Melrose hosts the Arlington Catholic Cougars tomorrow (Saturday, October 27, 2007) in what promises to be one of the toughest contests of recent seasons. The dislike between the two teams goes back a long way, and in different sports.
In the 2002 Volleyball season, AC ousted Melrose 3-0, ending their season in the second round of the playoffs. Subsequently, in the 2003 season, Melrose shocked an AC team led by Heather Marino that hadn't lost a game, with a 3-0 Division II North title, led by senior middle hitters All-Scholastic Marianne Foley and Erin Hudd. AC got some revenge during the basketball season, eliminating the Lady Raiders in the Division II North semis at Beverly.
AC was back again in 2004, topping Melrose in a regular season contest, before Dracut hammered AC in the playoff semifinal. Melrose then crushed Dracut with Karen Sen named All-Scholastic to capture the Division II North title again. Melrose and AC didn't meet that basketball season, however.
In 2005, the Melrose-AC rivalry was renewed, Melrose winning the regular season match fairly easily, and then downing the Cougars 3-1 in the D2 North semis led by a quartet of league all-stars, All-Scholastics Karen and Paula Sen, Jen Cohane, and setter Amanda Hallett. Melrose advanced to the state finals. In a basketball classic, Melrose bounced AC in the opening round of the playoffs, despite Shey Peddy crashing into the wall at Stoneham. The Lady Raiders captured the D2 North title that season.
The 2006 season saw fortunes reverse for Melrose, with AC winning both during the regular season and the playoffs, led by All-Scholastic Maria Scocca and basketball All-Scholastic Elise Caira. AC captured the D2 North title in straight games over the Lady Raiders. The hoop squads didn't face off, as ultimate state champion Lincoln-Sudbury bounced both AC and Melrose from the playoffs.
AC returns tomorrow with Scocca, a Melrose resident, and transfer Meredith Soper from Winthrop. Melrose counters with an experienced senior group led by Gina Ciccone, Leslie Hirschfeld, Lauren Howe, and Nicole Glavin. Complementing the veterans are super sophomore Hannah Brickley, and another sophomore trio outside power hitter Laura Irwin, athletic setter Colleen Hanscom, and defender Jess Farr.
If you want to see intense, athletic, hard-hitting volleyball action, and possibly a preview of another D2 North Final (Central Catholic another major power), come down to the Marcoux Gym for the 4:00 P.M. contest.
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