RallyNorth.net

Lawrence stuns undefeated Chelmsford

Thursday, May, 29 By Bill Burt
Sports editor

CHELMSFORD — Tony Hajjar has been here before, coaching an unsung Lawrence High boys volleyball team in late May and early June.

But this, what happened last night when his team defeated the Merrimack Valley Conference champs and undefeated Chelmsford High, in five games, was never in the cards.

"I'm not shocked we won tonight," said Hajjar, whose team almost blew a commanding 2-0 lead (25-16 and 25-19) before having to win the fifth and final game, 15-10, to advance to the Div. 1 North Finals on Monday night (7 p.m.) at Central Catholic versus the winner of tonight's semifinal between Acton-Boxboro and Cambridge Rindge & Latin.

"I'm shocked when I realize what is happening here," he said, of his team, now 19-4. "This is crazy. After returning only one starter (Christian Taveras) and bringing up last year's junior varsity team, we wanted to compete and have fun. Now we just play with nothing to lose. I sort of like this." 

The Chelmsford had everything going for it last night. An undefeated record (20-0). A huge, loud student section that would rival any state tourney boys basketball game. And it had a Merrimack Valley Conference championship trophy near its bench.

But Lawrence did its best to quiet the frenzied Chelmsford students, aggressively taking the first two games in convincing fashion.

Then, well, Lawrence looked like a team overmatched the next two games, falling 25-20 and 25-17, as the match was even. 

Lawrence led 4-2 in Game 3 before Chelmsford ran off five straight points, all on unforced errors, and never got within three points again. In Game 4, Chelmsford led 12-2 and coasted to the win.