On Saturday, the Andover Girls Varsity Volleyball team came back from a 0-1 deficit to beat Deerfield by a score of 3-1 due in large part to Atima Lui ’08, who vaulted Andover into the lead in games two and three. Lui had a combined seven aces on 34 for 36 serving throughout the match, the most successful and attempted serves by any Andover player so far this year. In fact, the 20 successful-serve mark has only been bettered six times this season, and never has anyone eclipsed 30. On Wednesday, Andover faced off against St. Paul’s. This game was much less dramatic, as Andover swept all three games. Because of this, many from the second team were able to see playing time. The first game against Deerfield started out on a bad note, with Andover trailing 0-5. Andover rallied back to tie at 15-15 and 25-25 but ultimately lost the opener 27-30. Andover got out to a quick lead in hte second game. They, however, lost that lead just as quickly. Deerfield came back to leave only a one point deficit at 17-16. At this point, Sarah Thomas ’06 had to leave with an ankle injury but would return later in great form. Still in the game, however, was Lui, who stepped up to the service line and won ten quick points, giving Andover a 27-17 lead and winning the game. In game three, Andover led by as much as five when, again, Deerfield stormed back to tie it at 21-21. Once again, Lui stepped up to serve. This time she served a five point streak, giving Andover a 26-22 lead, and, again, the game. Thomas returned in game four to make up for the time lost. She went 9-2, serving out nine consecutive points to give Andover a 15 point lead, more than enough to secure the game and the match, 27-30, 30-19, 30-23, and 30-18. Lui lead the team with aces and serves, with seven aces on 34 for 36 serving. She also had three kills on six for eight hitting and one stuff. Two players lead the team in kills, with ten each. Caroline Levin ’06 had hers with 22 for 26 hitting. She also had one ace on a perfect 11 for 11 day serving. Lindsay Maroney ’07 got her ten kills on 18 for 21 hitting. She also led the team with six stuffs on 11 for 11 blocking and had one ace on 16 for 16 serving. Cassidy Carpenter ’08 led the team with 29 assists. She also had two kills on four for six hitting, four aces on 13 for 16 serving and two stuffs on four for seven blocking. Captain Jackie Price ’06 also had a good match with eight kills and a team high 28 successful hits on 34 attempts. In defeating Deerfield, Andover improved its record to 11-0 in league play. Wednesday’s game could not quite reach the intensity of Saturday’s. Despite a close second game, Andover took all three games 30-22, 30-28, and 30-20. Every member of the team got some court time against St. Paul’s. Price led the team with nine kills on 15 for 16 hitting, Carpenter had 22 assists, and Maroney and Pia Heilmann ’07 each served up three aces. Andover is still the only undefeated team in the league with a 12-0 intra-league record. Andover has no match this upcoming weekend and will instead send four players to the all-star game. The top two teams in the league send four players, teams three through eight send three, and teams nine through 15 send two. Andover sends its starting seniors, Captain Price, Levin, Thomas, and Claire Fox ’06. After the all-star game, Andover will play a scrimmage against Worcester and the Exeter match before the league Tournament on November 16th.
