Eighteen with Challenges Ahead: Melrose Wins Knight Court

The Melrose Lady Raiders and their fans are head over heels excited about the 2007 season, Senior Night, and tonight's erasure of the North Andover Knights 25-6, 25-7, and 25-20.

A packed gym, Coaches Scott Celli and Steve Wall, and players celebrated the Melrose Seniors career achievements, including a 59-6 record over the past three years for the Seniors with three years of varsity experience. Co-Captains Gina Ciccone, Leslie Hirschfeld, and Lauren Howe joined Nicole Glavin in playing their last home North Shore League contest. Each player received balloons and roses with their family, and a pair of players expressed their thoughts and appreciation to the seniors.

The first two games Melrose simply overwhelmed North Andover, their opponent in the D2 North finals from 2005. Melrose led 8-1 and 15-3 while cruising to the first game win. Unofficially Nicole had four kills, Leslie three, and Hannah Brickley and Laura Irwin each a pair in the first game.

Game two wasn't much different, with the Lady Raiders up 7-1 and 17-4, with Leslie, Hannah, and Laura all with a trio of kills. Annmarie Wiesen and Siena Mamayek also looked proficient while in there. Between the first two games, Melrose missed only three serves.

Game three North Andover got their groove on, and knotted the score at six and led 11-7. At 11-8, a thrilling and extended rally ensued, with several miraculous saves on both sides, before Colleen Hanscom delivered a fake set into the Knight court. From then on, Melrose rallied to go up 19-16, outscoring the visitors 11-5. The Knights closed to within two, but Melrose's dominance allowed them to pull away. The Lady Raiders delivered a dozen kills, led by Hannah with five and Leslie with three.

Lady Raider Notes: Catfight Saturday. Melrose gets a day off tomorrow, with a pair of practices to prepare for the season's toughest match with the Arlington Catholic Cougars Saturday at 4 PM. AC features Melrose's Maria Scocca, a 6'2" All-Scholastic last season for the state finalist Cougars. Melrose completes the season at the Masco jamboree Monday, and will prepare for the postseason with scrimmages next week.

The new Middle School Gym is nearing seat installation completion, and will likely debut for the post-season.

Following the game today, players, families, and fans enjoyed some postgame celebration and noshing, with many reminiscing about their experiences in the program over the past few seasons.