Bulldog spikers sweep Pirates

By Cort Reynolds

ADA - The host Ada volleyball team opened defense of its Northwest Conference title by sweeping winless Bluffton Tuesday evening.

The Bulldogs improved to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in NWC play with the 25-19, 25-8, 25-16 victory. The Pirates fell to 0-6 overall and 0-1 in the NWC.

Senior Melina Woods led Ada with 27 kills, six digs, three blocks and two aces.

"In the first set we were sleeping, the second set was amazing," said Ada head coach Melissa Gossard. "The third set started out great but we fell asleep kind of at the end."

Senior setter Maddie Gossard passed out 22 assists, hit for five kills, came up with eight digs and served a pair of aces. Light, England and Lehsten each contributed four kills.

"We are trying to set other players more than just Melina, and get more contributions from our other hitters," Gossard noted of the balanced offensive attack.

Libero Olivia Alexandeer came up with a dozen digs. Sidney Gossard dished up 11 assists and served three aces.

The Bulldog reserves also swept the Pirates 25-19, 25-14 to improve to 6-4.

Ada visits local rival Allen East (3-0) in another NWC match Thursday night in Harrod.

"Allen East will be gunning for us," warned Gossard. "It will be a great match."

Monday's match at Perry was halted by a power outage in the first set with Ada ahead 17-7. It will be made up at a later date.

Ada girls soccer whips Knights

By Cort Reynolds

CONVOY - The visiting Ada girls soccer team crushed Crestview 7-2 in a Northwest Conference match Tuesday evening.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 2-5 and 1-1 in NWC play with the victory, while Crestview dropped to 0-5 and 0-3 in the NWC.

"We controlled the ball most of the game and shot the ball 44 times," said Ada head coach Doug Poling. "We are continuing to improve with aggressiveness and wanting to get to the ball first.

"We had a couple of breakdowns that allowed through balls to give up their goals," he added.

Ella Poling and Bella East each netted two goals to pace the Lady Bulldogs. Katie Butterfield, Hailey Callahan and McKenzie Long added one goal apiece.

Caitlyn Stover dished out a pair of assists while East and Long each added one assist. Anney Archer saved four shots in goal for the Bulldogs.

Ada (2-2 road, 0-3 home) hosts Van Buren Wednesday, Sept. 20.