By Cort Reynolds
The Ada volleyball team won its season-opening matches in a triangular bout with non-league local rivals Waynesfield and Cory-Rawson Saturday.
Ada rolled over Waynesfield Goshen 25-2, 25-11. Junior setter
Sidney Gossard served 13 aces, dished out 12 assists and made seven digs to pace the victors.
Sophomore middle Megan Light knocked down 10 kills and added one block. Senior Morgan Swick contributed five digs in the blowout win.
In the match against Cory-Rawson, Ada had to rally to pull out a three-set victory by a 25-27, 29-27, 25-4 count. After losing a very close first game, Ada trailed 5-0 in set two.
Despite trailing throughout game two and on the verge of losing the match, the purple and gold fought hard and rallied to pull out a 29-27 overtime win to force a decisive third game.
The Bulldogs then rode the momentum of the comeback win and rolled to a 25-4 victory over dispirited C-R in the third set.
Gossard dished out 18 assists, made 12 digs and served five aces vs. the Hornets. Light again contributed 10 kills and made a pair of blocks.
Senior Rilan Conley hammered nine kills, hustled up 15 digs, dealt a pair of aces and made one block. Hustling sophomore Miranda Wills served up five aces, passed out five assists, made six digs, and added a block.
Swick came up with eight digs and served two aces while Kendal Guagenti added seven digs and a pair of aces.
New Ada varsity head coach Kyleigh Tabor earned her first wins at the helm, but downplayed that aspect of the season-starting victories.
"It's not about me, it's about the girls," she humbly noted. "The team winning is what is important to me, and I give all the credit to the girls.
"It was good to start off 2-0 and I am really proud of the girls for working hard," she added.
The Ada reserves also won both matches. The Bulldogs rallied to beat W-G in three 21-25, 25-14, 25-19. The Ada reserves then beat C-R in straight sets, 25-18, 25-8.
Ada (2-0) plays at traditional power St. Henry Monday, and hosts local rival USV Tuesday.
