Volleyball BV

Choate Rosemary Hall

Date/Time Home/Away Type Field Location Score
5/16/2009 9:30 AM Away Tournament Choate Rosemary Hall 0-3

PA, Seeded Third Of Four, Ends The Season In Third.

#1. NMH beat #4 Wilbraham-Monson
#2. Choate beat #3 Phillips Andover 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-22)

In the consolation game, Phillips Andover beat Wilbraham-Monson 3-0 (25-15,26-24,25-17)
The finals were still going when Phillips Andover got on the road for the three-hour trip home. NMH had just taken the third set after going down 0-2 to Choate.

In the first round (not really semi-finals, since there are only four teams in the league) Andover got off to a slow start against the host Choate. In the first set Andover managed to win only three service points. Early-on Andover and Choate exchanged side-out points. Andover took a tentative lead at 6-5, then lost the lead for good to Choate. In the second set Choate took an early lead at 7-3. Andover rallied back for a brief 13-12 lead, but then went down by as much as seven points to a 22-15 Choate lead. Although Andover fought back to 22-23, Choate took the second set as well. In the third set Andover froze and allowed Choate a 6-0 start. Although Andover fought back to tie the set at 22 a-piece, Choate knew how to best the Andover team and won the third match of three meetings this season.
Andover went on to play in the consolation bracket versus Wilbraham-Monson. The play was markedly flat as the players on both sides were frequently distracted by the hollering and cheering of a successful play in the finals match. Andover took an early lead and never relinquished it in the first set. In the second set Wilbraham-Monson went ahead at 6-4, and staved off Andover's come-backs through 9 rotations holding onto the lead until 21-18, when Andover went ahead 22-21. Wilbraham pushed ahead to set-point at 24-22, but then lost to Andover 24-26. In the third set the two teams traded the lead several times until Andover went ahead at 10-8 and held on for good for the win.

Andover's day was marked by too many missed serves and miscues. The team graduates four seniors who have contributed much to the program over their years: we wish Menelik Washington (his vertical jump and spike are visions of joy), Sam Burwell (his hustle on the back court and his top-spin hits were legendary), Tim Wong (who unfortunately was injured for most of the season, but contributed with his energetic block and quick "1's" when available), and Christian Anderson (a superb effort and sacrificing of his body in the back row) a fond farewell and much success in college.

The team concludes the season with a 3-5 in-league record, and a 5-8 overall record.