You Gotta Have Heart

Dick Collis has graciously provided a summary; so, off we go to recap a titanic struggle between long-time adversaries. Stats are unofficial.

Game 1     Melrose 25  Reading 22. 

• Reading had 3 service errors  Melrose 1.  
• Melrose 8 kills  4 by Jill- 2 by Athena- and 2 by Brooke. 
• Aces-- Alyssa 1---
• Melrose captured this game with a spirited comeback. I think Melrose was down 15 to 8

Game 2 Melrose 25  Reading 22

• Service errors one apiece. 
• Melrose had 8 Kills 3 by Jill, 2 by Rachel Johnson, 2 by Athena- 1 by Alyssa. 
• Aces 4--Athena 1, 3 by Jill.  --- Melrose had the lead from a 10-10 for the rest of the match. 
• Melrose was up 23 to 16 (echoes of 2002 at Reading), and Reading closed to 23 to 22 but unlike 2002 the Lady Raiders hung on and got the last 2 points to win. History doesn't repeat but it rhymes.

Game3 - Melrose 25  Reading 23 

• Service errors  Reading had 5  Melrose 1, a critical difference
• Melrose kills  3 by Athena- 1 by Jill -1 by Brooke-- 
• Aces 3 by Athena- 1 by Jill--
• Game tied at 16 and Melrose clung to narrow leads of a point.
• Game  was tied at 23, and Melrose got the last 2 points for the win

Game analysis:  Reading hit very well, Melrose did a good job defending their power game.  Reading service errors proved costly. This game had all the action of a "Havlicek stole the ball" contest. In many obervers' reckoning , Melrose faced the best overall team this season, a superior offensive team, and faced with the wild boar, Melrose brought home the bacon...