one league loss, there were 35 ties and 17 lead changes. The Truckers came up just short in some of the big points of the match as Bellevue slipped past Norwalk 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 in a key league contest. "They were hungry and I definitely did not see that from my kids like we needed to," Norwalk coach Sarah Kipp said. "That was match 13 for us and 17 for them. At this point, that could make a big difference — more time and experience on the floor. "I think it truly comes down to the fact that their kids were hungry and wanted that win." In Set 1, there were 12 ties and six lead changes. Norwalk (8-6, 3-2 SBC Lake) trailed most of the set, but surged ahead 23-21 after a service ace from Erica Tyler and kill by Maddie Gamble. Bellevue (13-4, 3-2) used a timeout and responded. Mazie Gracemyer smacked a kill before a block by Calie Cramer tied the set. Gracemyer lined another kill and a double hit error on Norwalk gave the Lady Red the opening set. "Momentum is a funny thing," Kipp said. "Bellevue grabbed it at key moments and pushed through those big moments and came out on top. We weren't able to pull ourselves off the ropes and fight back." Set 2 was tight as well with 11 ties and seven lead changes. Neither team led by more than three points the entire set, but Bellevue was able to build the margin a few times late, including 20-17 and 23-20. Norwalk got as close as 24-23 on a kill from Ainslee King, but a kill by Hallie McCarthy put Bellevue up 2-0. "When you have good teams playing against each other and playing gritty, that is what's going to happen," Bellevue coach Liana Petitti said. "It was awesome. The difference for us was we were together and we played hard. We wanted it and they stuck to their jobs. They did what we told them to do." The Truckers played with the lead most of the third set. Bellevue didn't take the lead for good until lead when it used a 6-1 run to go up 23-20. Bellevue got within 24-22 on a block by King, but Kaitlyn Turinsky clobbered a kill to finish off the win. "I think we needed to have a better positive block touch at the net and stop feet defensively," Kipp said. "We didn't do those things and that created difficult offensive situations for us." Sydney Moehlman led Norwalk with nine kills while Gamble lined six kills. Sawyer Wineman topped the defense with 30 digs, Tyler recorded 27 assists and 14 digs and Gamble contributed 21 digs. Lola Schlotterer added 13 digs for Norwalk, who opens the second round of SBC Lake play Thursday against Sandusky. "I think we need to make some changes," Kipp said. "You never know when you walk in the gym in this league who is going to come out as the winner."