By Cort Reynolds
DOLA - The Ada volleyball team won a tough four-set battle at county rival Hardin Northern in Div. IV second round tournament action Thursday night.
The visiting Ada squad rallied to win a close third set for a 2-1 lead, then carried that momentum to a 10-point lead in set four and held off a late Polar Bear charge to advance.
After their ninth consecutive triumph, the purple and gold Lady Bulldogs improve to 18-6 overall. HN finished its season 17-6 as they lost for the fourth time in five matches down the stretch.
With the 25-13, 20-25, 25-22, 25-19 victory, Ada avenged a straight-set loss to Northern in Dola Sept. 3 and advanced to the district semifinals for the first time in several years.
Junior middle Melina Woods led Ada to victory with 22 kills, 10 digs, five blocks and two aces.
"It feels good to win the rematch and get to the district semis," said veteran Ada head coach Melissa Gossard, an HN alum. "We had a great practice Wednesdya night and were well-prepared."
HN head coach Erika Uitto's third-seeded team was playing for the first time in a week after a first round bye. "We were ready but we didn't execute; we started out timid," she said. "Ada is a good team and they executed when it counted."
Junior Maddie Gossard passed out 18 assists, served up six aces, made five
digs and came up with two "huge blocks" as her coach noted. Freshman
Sidney Gossard contributed 15 assists and dealt four aces.
Senior Vore knocked down five kills and Wyss added three kills with seven
digs.
Junior libero Olivia Alexander was in good position to muster up 18 digs.
Nikki Lehsten added two big blocks and Kaiti Newland contributed six digs.
Seeded fourth in the Ottawa-Glandorf district, Ada plays second seed
Leipsic Tuesday, Oct. 25 at around 7:30-8 p.m.
Ada is 7-4 on the road this year and 3-2 at neutral sites.
