Wednesday, November 09, 2022

Sweet 16: Melrose 3 Billerica 1

Video from MHS-TV

Melrose and Billerica met in a rematch one round earlier than 2021, but Melrose again outlasted the visitors 25-20, 29-27, 23-25, and 25-22.  Melrose moves on to the Elite Eight Friday at 4:30 in a holiday matinee at Duxbury. 

Walking on a beach, a Melrose volleyball fan found a lamp, rubbed it and a magic genie emerged. The genie said, "I grant you three wishes." The fan said, "I wish you forget how to count."

Melrose used extra wishes tonight in a match that exhausted both players and fans with multiple long rallies, momentum shifts, and big plays.  

One play illustrates the toughness and tempo of the match. Melrose trails 17-18 in the fourth set, leading the match 2-1. The longest point of the match highlighted set-saving plays by Gia Vlajkovic and multiple from Sadie Jaggers and libero Emma Desmond.

Home court advantage came into play on multiple balls going into the MVMMS rafters, including match point. 

Match point as Ava McSorley aces a serve that is deflected off the rafters. 

I'll publish more highlights tomorrow when everyone's recovered.

Melrose notes: A big playoff crowd showed up, including former State Champion, current Wakefield Coach Kayla Wyland and last year's All-State outside hitter Elena Soukos. 



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