By Cort Reynolds

MINSTER - The Ada volleyball team finished fifth at the tough six-team Minster Invitational Saturday.

The Lady Bulldog spike record is now 9-7.

The purple and gold lost to Russia and Marion Pleasant in preliminary pool play, then defeated Botkins in the fifth-place match.

In their first match vs. Russia, Ada lost 25-19, 25-12. Junior setter Sidney Gossard passed out five assists, hit three kills, made four digs and served two aces.

Sophomores Megan Light and Aubrey Madison each knocked down two kills and added a block.

Senior Rilan Conley connected on two kills and made three digs. Senior Morgan Swick mustered up eight digs.

Kendal Guagenti made four digs and dealt a pair of aces. Sophomore Miranda Wills contributed four digs.

Marion Pleasant then defeated Ada in straight sets, 25-8, 25-11. Gossard doled out five assists and made three digs. Light drilled a pair of kills while Wills amassed two kills and three digs.

Conley hustled up five digs and Guagenti served an ace.

Ada then swept Botkins in the fifth-place match by a 25-12, 25-23 count. Gossard passed out 14 assists, made a dozen digs and served up two aces.

Light hammered 12 kills to pace the offensive attack. Wills dished out five assists and served five aces. Conley contributed five kills and eight digs.

Senior Raina England knocked down four kills while classmate Swick hustled up seven digs. Madison served a pair of aces.

Ada hosts Hardin County rival Kenton Monday evening.

The Bulldogs (3-0 NWC) then put their 19-match conference win streak on the line when they entertain always-tough Crestview (8-3, 3-1 NWC) Tuesday evening in a key league battle.