Home Opener Win, 3-0 Over Cambridge

Melrose opens against Cambridge Rindge and Latin with a solid 3-0 victory at the Middle School Gymnasium. With a warm summer day, temperatures must have reached the high 80's inside, as hot as the Lady Raiders played with a 25-8, 25-8, 25-10 win.

Cambridge brought a large and enthusiastic contingent and got off to a quick 3-2 lead, but Melrose got it in gear with a service run from Jill MacInnes to go out to a 9-3 lead, and then piggy-backed another run to a 14-4 advantage. The team played consistently from there to the 25-8 margin.

They had five aces, eight kills, and two service errors, with three kills for Jill Slabacheski, and a pair apiece for Kayla Wyland and Sarah McGowan.

Set two saw Melrose dominate to a 17-3 lead, with some substitutes contributing, particularly Sydney Doherty. Jill Slabacheski had another pair of kills, as did Sarah and setter Brooke Bell. Again Melrose had eight kills and a pair of service errors.

Melrose made wholesale changes for the third set and everyone played. From an 8-5 lead, Melrose rallied to a 17-7 advantage and the reserves got onto the scoresheet. Melrose blockers dominated with Rachel Johnson and Kayla particularly dominant at the net.

Melrose had nine kills in the frame, including four from Rachel, three from Sarah. Sophomore Maeve Moriarty got some time at setter and showed excellent mobility and good control, playing very well in a reserve role. She also got ambitious going for an overhand smash at the net.

Game Analysis: Melrose dominated but Cambridge looks to be a program working hard to improve. They were very enthusiastic and had videographers taping. Melrose played well and excelled at the net defensively. The lower number of kills didn't reflect inefficiency as much as fewer opportunities because of Cambridge attack errors.

Tomorrow the team hosts Lexington, which is always in the top half of the Middlesex League.

Here's the Boston Globe's score! There's Waldo.