By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The Bluffton tennis team won both doubles matches but lost overall 3-2 at Northwest Conference rival Ada on a warm Monday evening at the resurfaced purple and gold park courts.
The Bulldog netters evened their record at 6-6 with the victory, while the Pirates fell to 2-6 with the defeat. It was Ada's fourth win in five matches over the past eight days.
The Bulldogs and Bluffton are the only two NWC schools that field boys tennis teams.
Pirate senior Thad Mittendorf and junior Bryan Zimmerman defeated Ada seniors Cole Anspaugh and Colton Biederman at first doubles in two sets.
At second doubles, the Bluffton tandem of senior Conner Lee and sophomore Braeden Ackerman won in two well-contested sets over the Ada sophomore tandem of Amelia Alexander and Geddes Klingler.
The teams battled hard throughout a long second set. Bluffton was able to close out the match by winning the last game when the Bulldog return of Ackerman's serve at 40-30 sailed just long.
Ada senior Miranda Wills rolled at first singles by dropping just one game to Pirate senior Eden Nygaard.
Wills used aggressive groundstroking, especially behind a strong topspin forehand, to control the match and court positioning that put Nygaard on the defensive most of the match.
Bulldog junior southpaw Dexter Woods III utilized fine net play with good angled volleys at number two singles to shut out Pirate Luke Shadle.
Ada junior Brendan Jameson won his match at third singles over Pirate senior Grant Klingler with good retrieving and athleticism.
In exhibition singles play, Bluffton sophomore Eli Wenger defeated normal doubles specialists Ada's Connor Daugherty, Brendan Kah and Ashlyn Madison with a powerful serve and strong forehand over several four-game sets.
Individual match results:
1st singles: Miranda Wills (Ada) defeated Eden Nygaard (B) 6-0, 6-1
2nd singles: Dexter Woods (Ada) def. Luke Shadle (B) 6-0, 6-0
3rd singles: Brendan Jameson (Ada) def. Grant Klingler (B) 6-2, 6-1
1st doubles: Thad Mittendorf/Bryan Zimmerman (B) def. Cole Anspaugh/Colton Biederman (Ada) 6-0, 6-2
2nd doubles: Conner Lee/Braeden Ackerman (B) def. Amelia Alexander/Geddes Klingler (Ada) 6-2, 6-4
Bluffton looks to rebound st home vs. two WBL foes later this week. The Pirates entertain Ottawa-Glandorf Wednesday, and then host Wapakoneta Thursday.
Bluffton is also slated to host Upper Sandusky Friday, April 30.
