Melrose-Barnstable Wrap

Melrose faced the champ Thursday, and the champ won. But it wasn't as easy as that.

Set one saw a seesaw battle early with the game tied at 5 to 5. Hannah Brickley had a pair of blocks early and a kill. The teams continued to trade points early to 8-8 before a Barnstable 12-1 run extended the lead to 20-9 and the other Red Raiders coasted. Melrose had five kills in the game, two each by Hannah and Athena Ziavras and struggled to cope with the speed of the game.

Set two saw somewhat similar action with Barnstable ahead 5-4 in a nip and tuck battle, before a 10-3 run by the home team expanded the lead to 15-7. Athena, Hannah, and Laura Irwin each had a pair of kills. Melrose got the game back to 18-12, but there was too much Stephanie Bristol and Barnstable closed out the set 25-15.

Set three saw the best Melrose volleyball of the season, with fourteen Melrose kills, and ferocious action at the net by Hannah and Siena Mamayek. Melrose held the lead for much of the set, up 4-1, 7-4, 11-6, 14-9, and 15-12. But Barnstable continued to parlay Bristol kills and continuing attacks into comebacks, and finally knotted the score at 19. Melrose counterpunched with leads at 22-20 and 23-21, but the hosts dropped the final four points on Melrose to claim victory.

Hannah had eight kills in the final set, Siena and setter Colleen Hanscom each had a pair, and the Melrose defense did themselves proud. Barnstable just had too much size, talent, and experience , which is why they've been the champs.