Melrose celebrated Senior Night and the end of the regular season with a solid 3-0 win over visiting Canton, 25-15, 25-17, and 25-21. The victory completes the regular season with an 18-2 record, and a draw for the 2-3-4 Division 2 North seeds with North Reading and Bishop Fenwick.
Canton, winner of the Davenport (small) Division of the Hockomock League had a pair of tall hitter/blockers in Julia and Olivia Murphy, who both have height and hitting skill. Canton had lost a tight 3-2 game to 18th ranked Quincy earlier this season.
First, Melrose recognized the six Canton seniors with balloons and presented a flower to each. Coach Celli outlined Athena Ziavras' contributions to Melrose volleyball and she also got tributes from fellow Captains Alyssa DiRaffaele and Jill Slabacheski.
Game one saw Melrose jump out to a quick 7-1 lead after Canton took the opening salvo. Canton hit aggressively but out early. The bulldogs struck back to close the game to 8-5, but Melrose gradually pulled away and got their offense in gear, leading to a 20-10 advantage. Attacks came from several angles, with Athena with a trio of kills, Sarah McGowan with an equal number, and two from Jill, with one for Brooke Bell, Jen Cain, and Kayla Wyland, who also had a solid match blocking. Canton took a late timeout trying to build momentum for the rest of the match, coming back to 20-13, but Melrose closed it out 25-15.
The second stanza saw a closer match early, with Canton tied at 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, hurt by a pair of early service errors. Melrose edged out 11-8, but the 'dogs came within 12-11, before Melrose went out 17-13, only to see Canton come within one at 17-16. The Lady Raiders then put the frame away with a six point run, highlighted by a pair of Sarah's kills. Melrose had another eleven kills, including diversified offense with three for Sarah, a pair apiece for Brooke, Athena and Jill, and one from Rachel Johnson and Kayla.
Canton came out determined not to go home pointless, blasting out to a 6-1 lead, with Coach Scott Celli taking the air out of the Bulldogs with a timeout. Melrose gradually eroded the Canton lead, to 7-3 and 8-6, before achieving parity at 12. The game was tied at 13, 16, 17, 18, and 19, before Melrose got the edge with a three point run. Sydney Doherty came in for Athena briefly during a nick, and the solid play continued uninterrupted. Still, Canton wouldn't go away, closing to 22-21. Rachel Johnson came through with a key attack to the corner, and a follow-on serve-receive error by Canton expanded the lead before a final Slabacheski serve put the leash on the 'dogs.
Game analysis: Melrose got a tournament tuneup from a very competent team with a pair of big blocker-hitters in the Murphys. Everyone played well, and Athena and Sarah had solid hitting outings with both hard, soft, and slide attacks. Melrose's two-headed blocking monster of Rachel and Kayla controlled the hitting, including well-executed short sets. Overall, the team has ramped up their willingness to hit, so vital against better competition, and lacking in the losses to Central and Reading, which seem far in the rear-view mirror. Attackers must have short memories as blocks and misses are part of the game.
The team has communicated better defensively, and the first pass consistency has improved as well. Game three provided a confidence and gut check, and the team passed with flying colors.
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