Melrose, despite a wealth of experience, brought a young team to the playoff stage tonight, and shook off some early jitters to advance to the D2 North semifinals with a 25-23, 25-8, 25-18 win. The Class of 2012 becomes the first Melrose class to have four twenty win seasons as they move to 20-1.
Melrose again had to improvise on its lineup as junior middle Rachel Johnson sat out with illness.
The first set saw Melrose go out fast 3-0 and 8-2, only to allow Burlington to come back and lead with self-inflicted wounds, including five first set service errors. But from an 18-15 deficit, Melrose fought back to tie at 18 and lead at 21-18, only to see the Red Devils tie at 21 and keep it tight at 24-23. But a Kayla Wyland kill from the opposite found a hole and Melrose escaped.
All-state attacker Sarah McGowan had three kills, Jill Slabacheski added three, and another all-stater, setter Brooke Bell, tallied a deuce. But key kills from Sydney Doherty, Jen Cain, and Kayla put Melrose over the top.
Set two saw Melrose rule from box to wire. A 3-0 lead got as close as 5-4 before Melrose went on a 13-1 run behind McGowan and Bell serves to cool off the Devils. Melrose never allowed Burlington to gather any momentum while keeping the visitors in single digits.
Jen Cain carried the biggest stick of the frame with four kills, ably assisted by three apiece from Sarah and Sydney. Four more service errors marred the party.
While Melrose removed any doubts in the second set, the third set lacked drama after Melrose went out 6-0 and from 12-6, the Red Devils never got closer than five at 18-13. Melrose just had too many offensive answers, even without their second leading hitter (Rachel).
Unofficially, Sarah (S-Mac?) added another half dozen winners, while Jill Slabacheski and Jen each fired in a trey. Melrose celebrated prematurely at 24-17 as they were called in the net, but Burlington returned the favor at 25, and Melrose moves on.
Game Analysis: Melrose followed John Wooden's script of "don't whine, don't complain, and don't make excuses" as the reorganized lineup made offensive adjustments. The Lady Raiders got big games from their biggest guns, and enhanced production from Jen and Jill while the back row did its usual blue-collar job led by Middlesex League co-MVP Alyssa DiRaffaele, and the young backliners Jill MacInnes and Amanda Commito..
In other action, perennial state champion Medfield was eliminated 3-1 by Westborough, which will face Marlboro in the Central semis.
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