By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The host Ada volleyball team lost in four sets to visiting Leipsic Thursday evening.
The Lady Bulldogs fell to 4-4 with the 25-13, 25-20, 20-25, 25-16 defeat.
"We had some momentum heading to the fourth set, but they had too many runs," said Bulldog second-year head coach Kyleigh Tabor. "We couldn't side out. But I am proud of the way we came back in the third set.
"Leipsic has a good team with solid middle and outside hitters," she added. "We were not able to overcome our slow starts."
Leipsic won the first set 25-13, and the Vikings edged out to a 6-5 lead in game two. Kylie Acheson placed a cross-court kill well and Kirsten Poling came up with a block kill but Leipsic extended the lead to 14-8.
Aubrey Madison knocked down a kill, and Megan Light added a block kill and another kill to pull Ada within 18-13.
The Bulldogs continued to rally as Miranda Wills served three points and a Light tip cut the deficit to 21-18. A Madison kill made it 22-19.
Yet Leipsic ended on a 3-1 spurt, capped by a clean ace and clean kill to the open back to win 25-20.
The Vikings led 4-0, 10-4 and 13-6 in set three before Ada began to rally. A good Acheson serve and several Viking errors started the Bulldogs on a flurry.
A two-hand tip from Wills, a back row kill by Light and a well-placed Josie Poling kill cut the deficit to 15-13. A service winner by Wills and a Leipsic hitting miscue tied it 15-all.
Ada then took its first lead on a clean ace by Wills that capped a 10-1 run, 16-15. Leipsic regained the lead 18-16 yet Ada tied it on a Light tip.
Kendal Guagenti tied it 20-20 on an ace and then closed out the set with fine serving over the next five points. Her good serve caused a Viking error. She then fired another low, hard ace to make it 22-20. Acheson scored a kill off the top of the net to reach set point.
The Bulldogs finished off the game when a Viking hit into the net, 25-20.
Game four was a back and forth battle until Kirsten Poling hit the sideline with a kill to bring the hosts within 9-7. Leipsic took control with a 7-0 run that built their lead to 19-11.
A kill by Light ended the flurry, and a Viking error cut it to 19-13. Ada inched within 21-15 yet Leipsic closed on a 4-1 run to clinch the match, 25-16.
"We had our most blocks as a team this season," said Tabor. "Our blocking was good and we had quite a few digs. Both sides played good defense with lots of long rallies."
Junior middle Light topped the Bulldogs with 15 kills, 11 digs and a season-high nine blocks.
Junior Wills hit for six kills and hustled up 10 digs. Senior libero Guagenti mustered up 25 digs and served two aces. Sophomore setter Kirsten Poling passed out 17 assists and made four blocks.
Versatile sophomore Madison contributed four kills, made eight digs, passed out eight assists and came up with four blocks.
Junior Acheson knocked down four kills and hustled up eight digs. Josie Poling added six digs and hit for two kills.
The Lady Bulldog reserves also lost, 2-0.
Ada opens NWC play September 10 at defending league co-champion Columbus Grove. "Grove lost 3-1 to Leipsic too, but they will be tough," said Tabor.
