RallyNorth.net

Kelsey Chapman missed the past three weeks with a back injury but she returned yesterday and helped No. 11 Andover beat No. 3-seeded Chelmsford 4-1 in the Division 1 North quarterfinals in girls tennis.

Methuen girls tennis pulled off an upset victory by beating Andover 3-2.

"Biggest match that we've had and best win of our program since I've been here," said Methuen coach Eileen Malloy who has been coaching at Methuen since 1997 and had never beaten the Golden Warriors until yesterday. "These girls played the match of their lives."

Facing the strongest challenge to its MVC title yet, Andover managed to hold off Central Catholic for a 3-2 victory. Michelle Krupnik fought for a 6-3, 6-4 victory at second singles to key the win for the Warriors.

 Third singles was the last match of the day and Michelle Krupnik pulled out an exciting 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 win to lift Andover past Central Catholic, 3-2.
The win was especially gratifying since the day before Andover had lost to Chelmsford, 3-2. According to the Lowell Sun, it was Andover’s first Merrimack Valley Conference loss since a 3-2 setback to Lowell on May 21, 1990.
“Michelle refocused in the third set and kept her confidence. She stepped in on the service and put them away,” said Andover coach Jen Deschenes.
 Andover’s second doubles team of Reid Campbell and Sam Camillo also pulled out a big win. Camillo, typically a singles player, was pressed into action due to injury.
The Golden Warriors (10-3, 7-1 MVC) swept the doubles with Rachel Holzman and Melanie Zakin victorious at No. 1.
Central (8-1) rolled at No. 1-2 singles with Jackie Carroll and Jana Winfield both winning in straight sets.

It came down to second doubles and Andover's Reiv Campbell-Melanie Zakin prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. They led the Golden Warriors to a 3-2 win.

A cerebral match from Rachel Holzman at third singles made the difference in Andover's 3-2 victory over Manchester Essex, the first loss suffered by the Hornets this year. After dropping the first set, Holzman won a second-set tiebreaker and carried the play from there. "Rachel started playing her game," head coach Jen Deschenes said, "and she got into other player's head. Rachel played more consistently as well."