4A State Championship: Norwalk vs. Clear Creek Amana

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday was filled with the best of the best in each class battling for a state title. These teams have worked incredibly hard all season long and have made it to the very end. In this match we have #1 Norwalk, who has made it clear why they've been ranked first almost all season long. Going up against them is #3 Clear Creek Amana, who has been a powerful force all season long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">SET 1</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We started set 1 with an ace from Bailey Simpson, but Norwalk answers right back with Elle Hatlevig taking some big swings. Julia Schlarbaum takes some aggressive rips of her own and is trying to move the ball around to try and find the floor, but Norwalk's defense is refusing to let her score. Delaney Vaske manages to get herself her first kill early in the set. Elle Hatlevig is not playing around and has managed to score 5 of Norwalk's first 10 points. South Dakota State commit Julia Schlarbaum is going kill for kill with the Michigan commit Elle Hatlevig. Norwalk takes the lead, but CCA isn't letting them too far out of reach and is working hard to close the gap. Hatlevig starts to go crazy and Norwalk forces CCA to call a timeout (12-16). Schlarbaum comes out of the time out and answers with a kill right away. CCA comes up with two major blocks to get them within 2. Julia comes up with an ace and and ties the game up and Norwalk takes a timeout (17-17). Schlarbaum comes out of the timeout and racks up 3 more aces and CCA takes the lead over Norwalk and they call their second timeout (17-20). Schlarbaum comes out of the timeout with yet ANOTHER ace. Bailey Simpson gets a monster block followed by a kill, putting CCA 2 points away from taking the first set. Norwalk tried to claw their way back but after a fantastic rally, Simpson is able to find the court right behind the block and CCA takes the first set (25-22).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">SET 2</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/mary-bush/" data-type="players" data-id="775192">Mary Bush</a> starts the set with an ace, but Schlarbaum answers back with 2 kills. Norwalk starts to find their footing and is starting to take an early lead in set 2. The Clippers start making some uncommon errors and decide to take their first out (5-11). Elle Hatlevig is kicking it into high gear in set 2 and is getting kill after kill for the Warriors. Payton Curtin is able to find <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/haydin-wauters/" data-type="players" data-id="571219">Haydin Wauters</a> in the middle to stop Norwalk's run, but the Warriors come right back and put the pressure on the Clippers, extending their lead and forcing CCA to call their second timeout (9-19). <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/delaney-vaske/" data-type="players" data-id="693879">Delaney Vaske</a> comes alive after the time out. However, it doesn't take long for Norwalk to get the ball right back and shut down CCA in set 2 (25-12). Hatlevig finished out set 2 with 19 kills and 15 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">SET 3</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clippers start off strong in set 3 with a nice little run, but Norwalk answers right back and the two teams go point for point. The serve receive is a little shakey for both teams, but the offense and defense are next level. CCA is finding it very difficult to shut down Hatlevig and Steele. Both of these groups are playing lights out volleyball from every aspect of the game. Norwalk starts to outsmart CCA's defense and takes the lead late in the 3rd set, forcing CCA to take a timeout (18-19). Steele missed her serve coming out of the time out and the game is tied 19-19. Simpson tools her block and CCA takes a lead. CCA's offense is putting a lot of pressure on Norwalk and they decide to take a timeout (19-21). Norwalk manages to get one after the timeout, but CCA answers right back and goes on another 3 poing run, Norwalk decides to use their last timeout (20-24). Wauters finds the floor and CCA takes the 3rd set (25-20)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">SET 4</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norwalk is fired up coming into the 4th set and takes an early lead. The Clippers find Schlarbaum to get on the board. CCA gets a little shaken up on serve receive and is forced to take a timeout (7-11) in hopes they can quickly regroup and work their way back. CCA gets the point coming out of the timeout and Bailey Simpson goes back and gets back to back aces, bringing CCA within 1. Norwalk goes on a run and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/hadley-michael-3/" data-type="players" data-id="493974">Hadley Michael</a> gets back to back aces, getting Norwalk to a 5 point lead and CCA decides to take a timeout (12-17). Norwalk wins the race to 20 and is putting quite the pressure on CCA. The Warriors pull through and take set 4 (25-17).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">SET 5</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norwalk puts the pressure on right off the bat, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/myla-brown/" data-type="players" data-id="758781">Myla Brown</a> gets two back to back aces and gives Norwalk a much needed lead early in the set. CCA decides to take an early timeout (1-5). They come out of the timeout finding Schlarbaum and the Clippers are finding their way back into the match. The Warriors stay assertive and is shutting down CCA's offense left and right. CCA is trying to keep them in their grasp, but it's going to take a lot of work to get back into the set. The Clippers manage to claw their way back and Norwalk is forced to use a timeout (11-9). Norwalk comes out of the timeout and find a way to score, bringing them 3 points away from being the 4A champs. CCA calls a timeout (9-13) and although Schlarbaume tried to keep her team alive, Elle Hatlevig was to hard to handle and Norwalk wins the match (15-11). <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gabrielle-hatlevig/" data-type="players" data-id="560368">Elle Hatlevig</a> ends the night with 39 kills, just two kills short of beating the state tournament record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Stat Leaders</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Digs:</em></strong> <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gabrielle-hatlevig/" data-type="players" data-id="560368">Elle Hatlevig</a> (Norwalk)- 27 digs, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kendall-ronnfeldt/" data-type="players" data-id="902716">Kendall Ronnfeldt</a> (CCA)- 19 digs, Payton Curtin (CCA)- 18 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Kills:</em></strong> <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gabrielle-hatlevig/" data-type="players" data-id="560368">Elle Hatlevig</a> (Norwalk)- 39 kills, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/julia-schlarbaum/" data-type="players" data-id="516002">Julia Schlarbaum</a> (CCA)- 19 kills, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/bailey-simpson-3/" data-type="players" data-id="493660">Bailey Simpson</a> (CCA)- 12 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Aces:</em></strong> <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/julia-schlarbaum/" data-type="players" data-id="516002">Julia Schlarbaum</a> (CCA)- 6 aces, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/hadley-michael-3/" data-type="players" data-id="493974">Hadley Michael</a> (Norwalk) &amp; <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/bailey-simpson-3/" data-type="players" data-id="493660">Bailey Simpson</a> (CCA)- 4 aces, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/myla-brown/" data-type="players" data-id="758781">Myla Brown</a> (Norwalk)- 3 aces</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Blocks:</em></strong> Olivia Winslow (Norwalk)- 8 blocks, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/delaney-vaske/" data-type="players" data-id="693879">Delaney Vaske</a> (CCA), Myla Brown (Norwalk), Embry Dupont (Norwalk), <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/delaynee-steele/" data-type="players" data-id="730403">Delaynee Steele</a> (Norwalk)- 4 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Assists:</em></strong> <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/hadley-michael-3/" data-type="players" data-id="493974">Hadley Michael</a> (Norwalk)- 56 assists &amp; Payton Curtin (CCA)- 27 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->