By Cort Reynolds
ADA – The Ada High School volleyball team lost in straight sets to visiting Blanchard Valley Conference power Van Buren Wednesday, September 25, on “Dig for a Cure Night.”
A total of $1,843.50 was raised for the “Not by Choice” Outreach in Kenton, which benefits those afflicted with all forms of cancers. Ada wore pink jerseys to commemorate the annual event.
The Bulldogs fell to 6-8 overall and 2-5 in the BVC after the 25-13, 25-18, 25-20 defeat.
Van Buren improved to 10-4 overall and 3-3 in BVC play after the sweep.
“Our energy level was down tonight, Van Buren had more energy than us,” said Ada head coach Kyleigh Woodruff. “We had moments where we looked good and made some good blocks.
”They had two really strong hitters,” she continued. “We made some hustle plays, but our communication was down a bit.”
Brooklyn Andreasen’s kill got Ada within 6-5 early in set one. VB answered with an 8-1 run. Another Andreasen kill off the net stopped the spurt, followed by an Anna Conley kill.
Ada got within 16-10 before a 5-1 Black Knight flurry. A combined block by Andreasen and Dailah Preston made it 23-13. But VB closed it out 25-13 on a kill and an error.
Ada tied it 3-3 in game two on an Alivia Gibson smash. Preston and Andreasen authored kills to keep the hosts within 13-6. Conley came up with a kill, and Tess Griffith pushed a two-hander to the open corner at 15-8.
Knight Brooklyn Wilkin hammered a big kill, then added a block kill. An over-the-head, cross-court bump shot by Gibson fell in. Gibson then drilled a kill to the open back to inch Ada within 19-13.
VB ran off the next three points before a block kill from Gibson. Later on, a two-hand tip from Conley capped a 3-0 Bulldog run that staved off set point.
But Selma Brant smashed a kill off an Ada blocker out of play to win it, 25-18.
The Bulldogs fell behind 6-0 to start the third set, but then got much more competitive. Gibson’s cross-court left outside hit fell in to ignite Ada.
Conley followed with a kill, and Natilyn McClain made a great dig for 9-3. A Griffith hit fell in off the top of the net. A clean kill and a block kill from Andreasen edged the hosts within 13-8.
Preston found the open right corner with a nice kill at 13-9. Conley’s tip later cut it to 16-12. A Knight tip went just wide as Ada crept to 16-14. A Wilkin attack fell in off the net to end the 4-0 Bulldog spurt.
A block kill and a tip by Andreasen pulled Ada close, down 20-17. Junior Brant hammered a smash, but a Gibson cross-court kill from left to right kept the hosts in striking distance at 23-19.
After a Knight tip, Conley scored on a block. But Wilkin closed the match on a clean hit that landed just inside the right sideline, 25-20.
Junior Conley hit seven kills and made two solo blocks with one block assist. Sophomore Gibson hit seven kills and hustled up six digs.
Senior Griffith came up with nine digs and smacked two kills.
Sophomore Andreasen knocked down five kills and came up with two solo blocks, plus one block assist.
Sophomore Preston knocked down three kills and made one block assist.
Sophomore St. Laurent passed out 13 assists. Senior libero Bassitt hustled up 14 digs and served one ace. Senior McClain mustered 11 digs.
Junior Alainee Buxton made four digs. Junior Alyssa Madison added three digs.
The Bulldogs fell to 3-5 at home after suffering their third tough league loss in a row over the past eight days. VB also won the JV match, 2-1.
Ada continues a very busy week at former Northwest Conference foe Delphos Jefferson (4-12, 0-4 NWC) Thursday night.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs will play three best-of-three matches at the annual Cory-Rawson Invitational to conclude a tough six-match week.
Van Buren, host Cory, Ada, Holgate, Temple Christian, Vanlue and North Baltimore are in the field.
