Girls’ volleyball defeated Winchester 3-1 Monday, Nov. 8th at home in the MIAA Volleyball Tournament, with an explosive surge on offense in the third and fourth sets.

“We were trying to get into a rhythm,” said Nile Fox, the head coach. “We started off slow in the first sets, but we tried to get into a rhythm offensively in the third and fourth sets.”

The Tigers started their first set in a stalemate with Winchester. Both teams managed to keep the game relatively close. However, with impressive performances on both defense and offense, North went on two 3-0 runs late in the period to win the first set 25-23.

At the start of the second set, Winchester took control by jumping out to a four-point lead. However, North managed to put together a few good plays, tying up the game at 24 apiece. Despite the rally, Westminster scored two straight points, winning the set 26-24.

According to Fox, he is proud of the improvement of the athletes, even though they struggled offensively at the start of the game. “I really think that the first two sets we started off slow offensively,” said Fox. “But we continue to get better every game.”

During the third set, North went up early with a six-point lead against Winchester and continued their dominance coasting to an easy victory 25-11.

In the fourth set, both teams went back and forth. In the end, North’s offense proved to be too aggressive for Winchester to handle, and the Tigers won the final set 25-20.

“I think we had a really good last two sets and we really showed what Tiger Volley’s all about and were ready to play in another round,” said sophomore Lucy Pernisie, a member of the team.

Sophomore Katelin Simmons added that she enjoyed seeing the team power through a match without full rest. “I think we came back from having really low energy and it was overall a fun game,” said Simmons.

The Tigers advance to the Elite Eight and will play at North Andover Friday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m.