By Cort Reynolds
ELIDA - The visiting Ada tennis team won all three singles matches over Elida to pave the way for a tight 3-2 victory on a windy Monday evening.
The purple and gold netters improved to 3-5 with the "Battle of the Bulldogs" win over their Western Buckeye League opponent. Elida fell to 1-6 with the defeat.
Ada senior Miranda Wills improved to 4-4 this season at first singles with a straight-sets triumph over her senior opponent.
"Miranda won the first set handily," said Bulldog head coach Dexter Woods. "Down 2-3 in the second, she regained momentum by attacking at the net with crisp volleys and authoritative overheads to win the next four games and close out the match."
Ada junior southpaw Dexter Woods III increased his mark this campaign to 7-1 with an easy victory at second singles over his senior foe as he lost just one game.
"Dexter was in control the entire match with overall good consistency and variety of play," said his father/coach.
Ada junior Brendan Jameson also won handily at third singles over an Elida sophomore. "Brendan kept the ball in play on a very windy day and ventured to the net at opportune times," said Woods.
At first doubles, senior Colton Biederman and sophomore Connor Daugherty lost in two sets to a senior duo from Elida.
"It was the varsity debut for Connor," Woods noted. "He and Colton sent many balls back over the net, but their opponents put away many balls at the net," said the coach.
Bulldog senior Cole Anspaugh and sophomore Amelia Alexander fell at number two doubles despite a close second set.
"Ada lost the (long) first game after about fifteen minutes with a multitude of deuces, and went on to lose the first set 6-0," Woods recalled. "The second set was close all the way before Elida prevailed, 7-5."
In junior varsity doubles action, Ada rallied to win.
"Geddes Klingler - on his birthday - and Brendan Kah presented the most inspiring match of the evening," Woods reported. "They did not give up after being down, 1-5.
"They rallied to win six straight games with solid play from the baseline and the net to win the set, 7-5."
Individual match results:
1st singles: Miranda Wills (Ada) defeated Aidan Bartels (E) 6-1, 6-3
2nd singles: Dexter Woods (Ada) def. Dawson Kendall (E) 6-0, 6-1
3rd singles: Brendan Jameson (Ada) def. Dylan Byers (E) 6-1, 6-1
1st doubles: Eric Butler/Scott Holmgren (E) def. Colton Biederman/Connor Daugherty (Ada) 6-2, 6-1
2nd doubles: James Mitchell/Kase Mitchell (E) def. def. Amelia Alexander/Cole Anspaugh (Ada) 6-0, 7-5
JV doubles:
Geddes Klingler/Brendan Kah (Ada) won 7-5
Ada is scheduled to visit Lima Senior Wednesday, April 21, and also travels to St. Marys (5-3) Thursday, April 22. The Bulldogs are 2-2 on the road this season, 1-0 at neutral sites and 0-3 at home.
