By Cort Reynolds

PAULDING - The visiting Ada volleyball team lost a tough five-set marathon at Paulding Thursday night in a key Northwest Conference match.

After losing the 21-25, 25-21, 17-25, 26-24, 15-6 battle to the first-place Panthers, the Lady Bulldog spikers fall to 10-9 overall and 3-2 in the NWC.

It was their second league defeat in a row after Ada had won the previous 19 straight in league play over the past three seasons.

As the only unbeaten team left in NWC play, Paulding improved to 6-0 in the league and 9-6 overall with the hard-earned victory.

"It was a hard-fought, back and forth battle," said Ada head coach Kyleigh Tabor. "We had a chance to win in the fourth set but lost 24-26, then they had the momentum in the fifth.

"We played really well but they shut down our hitters in the fifth with a few key blocks," she continued. "Our defense was solid, and we fought the entire match."

Sophomore Megan Light cranked out a career-high 27 kills and added four blocks tolead the Ada hitters.

Junior setter Sidney Gossard passed out a career-high 38 assists, made 26 digs and served up three aces. Senior libero Morgan Swick hustled up a career-best 39 digs.

Senior hitter Rilan Conley knocked down nine kills and added 20 digs in addition to serving four aces. Sophomore Kendal Guagenti amassed 16 digs. Sophomore Miranda Wills came up with 18 digs.

"I am proud of the girls for how hard they worked, and we are going to continue to fight and take it one game at a time," said Tabor.

The Lady Bulldog reserves also lost in two sets.

Ada (4-4 on road) visits last-place league foe Spencerville (3-10, 0-4 NWC) Tuesday night, October 2