By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School volleyball team fought hard but lost a four-set battle in their home opener to visiting Hardin County rival Kenton on a very hot Tuesday evening, August 23.
The Bulldogs dropped the heated bout 25-19, 25-21, 20-25, 25-15 before a loud and boisterous crowd.
The tough loss dropped the Ada record to 2-1, while Kenton improved to 2-0 with the win.
"Basically I felt we started slow and Kenton out-hustled us early on," said Ada head coach Kyleigh Woodruff. "We made too many errors; you can't make 21 hitting errors in a close match.
"Our serve receive wasn't as clean as usual," she added.
The Bulldogs led 11-9 in set one after Courtney Sumner rifled four straight service winners and aces. A 4-1 run gave Kenton a slight edge, but Ada surged back in front after two straight kills on a tip and a well-placed hit by Daicy Robinson.
Ada extended its lead to 16-13 before the Wildcats took control. As Olivia Nolting served two aces, they reeled off an 11-2 spurt to build a 24-18 cushion.
Sumner staved off defeat with a back row smash, but Kenton won a long rally to close the first game out 25-19.
The visitors jumped ahead 3-0 in set two. Kenton surged in front 9-5 before a diving lung save by Sumner turned into a winner. The Wildcats went back in front 12-7 before Ada called timeout to try and switch momentum.
Ada pulled within 15-11 but a block kill ended the run. Kenton ran off the next four points to lead 19-11 before another timeout.
Robinson stopped the run with a kill, but the Wildcats won a rally to restore the lead to eight. Kenton hit long to end a rally in favor of Ada.
A crosscourt hit on the line won the next rally for Kenton. A Wildcat error and a back row kill by Sumner cut the deficit to 23-17. Autumn Andreasen and Robinson combined for a block kill.
Kenton then hit long to end a long rally and pull within 23-19. Lily Baumgartner's hit dropped in off a block. Baumgartner authored another kill to inch within 23-21.
But Sadie Larrabee ended the 7-2 Ada run with a clutch, well-placed tip. A serve reception error then closed out game two, 25-21.
"Even though we lost set two we built some momentum at the end which carried over into the third game," said Woodruff.
Ada raced to a 5-0 lead in set three with Andreasen serving. A kill by Baumgartner and a tip from Robinson bookended the early spurt.
Kenton answered with a 5-0 run of its own before making an error. Senior Emilee Huffer came up with a block kill, but an ensuing error kept the lead at 7-6.
Kenton tied it 8-8 on a serve reception error. Morgan Lyons dealt an ace but then served long for 9-9. Keotn tied it again at 10-10.
Ada went on an 8-4 flurry to take the lead and prompt a Kenton timeout. The Wildcats hit wide before a Larrabee kill. Brynn Butler served an ace and Kenton won a rally to inch within two.
Another Wildcat point caused an Ada timeout at 19-18. A Wildcat error stopped their 4-0 spurt.
Macee Heckathorn fashioned a big kill and a good serve put Ada's return in the net for a 20-20 tie.
Ada won a rally to regain the lead. A serve reception error on an Alyssa Madison liner made it 22-20. Tessa Griffith came up with a big smash off a block for a 23-20 edge.
A passing error advanced Ada to set point. Madison's serve caught the back corner line to win it, 25-20.
Kenton pulled ahead 10-7 in game four, but Ada responded with a 4-0 run to capture the lead. The Wildcats inched in front 12-11 but Robinson found an opening with a short tip.
However, Kenton seized control with eight consecutive points to open up a 21-13 lead as Riley Totten served seven key points in a row.
Robinson ended the flurry with a cross court smash. An Ada error and a block by Kenton made it 23-14. A Huffer sideline kill was followed by a Bulldog serve error to reach match point.
A serve reception miscue by Ada ended it 25-15 as Kenton closed the match on a 12-2 run.
"After it was 13-13, our serve receive let us down," Woodruff explained. "We couldn't side out and made too many errors. Kenton really hustled like crazy on defense."
Junior setter Andreasen dished out 15 assists and made two blocks.
Senior libero Sumner hustled up 34 digs and dealt three aces. "Courtney hustled like crazy," said Woodruff.
Junior hitter Robinson led Ada with nine kills and three blocks.
Sophomore Baumgartner contributed eight kills. Junior Josie Phillips came up with 13 digs, while soph Jenna Bassitt added nine digs.
Huffer added a pair of blocks.
Ada visits MAC power Coldwater Thursday, Aug. 25 in a varsity-only match. "I am happy with our team chemistry," said Woodruff.
