AMES – Competitive in three of the four matches it played, the South Hamilton volleyball team found it difficult to close out sets during Saturday’s Ames Invitational.

The Hawks ran smack dab into some pretty salty opponents as well.

The result was an 0-4 stretch for South Hamilton, which dropped bouts to three ranked teams – No. 7 (Class 4A) Dallas Center-Grimes (15-21, 23-21, 15-10), No. 11 (4A) Charles City (21-14, 19-21, 15-13) and No. 4 (2A) Dike-New Hartford (21-9, 21-3) – as well as 5A school Urbandale (25-17, 25-17).

“There were a lot of good things that came out of (the tournament), but the kids were mad,” South Hamilton head coach Rusty Wintermote said. “I think they expected more out of themselves. We’re going to grow and understand how to finish, and if we can play the way we did against three of the four teams, we’re going to be very competitive the rest of the season.”

Only four-time defending 2A state champion Dike-New Hartford overwhelmed the Hawks (2-4), and Wintermote said that may have been more about who the opponent was than what the opponent did.

“I think it was just the name Dike-New Hartford,” he said. “In the past they’ve run power volleyball. Now they’re all of a sudden running a quick offense and we didn’t get many touches on their balls.”

South Hamilton and Dallas Center-Grimes were tied 10-10 in the third and deciding set before the Fillies scored the final five points to escape. The Hawks led Charles City 13-12 in set No. 3, but again couldn’t land the knockout punch.

Outside hitters Ady Wintermote and Alyssa Hegland provided the bulk of the power throughout the tournament, as they combined for 55 of the team’s 68 kills. Ady Wintermote blasted 35 and registered a very respectable .380 kill efficiency. Hegland ended the day with 20.

Ady Wintermote also led the club in blocks (seven) and was second in digs (47). Libero Anna Moss accumulated 66 digs, and Hegland had 42 to go along with four service aces.

Alissa Moss distributed 42 assists and Taylor Volkmann chipped in 17.

Emilee Wiese came off the Hawks’ bench to collect three aces.

South Hamilton will look to get back on track Tuesday evening when it hosts non-conference foe Ogden at 6:30 p.m.