The Melrose Lady Raiders played their final home game in the packed Marcoux Gym today, crushing the Arlington Catholic Cougars, 3-1, by scores of 22-25, 25-15, 25-14, and 25-13. AC came in as the Catholic Central League powerhouse and Melrose's combination of four seniors and four sophomores kept the cats in the bag.
AC took Game 1, aided by a controversial momentum-shifting call changing a 17-15 lead into a 16 level tie. AC's Maria Scocca often presented a formidable force at the net. Scocca, a Melrose resident, led AC to the state finals last season and garnered All-Scholastic and All-State honors. But Melrose's North Shore League Player of the Year candidate sophomore Hannah Brickley and teammates had other ideas, challenging AC on every point. Sophomore outside hitter Laura Irwin led the Lady Raiders with three kills in Game 1.
Game 2 saw Melrose race to a 7-0 lead before AC came back into the game, narrowing it to 11-8, before an 8-2 run gave the home six a 19-10 advantage. Four service errors by Melrose kept the game from being a total rout, and Hannah Brickley added a trio of kills.
Melrose gained momentum in Game 3, smashing the Cougars behind a flurry of kills by Brickley, Laura Irwin, Nicole Glavin, and Gina Ciccone, the remaining link to the 2005 state finalist team. Melrose opened up a 19-4 lead before AC even showed a pulse. Unofficially, Irwin had four kills to lead the team.
Game 4 saw more of the same, with a tie at five, before the Lady Raiders opened up 10-6 and 15-9 leads. A 10-4 run closed out the Cougars. Laura Irwin had another four kills in the finale and unofficially thirteen on the night. Sophomore Colleen Hanscom set brilliantly during the match, as well as defending, blocking at the net, and getting the final kill of the game on an acrobatic deflection.
Score by Games
Melrose 22 25 25 25
AC......... 25 15 14 13
Lady Raider Notes: Melrose is en route to their second undefeated volleyball regular season, the previous in 2005 amidst a 24-1 campaign. During the past five years, Melrose has been to the D2 North finals four times, winning three, and has compiled a 91-8 record during that time. Melrose concludes their regular season Monday at the Masconomet Jamboree at 5 PM, and will receive recognitiion for capturing both the Middlesex and North Shore League titles.
Seniors Ciccone, Glavin, Leslie Hirschfeld, and libero Lauren Howe closed out their regular season home careers with the second biggest upset in Melrose history, the biggest being Melrose dispatching undefeated AC in the 2003 Division 2 North finals.
Melrose will begin practicing and playing in the new Middle School Gymnasium tomorrow, with the state volleyball tournament beginning late next week.
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