"Central" Theme: David Versus Goliath

Melrose travels to Central Catholic tomorrow for its first game with a top fifteen team, with Central returning the core of a team that went 22-1 and lost to Medfield in the state finals.

Central presents a variety of obstacles for Melrose tomorrow.

• Central has won the last two meetings of the team in the Division II North finals. Central has moved up to Division I this year and can challenge Barnstable for state supremacy in the highest division.
  
• Central has a major height advantage. They have a pair of all-league hitters in Maggie Hillman and 6' 2" Katie Zenevich and another tall blocker in 6' 2" Kendall Desrosiers. Katie Z already sits on a hoop scholarship to Boston College. Lindsay Phenix also hurt Melrose in last season's action.
  
• Central has faced a stronger schedule, meaning Melrose will have to come out fast to avoid the 'catch up' syndrome
• Carolyn Eddy. Eddy is an all-state setter, brilliant defender, and crafty artisan of the dink. The blockers have to be ready for Eddy at all times, expecting the dink before preparing for the double block.
  

Melrose has its own strengths, including senior experience, the best offensive balance since its 2005 state finals run, top setting from Colleen Hanson, and playing its best overall team defense in years. The keys for tomorrow include:

• Aggressiveness out of the box. Passive volleyball with early dinks and free balls simply spells doom. Go hard or go home.
• Balance. Last season Hannah Brickley put up a superhuman effort in the D2 North finals, but the hitting overall lacked consistency, with Laura Irwin out with injury. The combined performance of Laura, junior Athena Ziavras, and sophomore Jill Slabachesky will determine whether Melrose takes home the 'W'.
• Service consistency. Melrose cannot afford service errors.
• Can the back row hold up under the Central hitters? Great teams keeping digging the spikes, keeping the ball in play.
  

Melrose's program aspires each season to compete for a return to the state title game. The Lady Raiders will get plenty of opportunities, starting tomorrow, to define their legacy.