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NORTH ANDOVER — If ever there was a chance to knock off North Reading's vaunted girls volleyball team, this seemed like the year.

After all, the Hornets returned only three starters from last year's 23-2 squad and were moving up to tougher Division 2 competition.

Not so fast.

A combination of off-season activity plus the culture of victory cultivated under head coach Keri Verdonck's five-plus seasons keeps North Reading at the top, now at 14-1 after a 3-1 defeat of senior-laden North Andover yesterday.

"Half of the team played for North Shore during the off-season," junior hitter Kirsten Morrison explained of a club league based at Masconomet Regional playing squads throughout the Merrimack Valley and southern N.H. "It's really helped us gel."

"My dad coaches there," said senior, and first-year setter, Taylor Dyer. "We all go to camp during the summer as well. It gives us time to get to know one another better, but most of us have been together since we were freshmen and sophomores. For two or three years, we've known each other and we're friends off the court, too."

This familiarity and friendship has helped Dyer slide into the critical role of funneling her second touches to Morrison and other front-line Hornets.

"I started (at setter) last winter and it was difficult to get everyone's preferences," Dyer said, "but as the season goes on, it's easier to learn. Kirsten (with a game-high 14 kills vs. the Knights) has done a good job following me and we have a good flow (on the court)."

"That No. 12 (Dyer) is a phenomenal setter," said Scarlet Knight head coach Veronica Schaefer after her team's second loss of the year, both at the hands of the Hornets.

"North Andover hasn't beat North Reading, ever," Schaefer said, "and we're trying to break that mind-set, get over the hump of doing that."

Hopefully, recovering from a 2-0, 19-14 deficit in game three behind huge kills from Angie Brunette (team-high 13 kills) and Brooke Morganthaler (10 kills) will be a step down that road.

But this came after the Hornets recovered from a seven-point deficit to win the second game and then rode seven straight service points from Nichole Cecchini to an eventual victory.

"I'm five months pregnant and it feels like nine months," Schaefer said after the setback.

North Reading 3, North Andover 1

North Reading (14-1):25252125—3

North Andover (13-2):20222517—1

Kills: NR — Kirsten Morrison 14, Nichole Cecchini 9; NA — Angie Brunette 13, Brooke Morganthaler 10

Blocks: NR — Morrison 4; NA — Morganthaler 3

Assists: NR — Taylor Dyer 29; NA — Suzanne Morin 19

Service points (aces): NR — Dyer 21 (4); NA — Morin 11 (Morganthaler 4)

Digs: NR — Jessica Crugnale 18; NA — Erin Burns 21

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