By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School volleyball team defeated visiting underdog Lima Central Catholic in a tough four-set battle Thursday evening, September 8.
The 25-10, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23 non-league victory upped Ada's season record to 6-3 overall. LCC fell to 2-8 with the close loss.
"We had way too many errors after the first set," said Ada head coach Kyleigh Woodruff. "But I am proud of how we came back. We did a good job finishing at the end."
Ada scored the final three points in each of the last two sets to pull the surprisingly difficult victory out against a youthful Thunderbird squad.
The Bulldogs raced to a 14-3 lead in set one, prompting a Thunderbird timeout. Kills by Daicy Robinson, Lily Baumgartner and Emilee Huffer extended the margin to 18-6. Huffer later contributed a block kill. Ada closed the set 25-10 on a T-Bird error. "We had a very clean set in game one," said Woodruff.
In game two, LCC rallied early to grab an 11-7 lead before a Huffer kill ended a 5-0 spurt. But the visitors pulled back in front 17-9, prompting a second Ada timeout. A clean smash by Baumgartner cut it to 18-11, but Ada served into the net. The teams traded miscues to 20-13. Courtney Sumner rifled a service winner, followed by a tip from Huffer. LCC stemmed the momentum with a kill at 21-16. Freshman Anna Conley came up with a winning tip. Defensive specialist Josie Phillips then capped a long rally with a clean cross-court kill.
"That was a big kill by Josie, it gave us some energy," noted Woodruff. Ada won a long rally, and an LCC error inched the purple and gold within 21-20. A Baumgartner serve caught the sideline to tie it and cap an 8-1 flurry, but then she served long. A Bulldog hit sailed long, and LCC won an extended rally to reach set point. The T-Birds ended the set on a 4 0 run after a kill landed in off a block for a 25-21 win.
In game three, LCC led 7-4 before Ada rallied to seize an 11-10 edge. But the T-Birds reeled off five straight points before the Bulldogs won a long rally. Ada served long, but LCC then hit well out for 16-13. Baumgartner capped a long rally with a resounding smash to cut the Ada deficit to 18-14. A clean Robinson kill made it 19-15. Another big kill by Baumgartner ricocheted off a T-Bird out of play. Robinson crunched a kill, and LCC hit long.
Baumgartner finished an extended rally with a well-placed short cross court kill just inside the sideline. Ada then won a rally to grab a 20-19 edge. A hitting error gave Ada a two-point bulge. Good digs by Autumn Andreasen and Phillips led to another LCC miscue and a 22-19 lead. But the T-Birds rallied to tie it, 22-22. At 23-all, LCC scored on a serve reception error to reach set point. A clutch deep bump by Sumner tied it 24-24. LCC hit into the tape to give the Bulldogs game point. Sophomore Jenna Bassitt then rifled a service winner to provide a 26-24 win.
Ada raced to a 6-0 lead in set four as Tessa Griffith served five points in a row. Two kills by Baumgartner and a Conley tip stretched the lead to 9-1. LCC responded with a 3-1 splurge, but Baumgartner's kill off a blocker fell in for an 11-4 cushion. Griffith's clean sideline tip, a Huffer kill and an LCC net error made
it 14-4. LCC answered with a 5-0 flurry to cut the Ada lead in half. Huffer ended the run with a one-handed tip.
Yet the spunky T-Birds crept within 16-13. Robinson stopped the spurt with a sideline kill, but Ada hit just wide off the top of the net. A Sumner shot found the open middle. Robinson then hit the gaping middle with a short attack. But LCC stayed within striking distance at 19-17 after an ace. Following an Ada timeout, Robinson's kill off a blocker dropped in to stop a 4-0 run. A diving, one-arm stab dig by Sumner led to another Ada point at 21-17. "That was an awesome save," said Woodruff.
LCC couldn't get Sumner's deep serve back for another point, but Ada then hit long for a 22-18 count. A T-Bird block kill fell in at 22-19. Ada hit into the net and a Bulldog serve receive error inched LCC within 22-21. LCC freshman Sophie Miller's service winner tied it 22-all, followed by a Miller line drive ace that clipped the back line. Baumgartner's kill off the net dropped in to tie it, 23-23. A Baumgartner serve caught the back line to advance Ada to match point. Ada then won a long rally when an LCC shot went wide to clinch it, 25-23.
"LCC has a young team, but they played good defense after the first
set," said Woodruff.
- Senior libero Sumner broke her own school single-match record with 47 digs, shattering her previous mark of 42. She also served three aces.
- Junior Robinson knocked down a season-high 15 kills and came up with blocks.
- Sophomore Baumgartner drilled 13 kills, including several clutch attacks, for the Lady Bulldogs.
- Senior Huffer knocked down seven kills and added two blocks, while Conley contributed five kills.
- Junior setter Andreasen passed out a career-best 34 assists and came up with 15 digs.
- Phillips mustered 12 digs.
- Alyssa Madison added eight digs.
- Sophomore Griffith hit three kills, made one block and served three aces.
- Bassitt contributed seven digs.
The Bulldog reserves beat LCC in two sets to run their record to 6-2. Ada (0-1 NWC) plays host to three-time defending NWC champion Lincolnview (6-0, 0-0 NWC) Tuesday, September 13. The Bulldog girls then entertain Columbus Grove (1-4, 0-0 NWC) on Thursday, Sept. 15.
