Rockets Sizzle, Top Lady Raiders in Five

The Melrose Lady Raiders (15-4) fought fiercely but came up short today in Reading as the Rockets clinched their first Middlesex League title in the past five seasons. Reading overcame a two game deficit and won a dramatic fifth game 15-11.

Reading's superior height and power proved decisive, led by Meredith Gent and Laura Greichen, despite a fantastic effort by the Lady Raiders, whose defensive gem fell short.

Melrose won Game 1 25-20, amidst thirteen kills, including six by middle hitter Leslie Hirschfeld. Reading went out fast 5-1, before Melrose tied the score at 9. Melrose gathered momentum, leading 14-11 on a service run by setter Taylor Pearson. The closest Reading could approach was withing two, when a flurry of Hirschfeld kills brough Melrose to a 24-20 win, with Taylor delivering the 'fake set' and kill.

Melrose jumped out fast in Game 2 behind a pair of Hannah Brickley kills. Melrose then extended the lead to 9-4 before the Rockets fought back to 13-10. But Rachel Towle sparked another run by Melrose, with four kills in five points as Melrose went up 18-13. Melrose continued their excellence down the stretch with another pair of Towle slams to close out the game 25-18. Rachel had five kills for the game.

But Reading regrouped at the break and simply overwhelmed Melrose in Game 3. Gent came out possessed and the Reading defense continually stuffed Melrose's offense. The Lady Raiders, with 24 kills in the first two games, were held to four in the third game, and Reading romped 25-11, although Melrose had a mini-run at the end.

Game 4 was more of a back-and-forth contest, but again Reading's defense stifled the Melrose offense, which delivered only a handful of kills, despite playing aggressively both at the net and the back. Laura Dillon was spectacular, and Sam Hamel terrific in the back fending off the Rocket attack. But the home team prevailed 25-20.

The fifth and deciding game is played to fifteen. The teams traded points to 6-6, before a pivotal call had a major impact on the game. Melrose defended brilliantly, forcing Laura Greichen to take an off-balance overhead from out-of-bounds, which she aimed down the line. Her smash went about eighteen inches wide of the antenna, but landed in bounds. Anything hit outside the antenna is out, but both officials were unable to make the call, and Melrose struggled to regain momentum, trailing 10-6. Melrose rallied back to 13-11, but Reading provided the clinchers, to take the game 15-11, and undisputed first place in the ML with a perfect 10-0 slate. Melrose finished their ML schedule 8-2, a pair of tough losses to Reading.

Today's match provided tournament-level pressure and competition from the Division I tournament-bound Rockets, experience that will help Melrose in the upcoming playoffs.

Coach Scott Celli was magnanimous in his praise of Reading following the game, and acknowledged that Melrose played both hard and well.

Lady Raider Notes: The Lady Raiders close out their regular season Monday at the Masconomet jamboree, with their game on tap at 5 p.m., with league awards presented following the contests.

Lydia Ciccone filmed the game, which will appear on MMTV (Launch Channel 15 in the near future).

Lady Raiders Roster

1 Taylor Pearson

2 Sam Hamel

5 Gina Ciccone

6 Lauren Howe

10 Allie Brussard

13 Nicole Glavin

14 Colleen Hanscom

15 Laura Dillon (CAPT)

18 Kelsey Quinn

27 Rachel Towle (CAPT)

33 Leslie Hirschfeld

35 Hannah Brickley