RallyNorth.net

After two days of waiting, the rain finally cleared — and Andover took care of business.

The Golden Warrior girls tennis team earned their chance at a second straight state title, defeating South champion Brookline 4-1 in the Division 1 state semifinals on Wednesday afternoon at Newton North. The match was postponed twice due to weather.

SHREWSBURY — It was déjà vu all over again for the Andover girls tennis team, who ended their season exactly the way they did a year ago, by beating Shrewsbury 3-2 in the Division 1 state final to cap off a perfect season.

The Golden Warriors (23-0) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but then had to sweat through a period of uncertainty as Shrewsbury (18-3) kept within striking distance in the other three matches.

The undefeated first doubles team of Paige Webster and Laurie-Maude Chenard won the clinching match as the unbeaten Andover girls tennis team clipped Acton-Boxboro 4-1 in the Division 1 North semifinals Wednesday afternoon.

Defending state champ Andover (18-0) downed Lexington, 3-2, to wrap up its second straight unbeaten regular season. And in 2013, the Golden Warriors lost just one regular-season match. No. 1 Courtney Nash and No. 3 Pooja Mukund were winners in singles.

Senior Abi Cohen made her varsity debut with a stellar effort in second doubles. She and Paige Webster won 6-2, 6-2 and Andover improved to 15-0 with a 5-0 win over Central Catholic.

Andover blanked Haverhill 5-0 to clinch the MVC Division 1 title. That's an amazing 32 straight (1984-present) MVC and/or MVC Division 1 crowns for the unbeaten defending Division 1 state champions. Kathleen Buck and Olivia Burns brought their A game with a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.

The Andover girls tennis team swept Tewksbury to improve to 13-0, winning all five matches in straight sets while dropping only two games in total.

Andover's Karena Yan outlasted North Andover's Sammie Bolognia 5-7, 6-0, 11-9 as the Golden Warriors downed the Scarlet Knights 5-0.

Sophomore Marina Rinaldi and junior Hannah Krichmar shined in their varsity debuts. They teamed for a 6-2, 6-1 win at second doubles to help Andover sweep Haverhill 5-0.