It's All Coming Back

Melrose hosted Bedford for the first time in the regular season, showing limited hospitality in a 25-14, 25-13, and 25-11 win. The victory moved the Lady Raiders to 17-2, with one game remaining against Canton Monday.

With the score Melrose leading 8-6 in game one, Melrose erupted for a nine point run to clinch the first stanza. Jen Cain enjoyed the service run, and unofficially Jill Slahacheski had four kills, Athena Ziavras had three kills and Brooke Bell a pair.

Game two was a rout from the outset, with Bedford getting the opening point, and Melrose the next eleven. Melrose had twelve kills in the frame, with Sarah McGowan with four kills, Athena with three, Kayla Wyland with three and Sydney Doherty clinching the game with a crosscourt topspin short to the corner.

The final game saw a seesaw action early with Melrose leading 6-5. Melrose then ran off a fourteen point run, highlighted by Alyssa DiRaffaele serves, while in the game Sarah had five kills, Athena three, and Kayla another two. Melrose escaped a service error for the game.

Game Analysis: Bedford came in as a tournament qualifier, the winner of the Dual County small conference championship, and running off a five game winning streak. Bedford had several exceptionally tall players that created challenges for Melrose in their own right.

Melrose continued to build off their recent realignment with Alyssa in the back row full time, Sarah as a power hitter in the front, and Kayla adding length and blocking intimidation. With Rachel Johnson and Kayla in the front, Melrose now has a 'full-time' sophomore duo of superior "natural" blockers; that takes pressure off the back row. With fewer uncontested slams for the back row to dig, the 'first pass' has improved, leading to more and improved attacks.