Will Oh ’26 serves in final sets to comeback against Exeter.
Boys Volleyball (6-0) overcame Exeter in a stunning, come-back victory. Andover took the first set but dropped the next two, then stormed back in the fourth and fifth to upset Exeter. Exceptional performances from Jeremy Woodley ’26, Captain Arthur Wu ’25, and Captain Inti Stephenson ’25 led the team to its first victory against Exeter in two years, while also continuing the team’s six-game win streak.
Down two sets to one, Andover needed to rally for a comeback. Wu explained the mentality switch among the team as it decided to take more risks and push themselves until the end.
“When we were up by one [set], we felt good and confident with our swings. In the next two sets, you could see that we were being safe. In the fourth set, we just decided to go all out—really hit the ball, crank it when we could, and go for it. We pushed ourselves when the game was on the line,” said Wu.
Will Oh ’26 also describes the refocusing and mentality of Andover coming into the fourth and fifth sets. With nothing left to lose and it’s back to the wall, the team also brought confidence and composure, changing the tide of the match.
“Our mentality was that we had nothing to lose after that third set. Because of that mentality, we needed to focus and boost our confidence, bringing that ego and confidence with us. That boost of confidence allowed us to play with intensity and ultimately win the game,” said Oh.
Wu highlighted some players instrumental to Andover’s rally, specifically praising Brandon Fu ’25 and Stephenson for their ability to adapt and take control during crucial moments through the five-set thriller.
“Brandon stepped into that role whenever needed, especially coming cold off the bench and having to come in right away. He did a great job. Another person who stood out was my co-captain, Inti. He was always there for the ball, which was important in prolonging points and keeping the ball alive,” said Wu.
Going into the fifth set and needing energy, Ren Oh ’28 shouted out Woodley for his strong performance that sealed the game for Andover.
“I want to highlight Jeremy’s performance in the last set. We were up a few points because we got a couple of aces and had smart plays. We started having a little trouble, and they began to catch up. We started setting Jeremy more, and he just kept hitting them. He kept coming, and that was the energy we needed to take back that final set and steal the game,” said Oh.
Andover and Exeter are storied rivals. Against Exeter, Andover has been in a drought for over two years. Oh ’28 emphasized the significance of this victory and the confidence boost it instills for future games.
“Beating Exeter in any sport is big. We are rival schools, so the competition between us is at a higher level compared to other schools. Especially since Exeter is the closest level to us in the NEPSAC league, winning today was a big victory. It set the tone. We’re 6-0 now, and when we go against them later in the season—if we get to the finals, which I think we will—and we have to go against them, we’ll have that slight edge on them. I am looking forward to that. Today was a big win, not only because of the history but also because Exeter is a very good team, and we will play them in the future,” said Oh.
Boys Volleyball will go to North Andover High School for its next match on Wednesday.
