Border Wars Win, Melrose 3 Reading 1

Melrose faced their first major hurdle of the season at Reading, and came away with a hard-fought 3-1 win to take the early lead in the Middlesex League race. Reading is perennially one of the top teams in the North.

Every team has the opportunity for "signature wins", and Melrose has had plenty through the years, but Version 2011.1 got theirs today, aided by an enthusiastic contingent of Melrose fans.

The first set went to the hosts, who took an early lead behind power hitter Melissa Dal Pozzo. But Melrose was able to get her to the back row and forge ties at 6, 7, 8, and 11.

Sarah McGowan was the driving offensive force in the first game with five kills and a pair from Rachel Johnson. Reading fought back from three point deficits at sixteen through nineteen, and the game was even at twenty through twenty-three. Reading bombed in a couple of serves at the end to take the early advantage.

Melrose had nine kills for the game and only one service error.

The best teams respond to adversity, and an early deficit on the road qualifies. Reading again came out tough with a series of ties at 1,2,3,4,5, and 6. Melrose opened up a three point advantage only to see the Rockets back even at at 10, 15, and 18. But at that point, Melrose went into overdrive, minimizing errors and improving their attack rate. A 7-2 run gave the Lady Raiders a tie. McGowan again led with four kills, but got help from a pair apiece from opposites Jen Cain and Kayla Wyland. Both Cain and Wyland clearly elevated their games today.

Melrose had ten kills and two service errors in the game.

Melrose stepped up big in the third game, with a 6-1 early lead, but Reading never quit and evened the game at 12. From there Melrose went on a 7-0 run, including a pair of spectacular kills from Rachel Johnson. From 19-13, Jill Slabacheski took over with some outside attacks. Melrose had ten kills en route to the 25-17 rout.

Johnson had four critical kills and Slabacheski three, followed by Kayla Wyland had a pair.

Momentum often rules the direction of a volleyball match, and Reading refused to quit. Set four was tied at 1,3,4,5,6,7,10, and 11, but a Reading service error gave the visitors the opening they needed. Melrose opened up a 15-11 lead, and Reading could never get closer than two, as another service error put Melrose up 16-13, and from 21-19 Melrose put the Rockets down, with a service ace from Brooke Bell and Jen Cain smashed home a winner to a 25-19 clincher.


Game Analysis: Melrose was a little tentative in the first game and hesitancy against strong teams can come back to bite you. But Melrose recouped their poise and excelled in attack consistency, serve receive, and the back row came through with many spectacular digs. A total team effort propelled the team with everyone playing consistent volleyball. Singling out anyone by name would be unfair to all those not mentioned. One player in particular reprised Tom Cruise's role in Top Gun, engaging in key moments to elevate her game.