Sweet Sixteen, Melrose 3 Winchester 0

Melrose rode into Winchester and gunned down their hosts in straight sets, 25-18, 25-7, 25-13. The victory moved Melrose to 13-0 in the Middlesex League, 16-1 overall, clinching the league title outright.

After the hosts took the first pair of points, the teams traded pairs for Winchester to lead 4-2. A 13-5 Melrose run put the game out of reach, with good Sachem defense allowing the Melrose to go on an offensive killing spree, with sixteen first game tallies. Hannah Brickley had six kills and Athena Ziavras four in the opening frame. Jill Slabacheski had a pair of aces during the game, and Colleen Hanscom provided her usual setting expertise.

Set two was no set to...with Melrose running off a Dunkin Dozen, 12-0 lead before Winchester got off the schneid. Five Alex Harlow aces spurred the run. The hosts were never really in the game, but Melrose was able to crank out nine kills including three apiece for Laura Irwin and Hannah.

Set three bore more similarity to the first than the second, with ties at 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7. Under the aegis of Jill's serves, Melrose frosted the cupcake going up 14-7, and the Lady Raiders gradually built their cushion into the finale. Hannah had five of Melrose's twelve kills and senior middle hitter Siena Mamayek added three. Melrose's biggest negative was three service errors in the set and seven overall.

Coming events. Melrose hosts Lexington and their Massachusetts Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame inductee Jane Bergin Tuesday. South contender Bishop Feehan arrives Thursday for Senior Night. Melrose's seven seniors deserve commendation as outstanding student-athletes and community representatives.