After a helpful scrimmage last week against St. John’s Prep, the Andover Boys Volleyball team hosted Northfield Mount Hermon on Saturday, last year’s New England Champions. After losing to NMH in the season opening game this year, 3-0, Andover was eager to show its improvement. In Andover’s 3-0 loss, Peter Yang ’10 was in the setter position for all three games. He set the ball for both outside hitters, Co-Captain Sam Burwell ’09 and Peter Bang ’11. Weakside hitter Paul Bloemsma ’10 also helped the team both offensively and defensively as a starter for Andover. “It took us until the 2nd game to really get our rhythm,” explained Yang. Good team chemistry led to a close game for the team with Andover leading 22-20 until NMH stole the game with the next five points in a row. Despite the high energy leaking into the third game, the team fell to NMH’s overwhelming offense, leaving Andover with a 0-3 loss. On Wednesday, Phillips Academy scrimmaged Andover High School and lost, 3-1. For this game, the team played in a 5-1 rotation with the starting lineup consisting of Co-Captain Menelik Washington ’09, Co-Captain Burwell, Andrew Khang ’10, Bang, Bloemsma, and Christian Anderson ’09. “It was one of the first times we’ve had the complete starting lineup of returners, plus two other starters in Peter Bang and Paul Bloemsma,” said Khang. “This match could be the turning point of this season.” On Saturday, Andover heads to Wilbraham-Monson in hopes of another victory, as the team won the last game in a shutout against WMHS 3-0.
