With Andover Volleyball trailing by four points in the third set, Alex Becker ’15 slammed a cross-court spike that fired up the Andover crowd and gave the team momentum at a crucial point in its match against Exeter this past Saturday. Despite the team’s efforts, Andover fell to Exeter 3-2.
“We came out ready to win. Since we won the first point, the whole crowd got pumped up and loud,” said Franziska Trautmann ’16.
Overwhelmed by the cheers and blaring vuvuzelas, Exeter dropped behind early in the first set. Becker made good use of her speed and aim, giving Andover a 7-1 advantage. Andover’s lead began to narrow progressively until Exeter overtook Andover at 16-17.
Eden Livingston ’15 ended Exeter’s short reign with four powerful serves, bringing the score to 21-17. Andover scraped out the last four points to capture the first set 25-21.
“We came out swinging; it was our house and we wanted to win. We played as one unit. There was no question that everyone was responsible for their own section and we all worked as one,” said Becker.
After a consistent and strong first set, Andover lost a string of points midway through the second set. Alternating points all the way to 7-7, Exeter found its stride and captured a 14-9 lead. The second set ended 25-12, with Andover unable to close the large gap. With Livingston injured towards the end of the second set, Andover was forced to adjust its lineup for the rest of the match.
“We were already in a rut when the injury happened. It takes time to get used to new people playing on the court with you,” said Evelyn Mesler ’17.
After it won the second set with a large margin, Exeter brought its momentum into the start of the third set. It held the lead from 7-5 to 14-9. Andover, unable to adapt to its new lineup, fell 25-21 to drop two sets in a row.
Andover held a significant lead in the fourth set. Becker’s serves extended Andover’s lead to 19-10. Exeter fought back and brought the score to 23-20. At 24-20, Mesler hit over its block to even the set score, 2-2, by ending the fourth 25-20.
“There was more pressure to win in the fourth because if we did not win we would lose immediately. When there is less pressure to win sometimes you can brush off a few mis-hits. We all focused and got our acts together,” said Mesler.
In the fifth set Andover lost a small lead to fall behind 8-7. Exeter edged out Andover with the last few points, winning the fifth set 15-11.
After a close loss to its rival, Volleyball proceeded to be the only Andover team to win its first Championship match this season.
Andover defeated Milton comfortably. After dropping the first set, the team stormed back to win by a 3-1 margin.
Because it fell behind 19-10 in the first set, Andover was unable to mount a significant comeback. The team lost the set 25-18.
“We came out really without any energy, but they came out swinging because they knew that they had to put up a fight to win,” said Isabel Taylor ’15.
Andover regrouped for the second set. With Taylor’s accurate serves, the team quickly captured a 3-0 lead. This lead continued to 9-3 and 16-8. This gap stayed consistent throughout the entire set. At 24-14 Mesler hit to the back left to secure the second set with a 25-14.
In the third set Andover trailed by as much as four points midway through the set. With tips from Co-Captain Annette Bell ’16 and Taylor, Andover jumped ahead to 17-15. The score stayed within two all the way to the conclusion, where Becker hit a side out for the set-clinching point.
“[Becker] did a great job today. She hit extremely hard today even though her knee is injured,” said Taylor.
Andover held the lead into the beginning of the fourth set. With Becker’s serves, Andover leaped ahead to 17-10. Trautmann and Becker ended the final set with two consecutive hits for the 3-1 victory.
As the only Andover team left in the playoffs, the team will play its next match on Sunday in its quest for the championship.
