Winning a sectional title never comes easily. Winning after graduating a senior core including a pair of All-State players (Hannah Brickley and Colleen Hanscom) makes it harder still. Winning with a new core of six sophomores, a pair of juniors, and one senior requires great chemistry. But special players and championship teams rise up in the big moments, and Melrose did so today, staving off one match point and defeating Bishop Fenwick 3-2. Coaches Scott Celli, Steve Wall, and Amanda Basteri transformed a young team into champions.
After processing to the "Olympic Theme", Melrose and Bishop Fenwick went toe-to-toe in Andover's Dunn Gymnasium, a facility with great sight lines, but an unacceptably low ceiling that altered far too many balls overall.
The Crusaders came out strong in set one, scoring the first two points. Melrose seemed intimidated by the low overhead, and never got closer than 2-1 and 9-7. Fenwick remained in control for the entire game, stretching the lead to 18-10. Melrose rallied to within 18-15, but couldn't generate much offense as Fenwick blocked effectively and Melrose played a lot of "free balls". Melrose could generate only six kills for the entire game, and struggled with very low attack percentages as its big hitters couldn't get untracked, with attacks soaring long. Fenwick took the set 25-19, and no Lady Raider had more than one kill.
Melrose emerged in the second set energized and scored the first five points including a pair of kills from Senior Athena Ziavras and one from Rachel Johnson. Melrose extended the lead to 14-7 and 19-14, but Fenwick kept coming back evening the set at 22. But Melrose responded with a Sarah McGowan winner and a crafty hit by Sophomore All-league setter Brooke Bell to even the match, winning 25-23. Melrose added eleven kills in the frame, including five from Athena, and a pair from Sarah and Jill Slabacheski.
The Lady Raiders played even better in the third stanza, although the set was even at 1,3,4,5, and 7 before Melrose started to pull away. The hitters had their mojo in tow, as Melrose delivered fifteen kills, most on Bell assists. Athena had six more scores, Sarah three, and Rachel and Jill each delivered two. Melrose had leads of 17-11 and 20-14, but the Crusaders kept hanging around with effective digging and blocking. Melrose went up 22-19 and inexplicably got a rotation error called by the floor official. I don't recall seeing a Melrose rotation error in years. But after a pair of monstrous Athena kills, everyone in the gym expected Brooke to set her on the outside, and she crossed up the defense with a dink to win 25-22.
As successful was set three, set four proved an unmitigated disaster. After Melrose led early 3-2, Fenwick climbed on top 6-3 and 11-6. After a Melrose rally to 13-12, Fenwick ran off a dozen of the last thirteen points to kick the Lady Raiders to the curb and threaten their championship dreams. Athena had three kills and Brooke two among Melrose's seven. The large contingent of Melrose fans exhorted the Lady Raiders to come back.
During the break, Coach Steve Wall was seen giving the players about the most animated pep talk imaginable, maybe in the Good Cop/Bad Cop tradition.
But whatever the coaches said, the ladies came out playing their hearts out. Fenwick still took the first two, before Melrose went up 5-2, then got derailed by a service error. From a 6-3 advantage, Melrose surrendered four consecutive points, then tied it at 7 on a Kayla Wyland winner at the net. Fenwick scored the next point leading at the change of ends.
Melrose benefited from a BF service error at eight, leading to a mini-run including another K(ayla)-Kill to go up 11-8, and after Fenwick got a winner at nine, they committed yet another service error to trail 12-9 in the game to 15. From a 13-9 lead, Melrose yielded five consecutive points to face elimination at 13-14. In the ensuing rally, a Bell soft ball was mishandled and Melrose stayed alive. Rachel Johnson had a monster point at 15 with a deep push down the sidelines to give Melrose its own match point, but BF found the range and tied the score. In extra points, Fenwick committed the ultimate mortal sin with its fourth service error of the set, and Melrose had match point again. Melrose handled the return of service, and Bell set Ziavras outside, who wiped the block for the 17-15 win and the celebration began. The steady senior, Athena had three huge kills in the set, ably assisted by sophomores Wyland and Johnson who each delivered a pair.
Game Analysis: Melrose survived and advanced by regrouping to reverse the catastrophic fourth game, just as they had overcome flat play in the first game. Fenwick deserved lots of credit for innovative defensive strategy, excellent blocking, and strong digging in the back row.
A player who gets little credit statistically, Jen Cain had a particularly steady game defensively. Middlesex All-League players Athena and Brooke excelled, both with dominant efforts down the stretch, and Jill and Sarah both pounded the ball offensively while Alyssa DiRaffaele held the fort in the back.
Unofficially, Athena had 18 kills. At times, Melrose's youth showed, but in the end, even the young 'uns had the heart to close it out. Four final set service errors doomed the Crusaders, with miscues leading 8-7, trailing 11-9, and tied at 15. Melrose did enough to win, and as much as anything, refused to lose, taking advantage of what was available.
Melrose faces south winner Fairhaven, which defeated Bishop Feehan (3-2), Tuesday at 7 PM at Newton South in the state semifinals.
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