While Andover Boys Volleyball defeated Storm King and North Mount Hermon (NMH) in authoritative sweeps, the team fell to Exeter away. Andover dominated Storm King and, against North Mount Hermon, despite hard-fought sets, rallied to win every set. However the momentum from these two victories did not translate into the following game against Exeter as Andover was blown out 3-0. This game marked a tie in this series as Andover defeated Exeter 3-2 earlier in the season, adding anticipation to a potential playoff matchup.
With that brilliant game against Storm King, Jack Alexander ’25 described the creativity and fun that the team played with.
“The one play that I can remember was against Storm King. We were all excited because NMH is a fun gym, and it’s in a beautiful area. It was a lovely day to play volleyball, and Ajay [Mistry ’26] was setting. Everything lined up where the ball was close to the net and far to the left. I realized that I wouldn’t be able to run in front of him, and I would have to go behind him. I ran right behind him, and I ran quickly. Everyone got loud afterwards, and from that point to the rest of the day, we were all extremely pumped,” said Jack Alexander.
Despite the team’s positive mindset in the match against NMH, every point was a battle, and both teams went back and forth. Ren Oh ’28 praised Michael Huang ’26 for a consistent and confident game, leading Andover to a decisive victory.
“I want to shout out Michael Huang. Early in the game, as a whole, there were serves we couldn’t receive, which led to incomplete offenses and made it harder for us to get a good hit over the net. Instead of backing down, Michael kept pushing. He was one of our foundations on defense and had very consistent swings. Overall, he played really well because he was confident in his ability to serve-receive and pass well,” said Ren Oh.
The NMH team was a well-rounded and challenging matchup for Andover. Huang describes the mindset that pushed Andover to overcome the NMH scoring runs.
“The most important part of the game is owning your confidence, knowing that you can do what you’re supposed to do. We were the better team in the gym, but at the start, we let the home crowd affect us. We got in our heads, started getting nervous, and stiffened up. The key to overcoming that is reminding yourself that it isn’t impossible. For example, on serves, they were good, but not out-of-this-world intense. You need to stay calm, stay focused, and dig in, so the team can move forward. Be confident, know you can be better than the other team, and know you can win. When the team needs someone to step up, you have to be the one to do it,” said Huang.
Going away to face a powerful Exeter team – a team with a 5-1 record – away at Exeter for a Wednesday game, coupled with the pressure and stakes of a playoff-affecting rivalry game, can shake even the most consistent teams. Alexander describes Boys Volleyball’s sluggish start and the increase in intensity during the third set.
Alexander said, “We never properly woke up. It felt like we didn’t get off the bus, and it didn’t help that it was also a Wednesday. It can be hard mentally to prepare for a game when you know you have class the following day or an assignment later that night. We were slow to start, but by the third set, we were all mentally prepared. Inti [Stephenson ’25] and Arthur [Wu ’25], our captains, did a great job delivering speeches and keeping us motivated. We came out, hustled, and went for every loose ball, a big improvement from the first two sets, where we were slow, hesitant, and miscommunicated.”
Looking ahead to a potential playoff matchup with Exeter, Jack Alexander ’25 expanded on his previous statement and discussed what the team needs to do to secure a win for the championship.
“On the technical side, passing has always been a weak point for us. Arthur [Wu] mentioned that hitting out of system is something we struggle with. We either play too dangerously or don’t find the right in-between. A lot of times, we can put a soft hit in a good area to disrupt the other team’s attack. It’s also about doing the little things. If a ball goes up, instead of waiting for someone else, go for it yourself. We all know we need to put that into practice. Coming up, we play on Saturday, and then Exeter in less than two weeks. We’re planning on that and focusing on doing all these small things to help us play better,” said Alexander.
Andover will play Choate Rosemary Hall on May 3, and if it advances to the NEPSAC Championship, will face Exeter on May 10.
