RallyNorth.net

Andover sets up rivalry clash

The season is about to come full circle for the Andover girls volleyball team.

"We started the season with North Andover," said Golden Warriors coach George Sullivan. "Now we will be taken them on for the North title. Everything is back to where it began."

Behind an outstanding performance by a trio of hitters, top-seeded Andover dispached of pesky No. 4 Reading 25-21, 17-25, 25-21, 25-20 in the Division 1 North semifinals.

The victory set up a rematch of neighboring rivals, as the Golden Warriors will take on the No. 6 Scarlet Knights n the Division 1 North finals, a team the Warriors topped 3-0 in their season-opener and 3-2 in a midseason meeting.

The two squads will face off Saturday at Lawrence High School. The time is TBA.

"We were willing to take on either North Andover or Central Catholic," said Sullivan. "Both are very good teams. But we are excited for the season to come full circle."

Lauren Gibson paced the Golden Warriors, notching team-highs with 15 kills and 18 service points. Marcela Familiar-Bolanos was right behind her with 14 kills, while Liz Wait chipped in with 11 kills and six blocks and Azita Bakhtyari had a team-best seven aces.

"Our front line stepped up bigtime," said Sullivan. "And we are going to need that against North Andover.

"This was a tough game. We trailed in the third and fourth set and came back. Sarah Weimer (12 digs) and Becky Hoffman also played really well."