Broken Dreams, Westborough 3 Melrose 2

As I walk this land of broken dreams,
I have visions of many things.
Love's happiness is just an illusion,
Filled with sadness and confusion.


Melrose volleyball has worked tirelessly to win the LAST game of the season, and each game along the way teaches invaluable lessons. Melrose hosted the Westborough Rangers, whose talent and toughness carried them to a 3-2 victory at the Middle School, in the best home volleyball of the season. The result was the end of the undefeated season, and refocusing on the end season goals.

Melrose came out with high energy and generally controlled the first set, leading 6-2, 9-4, 13-8, and 20-14, but Westborough never quit before yielding 25-22. Five service errors by the Rangers helped Melrose. Melrose distributed the kills, with four for Jill Slabacheski and Sarah McGowan, and a pair apiece for Jen Cain, Rachel Johnson, and Kayla Wyland.

Westborough continued to struggle with service in set two, but their blocking improved led by Krystle Armand and Samantha Kehoe. Numerous ties evolved, including deadlocks at 1, 4, 5, 5, 16, 18, 19, and 20 before a closing Ranger kick carried the day. Melrose struggled to generate offensive opportunities, but Sarah and Rachel each came through with four kills.

The third set saw another see-saw battle, with ties at 1, 2, 3, 4 before Melrose stretched the lead to 14-9. But a Ranger stampede got the lead to 17-15 with an 8-1 run, led by Armand and outside hitter Annika Olson. But Melrose responded and the Lady Raiders came back to tie the set at 21 and 22, before a finishing flurry from Jen Cain and Sarah secured the set. Sarah had another five kills and Jen four.

Westborough took over the match in the fourth set, with Armand and Olson dominating offensively. Melrose went up 3-2, but the Central power ran off big runs to go up 7-3, 10-4, and 18-6 as Melrose was reeling under the attack. Melrose counterattacked to 18-10, but Westy still finished 7-2 to capture the set 25-13. Melrose could only muster seven kills in the frame, three for Sarah and two apiece for Brooke and Rachel.

Melrose teams have responded to adversity before. In 2005 at Stoneham in the quarterfinals, Central Catholic crushed Melrose 25-12 in set four, only to see Melrose come back in set five to win en route to a state championship berth.

But it was not to be tonight, even in a closely contested fifth set. Ties occurred at 2, 3, 6, and 7, but the Rangers rallied to go up 11-7, before Melrose inched back to 11-9 led by Rachel Johnson. But Melrose could not get closer than three and the Rangers took the match 15-11. Jen Cain had three kills, Sarah and Rachel two and Kayla with a stylish crosscourt winner to make it 13-10.

Game Analysis: As advertised, Westborough brought a tall and athletic team and their blocking strength disrupted Melrose's attack. Also, Melrose struggled with serve-receive at times sending the Rangers too many opportunities via free balls.

I thought Alyssa DiRaffaele played an excellent game at libero, and that Rachel Johnson also played exceptional volleyball overall. Jen Cain had her best offensive game. The Westborough defense took away the Melrose short game after the first set, and Melrose couldn't come up with enough answers for the Westborough blockers.

Melrose will benefit a lot from the experience of this match. "Experience is the best teacher, but sometimes the tuition is high." History tells us that only once (2005) has Melrose had an undefeated regular season and won the D2 North Championship. For the Lady Raiders to keep climbing the mountain, they must continue to play the toughest non-league schedule possible.