ANDOVER 3, LAWRENCE 1 | DIV. 1 NORTH VOLLEYBALL

Andover gets drop on Lancers

By Jack McCluskey, Globe Correspondent | November 12, 2007

LAWRENCE - Having played Lawrence twice during the season, Andover knew what to expect in yesterday's Division 1 North championship match: tips galore. The Lancers didn't disappoint, dropping balls left and right just over the net and the Andover blockers, but a change in the defensive alignment worked for the Golden Warriors, who came away winners, 3-1.

Andover coach George Sullivan said he changed to a 4-2, giving the Warriors an extra defender close to the net - freshman Annie Ye, who got her first start at libero in the championship.

"She played out of her mind," said Sullivan, after the 25-8, 19-25, 26-24, 25-14 win. "She didn't play like a freshman."

Senior cocaptain Katie Fionte agreed.

"Right now we're champions because Annie Ye, our libero, a freshman, stepped it up big time," said Fionte, one of three Andover players in double figures in kills with 12 (Annie Tibbitts and Meghan Thomann were the others with 12 and 11, respectively). "We couldn't have done it without her."

Lawrence coach Bill Brouder said nerves were a factor for Lawrence's best player Jadith Lorenzo, a 15-year-old junior from the Dominican Republic whose play earned her an invitation to try out for the US Olympic team.

Brouder saluted Andover's adjustments. "They covered our tips very well, and that was probably the difference in the game," Brouder said.

Andover plays Barnstable in the state semifinals Wednesday.