By Cort Reynolds

LIMA – Ada High School senior Nathan Williams won the third-place match on day two of the Div. II boys singles sectional tournament at the University of Northwestern Ohio courts Saturday, May 17.

The feisty Bulldog lost to top-seeded eventual sectional champion Eben Jackson of Elida 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals Saturday morning.

The senior southpaw then played in the third-place match later on Saturday vs. Bluffton’s third-seeded Branson Hilty.

Williams avenged a narrow three-set home loss earlier this season to Hilty with a convincing straight-set 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Hilty had lost to second seed and sectional runner-up Jake Ackroyd of St. Marys in the other singles semifinal Saturday. 

“I am really proud of Nathan,” said Ada coach Carter Bivens. “He has had a rough season with some of his matchups, but he beat people in this sectional that he originally lost to and he has clearly learned from that.

“Last year he placed fourth, now he’s third and we are hoping that’s going to mean a much better outcome at district,” he noted.

Williams will play a second-place finisher from a different sectional in the first round at PC instead of a sectional champion by virtue of his consolation round win Saturday.

Any player or doubles team who makes it to the sectional semifinals advanced automatically to the Port Clinton district tournament next week.

Bulldog Williams hustled his way to three wins on day one to advance to the semifinals.

The quick Williams first whipped Van Wert’s Ben Verville in his round of 32 opener with a 6-0, 6-0 double bagel.

In the round of 16, he edged past Bath’s Taylor McCoy in a 6-4, 6-4 battle. Then in the quarterfinals, Williams eliminated Elida’s Tanner Layman 6-4, 6-0 to reach the semis.