Follow the Terminator: "I'll be back"

We sometimes regret what we have not accomplished, rather than celebrate that which we have. The 2006 Lady Raiders and their fans enjoyed a remarkable series of accomplishments:

• Division II North Finalist
• Runnerup in the Middlesex League
• One NorthShore League All-League player (Rachel Towle)
• Three Middlesex League All-Stars (Rachel Towle, Laura Dillon, Gina Ciccone)
• Fourth consecutive appearance in Divsion II North Finals

Melrose stands as not only the envy of many area volleyball teams, but as one of the premier volleyball programs in Massachusetts, along with Barnstable, Andover, both Quincy Highs, Medfield, Marlboro, and Frontier. These are the teams that consistently move through the tournament.

This year's team showed excellence, determination, caring about each other, and significant improvement through the course of the year. Melrose only lost to teams at the top of their game (Andover and Reading were the D1 North Finalist), and AC the D2 North champion.

Yes, we're not happy at see AC walk out of Andover's Dunn Gymnasium with 'our' trophy, but that will only encourage the returnees and newcomers to the program to work even harder to return to championship form next season.

Everyone wants to thank the seniors, Rachel and Laura, Sam Hamel, Kelsey Quinn, and Taylor Pearson for their major contributions to the program. We wish them well.

Don't cry for Melrose as they'll return Gina Ciccone, Lauren Howe, Leslie Hirschfeld, Allie Brussard, and Nicole Glavin as seniors, Kelly O'Neill as a junior, and Hannah Brickley, Colleen Hanscom, and Laura Irwin as sophomores. With another season of experience, maturity, and more coaching in 'technical' volleyball, Melrose will look to regain the winners' trophy for the MHS trophy case.