By Cort Reynolds
OTTAWA - The Ada volleyball team rallied to knock off top seed Leipsic in five sets at the Div. IV district semifinals in Ottawa Tuesday night.

The third-seeded Lady Bulldogs won 15-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 15-10.
The comeback win was their ninth victory in a row, and advanced Ada (17-7)
to the district finals Thursday in Ottawa vs. Lima Central Catholic.

Senior middle Melina Woods knocked down 37 kills and came up with 19 digs
and four blocks to pace the purple and gold.

Senior setter Maddie Gossard passed out 37 assists, hit for 10
kills, made seven digs and added two blocks. Sophomore Sidney Gossard
dished out 20 assists and came up with 11 digs.

Senior libero Olivia Alexander hustled up 20 digs while junior Raina
England contributed 15 digs and five kills. Senior Nikki Lehsten compiled
four kills and two blocks.

Ada will now face fifth seed LCC, which swept second seed Columbus Grove
3-0 in the second semifinal. The district finals tip off Thursday at 7
p.m. at Ottawa-Glandorf.

The winner advances to regional play. It is the first time the purple and
gold spikers have made it to the district finals since 2001 at Coldwater.

The Bulldogs lost at LCC in four sets back on September 21. Ada is 2-1 in
neutral site play this season.