By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The visiting Ada volleyball team took the opening game but lost a tough four-setter at local rival Bluffton in Northwest Conference action Thursday night.
Bluffton improved to 8-2 and 2-0 in league play with their sixth consecutive victory.
The 23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-16 defeat lowered the Lady Bulldog record to 5-4 overall and 0-2 in the NWC.
"We started off strong and played really well the first set," said Ada head coach Kyleigh Tabor. "Bluffton gained the momentum in the second set and we couldn't stop Kylie Stackhouse in the middle."
Stackhouse led the Pirate girls with 20 kills, 13 digs, four aces and four blocks. Taylor Schwab drilled 19 kills, and also contributed a dozen digs to go with four aces.
Setter Skyler Scoles doled out 44 assists, mustered 13 digs and served up three aces. Kylie Monday hustled up a team-high 21 digs, while Sophie Bricker amassed 18 digs.
Haelynn Bischoff knocked down four kills and dealt a pair of aces.
"Both Stackhouse and Schwab are great hitters, and our block had a hard time slowing down the ball down for our defense," said Tabor. "Bluffton played really well and there were a lot of long, hard-fought rallies from both sides."
Senior middle Megan Light led Ada with 10 kills, 10 digs and one ace. Senior Miranda Wills compiled 21 digs, six kills, five assists, one ace and two blocks.
Bulldog junior Kirsten Poling dished up 14 assists, hit seven kills, made two blocks and came up with 14 digs. Senior Kylie Acheson amassed 13 digs.
Sophomore Courtney Sumner hustled her way to 17 digs and drilled six kills. Lexi White added a dozen digs.
"I am proud of our girls for fighting and having many great hustle plays," Tabor added.
The Ada reserves lost 2-0 to fall to 3-6. The Pirate freshmen also won in straight sets, 2-0.
The Bulldogs play a makeup match Saturday at non-league foe Leipsic.
Bluffton visits Crestview (4-5, 0-1 NWC) September 22.
