Melrose Advances Over Crusaders, 3-0

The Melrose Lady Raiders have won their first round playoff game for the last eight seasons, and kept the streak alive hosting Lowell Catholic 25-4, 25-11, 25-8. Melrose advances to face top-seeded Boston English in Jamaica Plain Thursday.

The postseason brings a certain pageantry and excitement not always seen during the regular season. Melrose transformed that into a high level of energy in game one, with a 13-1 lead, fourteen kills and seven aces. Setter Colleen Hanscom fired up the offense and the twin Princesses of Whales, Hannah Brickley and Laura Irwin, blasted home six and four kills. Siena Mamayek added a pair of successful attacks as well.

Coach Scott Celli saw his troops go off to an 11-0 lead, and the substitution was on, as everyone got into the action. Hannah added another four kills and Laura three more. The team led coasted to an easy 17-3 lead before some inconsistency amidst lineup shuffling and four service errors brought LC back from 22-4 to 22-10. A Mamayek kill erased the momentum and the Lady Raiders closed out the game.

Game three was the Futures Game, with Melrose starting a pair of frosh, Brooke Bell (setter) and Amanda Commito (defensive specialist), two sophomores, Jill Slabacheski and Alyssa DiRaffaele, and a junior Athena Ziavras. And the Kiddie Korps didn't disappoint, going out 7-1, and 12-3, behind some strong play especially with three aces from Jill and three kills from Alyssa. The beatdown went on with strong setting from Brooke, and solid positional defense. Sophomore Brittany Adelman got her first playoff kill, and Annmarie Wiesen was strong around the net.

The defense really did get challenged much tonight, and the digging duo of Jess Farr and Alex Harlow will likely get more of a workout Thursday.

Lady Raider Notes: a politely enthusiastic crowd greeted the athletes tonight, and fans and players honored current and former veterans before the game. Congratulations to Winchester for their good showing as an expansion team in the Middlesex League.

A victory Thursday would send Melrose into the Division II North finals for the seventh consecutive season. This group of seniors has the opportunity to be the first Melrose volleyball team to win a state title, and will have some stiff competition as they climb that hill.

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