By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The Ada volleyball team ran its Northwest Conference win streak to 10 matches with a sweep of visiting Delphos Jefferson Tuesday evening.
The Bulldogs improved to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in NWC play with the 25-17, 25-12, 25-15 victory. The Wildcats fell to 4-7 overall and 0-2 in the NWC with the loss.
Senior southpaw Melina Woods led Ada with 30 kills, 11 digs, four blocks and once ace.
"Overall, Melina had her normal great game," said Ada head coach Melissa Gossard. "Nikki Lehsten had a great match hitting and blocking. Maddie also hit the ball well. Our blocking has improved; this match was probably the most blocks we've had all season."
Ada led 8-6 early in set one, and consecutive kills by Maddie Gossard pushed Ada in front 12-8. Woods later extended the margin to 16-10 with a clean smash.
A slam to the open back spot and a cross court kill by Woods made it 18-13. Sidney Gossard served an ace and Lehsten placed a clean kill cross court well to the short open area.
Maddie Gossard found an opening with another kill and Woods finished the set with a big kill off a Wildcat blocker to win, 25-17.
Five Woods kills and a Lehsten ace helped Ada run out to a 7-3 lead in game two. A kill by Megan Light extended the margin to 10-4. Two aces by Maddie Gossard, three kills by Woods and another Maddie ace capped a decisive 9-3 run.
Woods clinched game two with a huge sideline kill, 25-12.
The Bulldogs raced to a 4-0 lead in set three but spunky Delphos inched back within 6-5. A kill, block kill and ace later by Woods restored the cushion to 11-6.
Ada then won the longest rally of the match to go in front 12-7. A Woods block kill and then her tip finished a 9-2 purple and gold flurry.
Olivia Alexander came up with a back row kill and Woods added another clean smash for a 21-12 bulge. Yet another back row kill by Woods ended a long rally at 23-14.
A successful Woods attack advanced Ada to match point. Maddie Gossard mustered a block kill to close it out, 25-15.
"We moved Nikki from middle to outside this year, which is a different type of hitting angle, but she is adjusting well," explained Gossard. "I knew blocking was a key for us going into the season, and tonight we really started to block well."
Maddie Gossard passed out 29 assists, hit eight kills and dealt a pair of aces. Lenhsten contributed three kills, three blocks and eight digs.
Sidney Gossard dished out eight assists and served up two aces.
Libero Alexander came up with 10 digs while Kaiti Newland added five digs.
The Bulldog reserves also swept the Wildcats handily to improve to 7-4 (2-0 NWC).
Ada's match at local rival Allen East last Thursday night was cancelled due to a referee shortage and will be made up Monday, October 2.
The Bulldogs (1-0 away) visit tough former league foe Lima Central Catholic Thursday night. "LCC is always a good matchup, they have a good team with two real good hitters," said Gossard.
The Bulldogs then compete in the challenging eight-team Minster Invitational Saturday.
