The fifth-seeded girls varsity volleyball team defeated fourth-ranked Phillips Andover Academy 3-0 on Wednesday, November 16, to advance to the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) Class A Tournament semifinals.

The game started off poorly for the Pelicans, and they fell behind 0-6 after six straight unforced errors. A timeout helped to reset the mindset, and Loomis surged to tie the game at eight behind strong serving, including three aces from senior captain Kori Meissner. From there, the two teams battled and the game stayed tight. Kills from sophomore Liv Westfort and senior Syd Hanley helped the Pelicans jump out in front, and Loomis held onto the lead to take the first game 25-23.

Having settled in, the Pelicans minimized their errors and dominated the second game. Great offense from junior Maddie Moenkhaus and an impressive service run from senior Kaitlin Flynn helped the Pelicans take game two 25-14.

With the momentum on their side, the Pelicans entered the third game with confidence and rattled off 11 unanswered points. A timeout from Andover killed some of the momentum, but the Pelicans stayed disciplined and took the third and final game with a score of 25-16.

Up next, the Pelicans take on Phillips Exeter Academy in the semifinals on Saturday, November 19. Details for game time, location, and livestreaming have yet to be determined by NEPSAC.