Melrose rallied from a 2-0 deficit to extend their regular season winning streak to 31 games with a classic 3-2 victory over the North Reading Hornets. North Reading has been a Division III power for several years.
Melrose hosted a very intense, large and vocal crowd, long volleys and a win, what could be better!
Melrose hosted a very intense, large and vocal crowd, long volleys and a win, what could be better!
Scoring summary:
Set 1: N Reading 25-21
Set 2: N Reading 25-12
Set 3: Melrose 25-19
Set 4: Melrose 25-17
Set 5: Melrose 15-10
The game really started Sunday night when Athena Ziavras went down with a knee injury. With Allie Walsh nursing an injured shoulder, Allysa DiRaffaele a sprained ankle, Alex Harlow a hand injury, freshman Jill Slabacheski took Athena's spot at the net and Jess Farr assumed her serving. Both stepped up.
It took about 5 high fives and low fives with Hannah Brickley to get Jill to smile though!
North Reading came in with a group of very strong and athletic girls. They were getting good sets all over the first game. Melrose was tight, with 4 serving errors, and too many three balls. Still the set was close, back and forth. The Hornets struck first.
Second set, N Reading had the momentum, Melrose sought an answer, but they could never get a run going. They never scored consecutive points until points 10-11-12. Melrose faced a wall of worry.
The third set looked bleak- NR capturing two points. Melrose rallied and plowed on. Aggressive at the net, the defense swarmed the Hornets, and the offense had only one service error. They slowly were getting it together!
Almost every point was a battle- great action- the crowd loved it. JV parents finally saw why volleyball has become a premier sport locally. Kelly O'Neill, Alex (with sore thumb), and Jess worked the back row. Siena Mamayek had some great moments, some key points. Laura Irwin assumed her powerful hitting groove.
Almost every point was a battle- great action- the crowd loved it. JV parents finally saw why volleyball has become a premier sport locally. Kelly O'Neill, Alex (with sore thumb), and Jess worked the back row. Siena Mamayek had some great moments, some key points. Laura Irwin assumed her powerful hitting groove.
Fourth set- 4 Aces, 2 by Jess, 2 by Annemarie Weisen. Jess, serving for the first time this season did a great job. Still N Reading defense was awesome, but Melrose kept pounding the ball and gained the offensive; the volleys were tremendous. Somehow Melrose beat them by 8, although it seemed closer.
Fifth set- Melrose came out hot with a trio of points. N Reading seemed a little subdued, we kept pounding, they kept buzzing, but Melrose lead the whole way and got the job done! 2 Aces in that game also 1 by Annemarie and 1 by Siena.
Definitely a great team victory, recalling some great matches like Dracut in 2002 playoffs, Reading 2004 (37-35 final set), and Andover and Central Catholic in 2005.
Jill gets a lot of credit, with 7 or 8 attacks and improving with each one.Siena had good game,Ann Marie served well,Jess served well and excelled on 'd', Kelly returned some nasty serves. And of course, veterans Hannah, Colleen Hanscom, and Laura all brought leadership and playmaking.
N Reading showed outstanding enthusiasm and sportsmanship. Last year's league MVP Alison Friberg dominated. Two girls, Kirsten Morrison and Taylor Dyer were starters that Colleen, Laura and Hannah had played with on Pumas.
Overall, a great victory as the team moves toward the playoffs.
Overall, a great victory as the team moves toward the playoffs.
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