RallyNorth.net

LAWRENCE — Twenty-three straights wins — a league and now a sectional championship in hand — and George Sullivan won't budge.

NORTH ANDOVER — There are many positives to be said in any critique of the Andover volleyball season. One of the most significant would be how the Golden Warriors respond to a defeat — especially if North Andover is the opponent handing out the loss.

After Andover shut out Lexington last night and North Andover took care of Masconomet by the same 3-0 score, the two local rivals will square off for round three in the Division 1 semifinals. North Andover beat Andover in its season opener, but the Warriors have won 21 straight since and defeated the Knights (also 21-1) in a rematch.

The Andover volleyball team, which was supposedly rebuilding, won its 19th straight match, 3-0 over Methuen, to close the regular season at 19-1. The Warriors, who got 11 kills from Rachel Schnakenberg, 31 assists and 4 blocks from Azita Bakhytari and 16 service points from both  Mackenzie Kennedy and Sarah Kenyon, have shut out their last 12 opponents and have lost only four individual games all year.  

Andover handed North Andover its first loss of the season, 3-0, behind some terrific play from Azita Bakhtyari (23 assists), Sarah Kenyon (16 service points) and Wylie Boughton (8 blocks).

Andover's volleyball team won its 12th straight match, whipping Tewksbury in straight games as Azita Bakhtyari led the way in assists, service points (19) and digs. The Warriors host North Andover — the only team it has lost to — tomorrow. 

Azita Bakhtyari recorded 22 kills and added four aces as Andover volleyball swept rival Central Catholic 3-0.  

MacKenzie Kennedy had nine aces and Chelsea Hu added six aces as Andover's volleyball team routed Lowell in straight sets to improve to 7-1.

Erin Cox recorded 36 assists in an amazing 3-2 comback victory for North Andover over MVC rival Andover. It marked the first win ever for the Scarlet Knights over the Golden Warriors.