Andover Girls Volleyball opened its season with a four game winning streak, establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with in the league. Its 6-1 record reflects a strong start to the season as a direct result of its ability to rally back from several point deficits late in its games.
“In past years, the team has had a difficult time coming back when we started to lose a game. That’s why this year is different, because when push comes to shove we make it through and win the game. St. Paul’s is a perfect example of that,” Co-Captain Annette Bell ’16 wrote in an email to The Phillipian.
In its game against St. Paul’s School, Andover gained a 2-0 set lead over its opposition and hoped to finish the game with a match point at 24-23. Despite this advantage, St. Paul’s quickly claimed the next two points, forcing another set. Andover lost the fourth set 11-25 but snatched a tight 15-12 victory in the last set to win the game 3-2.
Darcy Burnham ’18 wrote in an email to The Phillipian, “In that game, we couldn’t keep our energy consistent, and when St. Paul’s got a few points, we were not able to recover. We could have won in fewer games, but instead we had to really fight for it to make up for our own mistakes.”
The team’s mental stamina plays a key role in how it approaches these tough game situations. Andover’s positive team dynamic holds the group together when games get heated.
Franziska Trautmann ’16 wrote in an email to The Phillipian, “I think working together to not get upset when we mess up has really helped us to get out of ruts and come back from a loss or just being down in a game. That skill comes from a lot of team bonding.”
Co-Captain Erica Shin ’16 added, “We have this tendency to lose one point and then another and then a ton of points and we have trouble getting back our momentum. I think what has to happen is we have to have a big point. Some one has to get up there and slam the ball down. It has to be an exciting point to get our energy back up and put us back in the game.”
By learning to bounce back from adversity, Andover has proved its great potential for success this season.
Bell said, “Our team thrives off of challenge. We come together as a team while fighting back with all our hearts. We are a very persistent team and I am looking forward to what’s to come.”
Editor’s Note: Erica Shin ’16 is a Managing Editor for The Phillipian.
