Alexi Bell ’13 served 19 consecutive service points and nine aces in the first set of Andover Girls Volleyball’s 3-0 victory over Lawrence Academy on Saturday.
Andover crushed Lawrence in the opening set. Ahead from the start with Bell’s serves and spot-on sets from Olivia Bren ’13, Andover played confidently throughout the set, winning 25-3.
Bren commented“At the time out in the first game, Coach [Clyfe Beckwith] reminded us to keep our energy up, and that definitely helped us continue to play well.”
Starting the second set, Chelsea Ward ’12, Co-Captain of Girls Varsity Volleyball, set up an efficient offense that allowed Andover to gain the lead. Powering through the set, Mandy Reichenbach ’14 served six service points. Lucia McGloin ’13 followed with another nine service points, and Andover closed the set 25-4.
Reichenback said, “Our serving consistency allowed us to pull ahead of Lawrence. It was also a good game because people who [don’t] usually get to play got some court time.”
Carrying the momentum and consistency over into the third set, Co-Captain Jamie Shenk ’12 served nine consecutive points, bringing Andover to a lead which the team sustained with several kills from Zoe Roschach ’12. The set ended 25-9 in Andover’s favor.
Roschach said, “Our team has really been coming together since the beginning of our year. The chemistry our team has developed, I feel, [which] is why we have been doing so much better lately, than we had previously in the season.” Her only suggestions were for the team to “continue to play at the level we are capable of playing at, rather than becoming bored and playing down to [the opponent’s] level and making silly mistakes.”
On Sunday, Andover hosted the All Star Tournament, in which thirty two of the league’s most competitive volleyball players gathered for a day of play. Shenk, Ward, Roschach and Bell were Andover’s representatives. Of all the players present, 13 were chosen at the end of the day as the tournament All Stars. All four Andover players were chosen.
Andover will travel to Exeter this Saturday for its final match of the regular season. To continue its string of victories, Andover will have to maintain the strength it displayed in the game against Lawrence Academy.
Roschach said, “When we play Exeter, it will be vital that we keep our spirits up at all times. Our team has had some bad experiences with crowd… and when one player on the court gets in a bad mood, it brings the whole team down.”
Luckily for Andover, the team has found coherence in recent weeks and is confident that they will defeat Exeter in the upcoming match.
