By Cort Reynlds
BELLEFONTAINE - The Ada tennis team lost a tough 4-1 battle at Bellefontaine Monday evening in its season-opener.

The Chieftains improved to 2-0 with the win, while Ada is 0-1.

Sophomore southpaw Dexter Woods III posted the lone Bulldog win in straight sets at second singles. 

"I thought since it was the first time playing in a high school match for seven of our nine players that they did pretty well," said Ada head coach Dexter Woods.

Individual match results:
1st singles: Harsh Bakshi (B) def. Miranda Wills (Ada) 6-1, 6-0
2nd singles: Dexter Woods (Ada) def. Noah Burhanna (B) 6-3, 6-0
3rd singles: Truman Howell (B) def. Brendan Jameson (Ada) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4

1st doubles: Dakota Shell/Troy Taylor (B) def. Amelia Alexander/Cole Anspaugh (Ada) 6-2, 6-0
2nd doubles: Abe Burhanna/Drew Phillips (B) def. Geddes Klingler/Ashlyn Madison (Ada) 6-0, 6-0

"Miranda Wills played and lost to a really high-quality, highly-recruited player at first singles," said Woods. "They had a lot of good points.

"Dexter calmed down after the first several games and was consistent; he let the other player make errors," recalled the coach.

"Brendan Jameson played well; he started slowly with first-match nerves, then won the second set," said Woods. "He was down 0-5 in the third set, but didn't quit and almost made it all the way back (before losing 6-4). He had a really good first match.

"At first doubles, Amelia and Cole played a match that was closer than the score indicates," he continued. "They were in most of the games, but they didn't win the big points.

"At second doubles, Geddes and Ashlyn played better as the match went along; they improved a lot right in front of my eyes," Woods added.

Bulldogs Abid Khan and Colton Biederman also lost in a JV doubles match, 8-3.

Ada is scheduled to host its home opener Wednesday, March 31 at the park courts vs. Lima Central Catholic at 4:30 p.m. Weather permitting, it will be the first official home match on the refinished courts after last season was cancelled.

"It has been a long wait, and we are excited for the new courts to be used. They are really nice courts," Woods pointed out.

"I think LCC has an international player at first singles," he added. LCC beat Elida 5-0 Monday.