Homestanding Lady Raiders Go to 3-0

Best viewed in FIREFOX. Click pictures to ENLARGE. (File photos courtesy of Don Norris)

The Melrose Lady Raiders defeated the visiting Stoneham Spartans, 3-0, dispatching the spunky visitors in an hour and five minutes. With the victory, Melrose goes to 3-0, 2-0 in the Middlesex League, with a huge tilt at Reading Friday against the defending ML champion Rockets.

Melrose started sluggishly in the first two stanzas, before pulling away late in each game. In the final game, the Lady Raiders put it together with better passing and hitting to win 25-8.

Coach Scott Celli could not have been pleased with the service percentage of his young Lady Raiders, particularly in the second game, where service errors kept the Spartans in the game at 16 all, before Melrose pulled away to win 25-16.

Senior Co-Captain Leslie Hirschfeld had her serve in gear.
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But according to my local volleyball experts, the Player of the Match was Melrose outside hitter Laura Irwin, whose growing confidence from both the net and the service line can help Melrose generate the offense needed to move deep into the playoffs.

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose faces Reading Friday with their first year coach, after long-time head coach Andrew Viselli chose to limit his coaching duties to the St. John's Prep boys. Reading graduated 2006 Player of the Year Meredith Gent, but seems to have an inexhaustible supply of tall, athletic girls.

One of the Lady Raider tradition has been handing down red and white hair ribbons to younger players. Amanda Labella began the tradition, and a number of Melrose players began wearing the colored ribbons. Suffice it to say, the tradition continues, and the fans expect, yea demand to see them...