RallyNorth.net

Andover beats Chelmsford, advances to North final

Azita Bakhtyari's 33 assists led the way while Wyllie Boughton added 10 digs, three blocks and four aces.

Bakhtyari and Boughton helped third-seeded Andover roll 3-0 over seventh-seeded Chelmsford in the semifinals of the Division 1 North girls volleyball tournament.

Colleen Mullins recorded 13 kills and Mackenzie Kennedy added 14 service points. 

"We played great today, probably had one of our best matches of the season," Andover coach Jane Bergin said.

The Golden Warriors (20-1) look to repeat as Division 1 North champs. They went 23-2 and were Division 1 state runner-ups last fall.

But MVC rival North Andover stands in Andover's way. Andover won its semifinal 3-0 over Billerica.  

The championship is at 4 p.m. Sunday at Tewksbury Memorial High. 

The two schools split the regular-season series 1-1. 

North Andover handed Andover its only loss with a 3-0 sweep at North Andover on Oct. 10. That came after the Golden Warriors had swept the Knights 3-0 in Andover on Sept. 17.

"We're ready for them. They're ready us," Bergin said about the North final. "It could be one of the best matches we see here in a few years in the Merrimack Valley. We respect them and their coaching staff. It's anyone's ballgame and the team with the fewest unforced errors is going to win."