By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School tennis team hosted powerful Bath on Senior Night and battled hard before losing a tough 4-1 decision Wednesday evening, April 26, at the park courts.
The Bulldogs fell to 2-5 with the difficult defeat.
Ada senior Brendan Jameson played an epic 2.5-hour first singles match featuring several long, intense rallies against big-hitting Bath junior Daniel Bolon.
The duo split the first two sets, and then Jameson forged ahead 2-1 and 4-2 in the third set on the strength of his trademark scrambling style of retrieving every ball.
Bolon bounced back to win the next three games and take a 5-4 lead. But Jameson gutsily rallied from 0-30 down and saved a couple of match points to tie it 5-5.
Bolon went back in front 6-5, then again had two match points blunted by the feisty Jameson. However Bolon finally closed out the hard-fought battle, 7-5.
Bulldog southpaw Nathan Williams also battled extremely hard at second singles before losing a tough bout to Bath junior Ezra Bolon 7-5, 6-3. The combatants enjoyed a spirited back-and-forth battle, with Williams hanging close behind his quickness and good forehand.
Ada senior Amelia Alexander dominated her match at third singles to post the lone Bulldog win 6-1, 6-0. She used good mobility and steady, mistake-free groundstrokes to easily defeat her opponent.
“We played a very solid Bath team (hard) til the end,” said Ada head coach Tyler Christoff. “I am proud of the way everyone played today, win or lose.
“We are right on the cusp and need to just get over that hill,” he added. “I am happy with how hard my team is working and getting after it.”
Bath won at first doubles 6-2, 6-0 against the Ada tandem of Geddes Klingler and Justin Bowden.
The Wildcats also took second doubles over Bulldogs Sam Crawford and Mohamed Khalil 6-0, 6-1.
Seniors Jameson, Alexander and Klingler were recognized after their last home match in a banquet at the park shelter.
