By Cort Reynolds
The improved Ada varsity volleyball team defeated visiting Spencerville in straight sets to start the Northwest Conference portion of their schedule well Tuesday evening, September 12.
The Bulldog record improved to 7-3 overall and 1-0 in the NWC after the 25-17, 25-13, 25-22 victory.
“I thought we played well together as a team,” said Ada head coach Kyleigh Woodruff. “Spencerville has some nice hitters, especially the freshman (Briley Cook).
“They were scrappy and kept the ball in play,” she continued. “We covered the court well and for each other, and had good chemistry. The team dynamic was good.”
The Bearcats fell to 3-5 overall and 0-1 in the NWC with the three-set loss.
Ada won the first set 25-17 and jumped to an 11-7 lead early in game two. Senior southpaw Mariah King smacked a kill off a Bearcat block, then classmate Daicy Robinson found an opening on the side with a clean kill.
Bulldog freshman Dailah Preston fired a service winner to make it 16-8, prompting a Bearcat timeout. A hitting error long was followed by an Ada serve into the net.
Ada senior Autumn Andreasen hit a tip that found the right sideline, followed by a Bearcat kill by 16. Another Andreasen tip kill advanced the margin to 20-10.
Ada won two long rallies, followed by a big smash from Tess Griffith. A clean kill by junior Kelsey Lee stopped the Ada run at 23-11. Another outside smash by Griffith made it set point. Lee then served an ace for the Bearcats.
Anna Conley ended the game at 25j-13 with a clean kill.
In set three the Bearcats jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Robinson angled a clean kill to the sideline. Cook nailed a sideline smash, followed by a Bearcat block kill.
Conley aimed a clean kill to the open center but the Bearcats won a long rally. Andreasen rifled a service winner to tie it 7-7, and Griffith gave the hosts their first lead with a big kill.
A serve just long retied it at 8-all. Lee fired an ace as the visitors edged ahead 12-9. A Preston kill pulled Ada within 12-10. Griffith rifled a pair of service winners to tie it.
King’s cross-court smash landed on the sideline to put the hosts on top, 15-13. Spencerville answered with a 3-0 flurry to regain the lead.
A Robinson smash tied it again at 16-16. A Bearcat hit sailed just long, then a serve error gave Ada an 18-17 edge.
A Bearcat block tied it 18-all. The Bulldogs won two rallies to forge in front 20-18 and prompt a Bearcat timeout. Griffith fired a huge kill to the backline, then hit just barely long to make it 21-19.
At 22-20, a big Bearcat block kill try went just wide. Defensive specialist Josie Phillips served Ada to match point at 24-20, followed by a clean Cook kill.
The Bearcats won a long rally to stay alive. After another long rally, Robinson rose up for a clean block kill to win the set 25-22 and clinch the match.
Senior hitter Robinson knocked down a team-high nine kills and made one block on the match-clincher. Hustling junior Griffith hammered seven kills and came up with 11 digs. She also served an ace.
Sophomore middle Conley knocked down a career-high nine kills, and added one block.
Junior libero Jenna Bassitt mustered up a career-high 43 digs.
Ada senior setter Andreasen passed out 28 assists. She also hustled up nine digs, hit five kills and served an ace while making one block.
King drilled four kills. Phillips came up with 11 digs, while Alyssa Madison made 10 digs. Preston added a pair of aces.
The undefeated Ada reserves won 2-0 to improve to 10-0 this season.
Ada is 4-2 at home and 3-1 on the road this season.
The Bulldog girls visit league foe Lincolnview (6-4, 0-1 NWC) Thursday, September 14. The Lancers lost to arch-rival Crestview Tuesday in their opener.
Ada then plays in the seven-team Cory-Rawson Invitational Saturday. Vanlue, Arcadia, Holgate, North Baltimore and Van Buren join the Bulldogs and the host Hornets at the event.
