Best of the Best (Part I)

You need a title, and I'll go with "Best of the Best" for the best games I've seen (I haven't seen them all by any means) in Melrose volleyball history. I'm not starting with a set idea of how many, and there were some "big" games (including Division 2 North title games) that either weren't competitive or simply lacked some of the drama of these games.

I'll go chronologically.

2002: Five set, playoff win against Dracut. Melrose had a very young team (no seniors, two freshmen playing some) and won the fifth game something like 38-36. That team won six of its final seven regular season games, and this win really started the "modern era" of Melrose volleyball success.

2003: Maybe the biggest win in Melrose volleyball history, a 3-0 upset of Arlington Catholic, which came in 22-0, without losing a set during the season. Denise Applegate with a topspin winner from the outside to clinch it and Melrose's first D2 North title.

2004: I believe it was the fifth game of the season, and Melrose hosted Reading at the Daffinee Gym. Melrose again had a young team, but was anchored by the terrific back row play of senior Kerry Dillon. Incredible back and forth game, with Melrose winning 2-1 at 37-35. I don't think any of the remaining games, including the State Semifinals (3-2 loss to Case) had as much drama.

2005: Melrose earned a trip to the state finals, but the best game of the year (up to that point) was a 3-2 Saturday afternoon win at Andover. Andover was a powerhouse that year, losing to Barnstable in the state championship, but Melrose went in and won a tough five-set match. Amanda Hallett had an equipment failure (broken shoelace) and Taylor Pearson came in for seven points and added a key spark.

Quarterfinal playoff against Central Catholic. Central had a terrific team, with a lot of hitting power, and Melrose was playing "home" at Stoneham. The teams alternated wins in the first four sets. Karen Sen led off in the fifth and had a couple of consecutive aces with one hitting the tape and somehow crawling over.

State final against eventual winner Medfield. Down two sets and 23-16, Melrose had a remarkable comeback at Hudson, including an incredible series of plays with players diving all over the floor. Unfortunately, Jenny Cohane suffered a concussion (before concussions became common news) in the action.

2008: Melrose hosted Division 3 power North Reading and lost the first two games 25-21 and 25-12. Athena Ziavras went down with an injury and a freshman, Jill Slabacheski had to come in a step up. Melrose rallied back with great back row play from Alex Harlow, Jess Farr, and Kelly O'Neill, and Hannah Brickley had another dominant performance in a match marked by many long rallies.

2009: Melrose hosted Barnstable, THE brand name in Massachusetts volleyball, a team with thirteen state championships, and students from seven communities in a 'regional' school. Melrose got phenomenal performances from many of their players, including career games from Alex Harlow and Siena Mamayek. But it was the hitting of Laura Irwin and the all-around great play of Division 2 Player of the Year Hannah Brickley that sent Barnstable home with a stunning 3-0 defeat.


Division 2 North Championship at Andover's Dunn Gymnasium, found North Reading and Kirsten Morrison putting up formidable opposition. The Hornets led 2-1, and led late in set four, when setter Colleen Hanscom came up with two tremendous points in attack mode at the net. Melrose (starting a 7:30 in the video) forced a fifth set with three big hitters (Hannah, Laura Irwin, Athena), which seems to be the magic number.


2010: Melrose was making its eighth consecutive appearance in the D2 Finals at Dunn Gym. Melrose battled Bishop Fenwick in a rematch. Fenwick played great defense and Melrose needed a terrific team effort to overcome, survive and advance. Athena had a monster game including the decisive point.

2011: Melrose hadn't beaten Central Catholic since 2005, and had a pair of losses in the D2 North finals to Central, which subsequently moved into Division 1. Melrose came back from a one set deficit, and overcame 23-13 and unheard of 24-16 deficits to earn a comeback four set win.