By Cort Reynolds

ADA – The Ada High School volleyball team lost in straight sets to visiting league leader Leipsic in a Blanchard Valley Conference match Monday evening, September 23.

The Bulldogs fell to 6-7 overall and 2-4 in the BVC after the 25-21, 25-11, 25-15 defeat.  

Leipsic improved to 14-0 overall and 6-0 in BVC play with the win. Liberty-Benton is second in the BVC at 5-0 as the only other league unbeaten.

“We played really hard,” said Ada head coach Kyleigh Woodruff. “I thought our defense played well, we had some great digs. Each set we had one bad run we could not get out of.”

Ada started well in set one, leading 4-2 after a kill by Dailah Preston and a cross-court kill by Alivia Gibson. A kill by Brooklyn Andreasen tied it 5-5.

A tip by Tess Griffith and a pair of aces by Jenna Bassitt gave Ada a 10-7 lead. Later on, an ace by Jaylin St. Laurent put the Bulldogs in front 13-10. 

Undefeated Leipsic then reeled off six points to grab a 16-13 advantage. Ada inched within 16-15 on a Conley tip. But a 6-1 Viking spurt put them in control, 22-16. 

Ada stayed alive behind an ace by Alainee Buxton and a quick-reaction dig winner by Natilyn McClain staved off a set point at 24-20. A Leipsic hitting error edged the Bulldogs within 24-21.

But the visitors closed out the set, 25-21.

Two Conley kills and a Buxton ace tied it 5-5 in game two. A kill by Andreasen knotted it up at 6-6, yet the Vikings answered with a 6-1 run. 

Leipsic then reeled off nine consecutive points to seize a 21-7 cushion. A pair of kills by Preston cut the Bulldog deficit to 23-11. But the visitors finished it 25-11 with a kill off the net and by winning a long rally.

“Their outside hitter (Danaysia Danzy) was unstoppable in set two,” said Woodruff.

A cross-court kill by Griffith opened set three 1-0. A Conley kill and an ace by Griffith gave Ada a 4-1 lead. Leipsic pulled in front 7-6 after two kills by Jazelle Perez and a Danzy ace.

The Vikings then reeled off a 9-0 flurry to lead 16-7. A service error ended the run. Andreasen then hit a kill off a blocker, followed by a Kennedy Jones ace. A Conley kill inched Ada within 19-10.

The Vikings won a long rally despite two good digs by Jenna Bassitt and Alyssa Madison. Leipsic reached match point ahead 24-13 before Andreasen authored back-to-back block kills. 

A Leipsic block ended a long rally and the match, 25-15.

“They are a great team,” said Woodruff of Leipsic. “It is hard to beat a team like that if they get a run or you dig a hole you can’t get out of.”

Junior Conley hit five kills and made three digs. Sophomore Preston smacked four kills and came up with two block kills. 

Hustling senior Griffith came up with eight digs and drilled two kills. 

Sophomore Andreasen hammered three kills and came up with three solo blocks. 

Sophomore St. Laurent passed out 15 assists, came up with eight digs and served one ace. Sophomore Gibson knocked down two kills and came up with three digs.

Senior libero Bassitt hustled up 12 digs and served two aces. Senior Jones dealt one ace, while junior Buxton served a pair of aces. 

Junior Madison mustered a pair of good digs in set three. Senior McClain came up with four digs.

The Bulldogs are 3-4 at home. Leipsic also won the JV match, 2-0.

Ada entertains Van Buren (8-4, 2-3 BVC) Wednesday, Sept. 25 to conclude a tough three-match league homestand. The match also serves as the team’s “Dig for a Cure” cancer night.