By Cort Reynolds

ADA – The Ada High School volleyball team was seeded fourth at the nine-team Shawnee Div. VII sectional tournament draw Sunday, October 6.

Ada (10-10) will play fifth-seeded county rival Hardin Northern (10-6) at New Knoxville Thursday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of tournament action.

The Bulldogs took the first set but lost to the Polar Bears 19-25, 25-23, 25-21 at Arlington on Saturday, August 31.

“I am excited to get to play them again in a best-of-five match after losing to them in three earlier this season in a tri-match,” said veteran Ada head coach Kyleigh Woodruff. “HN had a lot of hustle and energy on the court. We need to make sure our energy is up, and eliminate unforced errors.”

The Ada/HN sectional final winner will advance to most likely face top-seeded New Knoxville in the semifinals at Shawnee Monday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m.

NK (10-9) will host the Ridgemont (4-10)/Temple Christian (4-13) winner Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

Teams in the nine-team sectional, with seeds in parentheses: Ada (4), Arlington (3), Delphos St. John’s (2), Hardin Northern (5), Temple Christian (8), New Knoxville, Ridgemont (7), USV (9) and Waynesfield-Goshen (6).

In the other half of the bracket, Waynesfield (11-9) plays Arlington (14-6) in the first round at Delphos St. John’s on Oct. 17. 

The winner advances to meet the DSJ (8-10)/Upper Scioto Valley (1-13) winner in the semis Oct. 21 at Shawnee.

The district finals are Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. in Shawnee.