By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The Ada volleyball team lost its home opener to visiting traditional power St. Henry in straight sets on a steamy Tuesday night.
The 25-7, 25-16, 25-11 defeat dropped the Lady Bulldog record to 1-1.
The bigger Redskins possessed multiple high-level hitters, and Ada was unable to contend with their great size and balanced attack.
"We played well the second and thrd sets," said Bulldog second-year head coach Kyleigh Tabor. "Serve receive really killed us in the first set, then we cleaned it up. Everything starts with the pass."
Redskin sophomore Brianna Siefring began the match with a kill, countered by a Megan Light smash. After a successful Siefring tip, she served seven straight points to advance the SH lead to 9-1.
Senior Hannah Bruns took over with consecutive big kills, and a 7-0 spurt put the visitors firmly on top 18-3. Ada junior Miranda Wills scored on a two-handed push, followed later by a Josie Poling kill.
But SH closed out set one on a Bruns ace, 25-7.
Ada was much more competitive in game two. A kill by Light and a clean hit to the open spot by Wills pulled the hosts within 4-3. Yet an 8-1 Redskin flurry extended the lead to 12-4.
Two SH errors, two aces by Wills and a Light kill cut the deficit to three. Light and Aubrey Madison combined for a block kill to inch Ada within 13-11.
SH spurted ahead 17-12 yet Light hit the sideline on a smash. The visitors crept in front 23-15 before a Wills attack was blocked off the top of the net before it rolled off out of play.
However, SH came up with a block kill and Marlee Vaughn ended a long rally with a kill for a 25-16 win.
Ada took its first lead 1-0 to start set three on a Redskin service error. Three Siefring aces put SH back on top, 5-1. SH extended the lead to 17-7 before a hitting error ended the run.
Two Vaughn aces served SH in front, 23-8. A Redskin serve error and a hitting error after a long rally pulled Ada to 23-11. Then a Bulldog serve error set up match point.
The final point was the longest rally of the match, but it ended on a Redskin block kill to close it out, 25-11.
"We didn't give up, we kept fighting," said Tabor.
"Courtney (Sumner) played well, especially for her first varsity match," said Tabor of the freshman defensive specialist who was pressed into action. "With Kylie (Acheson) out, she did a nice job. We had a couple of nice blocks and our hitting was smart, too."
Wills topped the Bulldogs with six kills and two aces. Light compiled five kills and three blocks, while Madison added two kills.
Sophomore setter Kirsten Poling dished out nine assists while Josie Poling made two blocks. Senior libero Kendal Guagenti hustled up eight digs.
SH also swept the junior varsity match, 2-0.
Ada hosts non-league local foe Cory-Rawson Wednesday night, then entertains another MAC powerhouse in Coldwater Thursday evening to complete a rugged three-match gauntlet on consecutive nights.
"We will have to play our best against Cory," said Tabor. "I expect it to be a very competitive match. We went three sets with them last year (2-1)."
