By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School varsity volleyball team enters its sixth season under head coach Kyleigh Woodruff looking for continued improvement in 2023.
Last season, the Bulldog squad improved by nine wins to finish with an 11-12 overall record. Ada went 2-6 in Northwest Conference play to end up in a three-way tie for sixth place in the tough nine-team league. Ada then led New Knoxville 2-0 in a tough sectional semifinal bout, but eventually lost 3-2 to conclude their season.
Thus, the 2022 Bulldogs were much more competitive than in 2021 (2-19), and they hope to continue their upward arc this fall. “We had a good season and a big turnaround from 2021,” said Woodruff. “We have a lot of girls back, including four seniors. The girls have played a lot together, so we have a lot of good team chemistry.” Eight letter winners and three full or part-time starters return to the Bulldog fold.
"We want to keep the ball in play hitting-wise, limit our errors and take care of the ball," noted the coach.
All-time digs leader Courtney Sumner has graduated and her replacement at libero will likely be athletic, scrappy junior Jenna Bassitt.
“We will miss Courtney’s defense, but we have three girls stepping up to take her place,” said Woodruff. “All of them are going after the ball more.”
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