TOP) The Ada varsity volleyball team, L-R, front: Kennedy Jones, Natilyn McClain, Jenna Bassitt, Tessa Griffith, Belah Price. Middle: Becca Preston, Jaylin St. Laurent, Alyssa Madison, Alainee Buxton, Harlyn Lowry, Ashley Hevlin. Back: Alivia Gibson, Dailah Preston, head coach Kyleigh Woodruff, Anna Conley, Brooklyn Andreasen.
BELOW) Returning Ada volleyball letter winners, L-R: Alyssa Madison, Dailah Preston, Jenna Bassitt, Anna Conley, Tessa Griffith.
By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School varsity volleyball team was back over the .500 mark last season as a two-year rebuilding process came to fruition in their final Northwest Conference season.
The 2023 Bulldog spikers posted a 13-11 overall record after falling to top seed New Bremen in the 2023 district semifinals. Ada authored a 2-6 record in their last NWC campaign.
This fall, a few key senior starters and some underclass players must step up for the Bulldog spikers to continue their upward momentum in a new league under seventh-year head coach Kyleigh Woodruff.
The Bulldog team joins the Blanchard Valley Conference this fall.
“We have quite a few girls I consider starters,” said Woodruff. “We have a lot of girls back with another year of experience. We have some good chemistry from a few years of them playing together.”
Five letter winners and five full or part-time starters return to the Bulldog fold to provide a somewhat fluid starting lineup. Four senior starters graduated, and finding a new setter is the biggest issue facing Ada early in the season after the departure of three-year starting setter Autumn Andreasen.
Woodruff noted she has tried eight different setters during preseason scrimmages and is not sure if they will go with a 5-1, 5-2 or 6-2 offense. “It depends on the setter situation,” admitted the coach.
Power-hitting senior Tess Griffith is arguably the top returning offensive attack weapon. She is a very hard hitter with a highly competitive motor.
Speedy senior Jenna Bassitt earned honorable mention all-league status in her first season as the starting libero last fall after serving as a defensive specialist the previous season.
The scrappy Bassitt is one of the team’s best servers, possessing a hard, line-drive serve.
A quick hustler, Bassitt led the team with just over 500 digs last year, and is 300 shy of 1,000 for her career entering this season. She also had a 94 percent serve accuracy rate.
Junior 6-0 middle Anna Conley is a returning two-time letter winner who is a key middle hitter and blocker. She will be counted on to step up more assertively this season as a strong hitter and good blocker.
Junior Alyssa Madison is another returning letter winner as a defensive specialist.
Seniors Natilyn McClain is a defensive specialist, while classmate Kennedy Jones provides depth at setter and outside hitter. Both played primarily on JV last year.
Heady junior Alainee Buxton is one of the potential setters after moving up from JV. She can also serve as a right side hitter.
Tall sophomores Dailah Preston and Brooklyn Andreasen lend height, hitting and blocking skills to the lineup. Preston lettered last season.
At 5-11, Preston will be a key blocker and is a potentially effective hitter, too. “Dailah is a strong hitter who can also play middle or right outside hitter,” said Woodruff.
“Brook is another strong hitter who also plays middle and right outside hitter,” the coach noted.
The 5-9 Andreasen hits well from the right outside spot, but can play anywhere in the front row.
Promising 5-8 sophomore outside hitter Alivia Gibson has also moved up from JV, and will provide another option as an outside hitter.
Quick sophomore setter Jaylin St. Laurent is recovering from a re-injured kneecap suffered during summer volleyball.
Junior outside hitter Ashley Hevlin and sophomore defensive specialists Harlyn Lory and Becca Preston will play JV but also dress varsity.
Senior Belah Price is out for the season with a back injury.
“We are going to play one match at a time and try to win each game we play,” the coach said of the team goals. “We want to talk more and communicate better on the court.”
With Ada being a new member of the Blanchard Valley Conference, Woodruff wasn’t sure who the league favorites will be, or where Ada fits in the league picture.
Perennial BVC power Liberty-Benton (8-0) won the conference title last fall, followed by Pandora-Gilboa (6-2), with Elmwood and McComb tied for third at 5-3. Van Buren and Arlington tied at 4-4, followed by Vanlue at 3-5. Riverdale was 1-7, and Arcadia came in last at 0-8.
Leipsic also is returning to the BVC after a short stint as a member of the NWC.
"It will be a fun year with a lot of changes," Woodruff predicted. "We have a new schedule and are in a new conference where we play league matches Monday and Wednesday instead of Tuesday/Thursday.
“I am excited for the season,” she added.
Former Ada spiker Kylie Acheson returns as the junior varsity coach. Another ex-Bulldog, Ashley Sumner, is back for her second season as freshman/assistant coach.
"It is nice to have some height for a change, and to have many options in the front row," said Woodruff. “We have some strong hitters. We look pretty strong defensively.
“Replacing our setter is a focus and something we have to fix,” she admitted. “It is a big role to fill.”
Ada is slated to open the season at home vs. county rival Kenton August 20. The 1971 varsity gym has finally been fitted with air conditioning to alleviate the oppressive heat in the gym, especially for early-season matches.
The BVC lidlifter is September 4 against defending champion Liberty-Benton.
Ada 2024 volleyball at a glance
2023 record: 13-11, 2-6 NWC
Head coach: Kyleigh Woodruff, 7th year
Offense: 5/1, 5/2 or 6/2
Letter winners back/lost: 5/4
Top returnees: Sr. L Jenna Bassitt, Sr. OH Tessa Griffith, Jr. DS Alyssa Madison, Jr. MB Anna Conley, So. MH Dailah Preston.
Top varsity newcomers: Jr. S Alainee Buxton, So. OH Alivia Gibson, Sr. S Kennedy Jones, Sr. DS/S Natilyn McClain, Jr. Ashley Hevlin, So. DS Harlyn Lowry, So. DS Becca Preston, So. OH Brooklyn Andreasen, So. S Jaylin St. Laurent.
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