Melrose defeated Belmont Friday 3-0 behind a balanced offensive and defensive effort, 25-9, 25-10, and 25-15... Belmont showed improvement in the back row and has a defensive stopper in 6'5" Katie Christensen.
Melrose took quick 4-1 and 9-2 leads behind its most consistent offense of the season, garnering eight kills in the first ten points. Setter Colleen Hanscom spread the opportunities around with Athena Ziavras notching six kills, Hannah Brickley four, and Siena Mamayek four, including some good down hits. Melrose had eighteen overall in game one. Melrose had a pair of service errors in the game.
Game two was close early, with Melrose leading 8-6 and 10-7 before pulling away with a 6-0 run. Belmont errors limited the Melrose opportunities but Hannah and Siena each added a pair of kills and Melrose had nine service aces including four from the crafty lefty, Alex Harlow.
Game three provided lots of opportunity for reserves, including an entire stanza for freshman setter Brooke Bell. Coach Scott Celli substituted liberally, and even the back row players got into the hitting act. Melrose had another sixteen kills, with seven for Hannah, and three apiece for Jill Slabacheski and Athena. Jill's serve was really on during the entire match.
Lady Raider Notes: Annemarie Wiesen remained out for the second consecutive game with an injury. The countdown to "Red Raider Friday" is five, as only five days remain until the Barnstable Red Raiders invade the Middle School gymnasium in Melrose's second chance at the perennial state titlists. Barnstable ranks second in Massachusetts behind Central power Medfield. Although Barnstable brings in a young team, they have great coaching in Tom Turco and a great tradition of excellence.
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