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After missing out on the state tournament last year, Haverhill volleyball clinched a spot in it this season after beating up on Dracut, winning 3-0.

HAVERHILL — Chelmsford is one of the state’s boys volleyball titans. The two-time reigning Merrimack Valley Conference champs hadn’t lost a regular season match since April 2, 2008. Until yesterday. The Lions (11-1) led Haverhill 2-1 when the Hillies came to life. The Hillies (7-3) tied up the match with a 25-23 victory and then eked out a thrilling 18-16 final-game win. Brett Pettis led the way with 14 kills and Andrew Connolly, Drew Caruso and James Murray all added six kills of their own. Haverhill began the season with a 1-3 mark, including a 27-25, 25-19, 25-19 setback to the Lions. But the Brown and Gold have won six straight since. Chelmsford may be the top team in the state. The Lions proved their mettle by handing St. John’s Prep it’s lone loss this spring, 3-1. The Prep won state titles in 2006 and 2008 and was state runner-up last spring. The Eagles’ dominance led to their getting bounced from the MVC. Something about Chelmsford gets Haverhill athletes fired up. The Lions’ last league loss was to the Hillies in their 2008 season-opener. That year Chelmsford won 20 straight after that before being stunned by Pettis and Co. in the North semifinals. In 2005, the Haverhill football team posted a stunning 28-27 win over the Lions, snapping Chelmsford’s 29-game Merrimack Valley Conference winning streak.

Brett Pettis (14) and Drew Caruso (9) combined for 23 kills to power Haverhill to a 25-22, 25-19, 25-19 win over Methuen. Zach Sindoni chipped in with 33 assists. The Hillies improved to 3-2 with the victory.

Behind the front line prowess of Brett Pettis (team-high 18 kills), James Murray (12 kills) and Andrew Connolly (9 kills and 4 blocks), Haverhill won its first volleyball match of the young season, beating Lowell 15-13 in the decisive fifth game.