Good, Better, Best Melrose 3 Belmont 0

Good. Melrose made the "West Coast" trip to Belmont and departed with a 25-4, 25-8, 25-18 win to remain undefeated at 12-0.

After three games in four days, Coach Celli's troops took advantage of an opportunity to get some rest and the Melrose reserves got lots of court time.

Belmont had a tie at 1, but Melrose then went on a 20-2 run to leave the Marauders devoid of booty. Rachel Johnson closed out the set with a kill.

Melrose had fourteen game one kills, including seven for Sarah McGowan, three for Jen Cain and a pair for Jill Slabacheski. They had one service error.

Belmont grabbed an early lead 4-3, only to see Melrose run off a dozen points with McGowan serving. They coasted in from there, with good work from Sydney Doherty in particular, with three kills and three aces. Rachel Johnson added three kills.

Belmont led 4-1 early against the Lady Raiders "depth charge" but the red and white went on an 11-2 surge to gain control. Maeve Moriarty had three kills while setting, and Brittany Adelman (featured in this week's Melrose Free Press) and Rachael Wolley also had kills. Belmont got within 18-13 before the visitors sank the Pirate Ship on a Wolley ace.

Better. The latest Maxpreps rankings came out late today and the locals cracked the top ten.

Lots of familiar names at the top, including Westborough, whom Melrose faces later this season at the Middle School.

Best. The stretch of four games in six days, while carrying the academic workloads proves physically and mentally tiring for the girls. Today's action allowed the starters to get a breather, and the talented, hard-working players who don't get as much quality time to see the floor.