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By Cort Reynolds

ADA __The Ada High School varsity volleyball team returns considerable experienced talent and two promising freshmen for veteran head coach Kyleigh Woodruff for fall 2025. 

The 2024 Bulldog spikers posted an 11-12 overall record in a building year. Ada went 3-7 in its first BVC campaign to finish eighth in the tough 11-team league, then lost a tough sectional match to county rival Hardin Northern.

The Bulldogs lost libero/digs leader Jenna Bassitt and versatile Tess Griffith to graduation, but return several good hitters this season.

Seven letter winners and seven players who started at some point return to combine with some good freshmen in Woodruff’s eighth-year at the helm.

Five seniors and seven juniors help comprise a large 14-player varsity Bulldog spike roster this fall.    

“This will be one of the taller and more experienced teams I have had,” said Woodruff. “We lost some close matches we could have won last year. I would like to see us win some more of those close ones this year.”

Woodruff noted that the team will run a 6-2 offense this year with two setters.

Athletic 6-0 senior hitter Anna Conley is a returning three-time letter winner, and a key hitter/ blocker. Conley made honorable mention All-BVC last fall.

“Anna has been a strong front row middle,” said Woodruff. “This year she will be mostly an outside hitter. She does a nice job defensively, and is a good blocker and leader.”

Senior three-year letter winner Alyssa Madison will move to libero after spending last season as a defensive specialist. “She is ready to take over the libero role; Alyssa is an aggressive hustler,” said the coach.

Heady senior Alainee Buxton is a right side hitter who is versatile enough to play a lot of different positions. “She has a good vertical and is a quick hustler,” offered Woodruff. “She is a good server who can set, hit and play back row.”

Senior Ashley Hevlin missed most of last year with a foot injury. At almost 5-9, she can be an effective right side hitter and blocker. “She works hard,” said the coach.

Madi Baldazo is the fifth senior back on the roster as another right side hitter. “Madi is a good placement hitter,” noted the coach. “She is a positive, good teammate.”

Tall and skilled hitters Brooklyn Andreasen and Dailah Preston lead a deep and solid seven-player junior class. 

Both lend height, hitting and blocking skills to the lineup and showed great improvement last season. At about 5-9, Andreasen is a very accurate and clutch placement hitter with power. 

“Brook is a good hitter who will play middle hitter/blocker,” Woodruff observed. “She has a good connection with setter Jaylin, and is a hustler with good hitting placement.”

At 5-11, Preston will be a key middle blocker after hitting outside her first two years. “Dailah is a hard hitter and huge blocker who hustles and is someone who plays all over the court,” said Woodruff.

Promising 5-8 junior Alivia Gibson gained valuable experience as an outside hitter last year. She showed flashes of good hitting ability and hustle. “Alivia will play all around the court, she is good in the back row and is a hustler,” said Woodruff. “She plays good defense.”

Junior setter Jaylin St. Laurent is back after taking over the setting duties in mid-season when she returned from a knee injury. “She has a strong float serve,” said the coach. “She gained valuable experience and chemistry with the hitters last year. She is a good, positive leader.”

Junior Harlyn Lowry is an intense defensive specialist returning from shoulder surgery. “She is a very good defensive hustler,” said Woodruff.

Junior Becca Preston is another defensive specialist up from the JV team. “Becca is a consistent back row defender,” noted the coach.

Junior Taylor Price is yet another defensive specialist in that deep corps of position players on the roster. “Taylor can hit, return serve, defend and is a versatile hustler,” the coach offered.

Tea Griffith, a powerful 6-0 freshman, will be the other setter in the 6-2 formation. She could also see time as a right outside hitter. ”She is a strong hitter and blocker,” said Woodruff.

Lucy Carter is the other freshman on the roster expected to contribute as a defensive specialist and outside hitter. She has good instincts and athletic ability. “She is a very fast hustler with a high volleyball IQ,” Woodruff noted.

Ada enters its second season as a member of the 11-team Blanchard Valley Conference. Woodruff calls it a “very strong league. We start the (league) season with Liberty-Benton, which is in its last year in the BVC.”

Leipsic won the 2024 BVC crown at 10-0 in their return to the BVC after a short stint as a member of the NWC. Viking hitter Danaysia Danzy was voted BVC Player of the Year. 

Pandora-Gilboa finished second (9-1), followed by Liberty-Benton (8-2) in third. Arlington, McComb and Van Buren each tied for fourth (6-4), with Riverdale seventh at 4-6.

Ada came in eighth at 3-7, ahead of three teams - Arcadia, Elmwood and Vanlue – who tied for ninth place at 1-9.

“We have a lot of potential, but we just want to take it one match at a time," Woodruff said when asked about the possible Bulldog finish in the BVC race. 

“I am looking forward to the season,” she offered. “We have a larger group of returning letter winners. So we have a lot of experience. We also have good height and good chemistry. Our returning setter has good chemistry with our hitters.

“Our goals are to have a winning season overall, and win more BVC matches than last year,” she noted. To achieve those goals, she says Ada must do the basics and miscues that plagued Ada last year. 

“We need to eliminate errors and not allow our opponents to go on long scoring runs,” Woodruff warned.

Former Ada spiker Kylie Acheson returns as the junior varsity coach.     

Ada is slated to open the season at county rival Kenton on August 19.  

The BVC lidlifter is September 3 at defending champion Liberty-Benton. The belated home opener is Sept 8 vs. Vanlue. The Bulldogs only have six home dates as their first 10 matches are on the road.

Ada 2025 volleyball at a glance

2024 record: 11-12, 3-7 BVC (8th of 11)

Head coach: Kyleigh Woodruff, 8th year

Offense: 6/2

Letter winners back/lost: 7/4

Top returnees: Sr. MB Anna Conley, Sr. DS Alyssa Madison, Sr. OH Alainee Buxton, Jr. MH Dailah Preston, Jr. OH Brooklyn Andreasen, Jr. S Jaylin St. Laurent, Jr. OH Alivia Gibson, Sr. OH Ashley Hevlin, Jr. DS Harlyn Lowry, Jr. DS Becca Preston. 

Top varsity newcomers: Fr. S Tea Griffith, Fr. DS Lucy Carter