Championship Saturday

The Chinese character for "crisis" blends signs for "danger" and "opportunity". For the 23-1 Lady Raiders, today's volleyball state championship presents only opportunity. The 2009 team graduated seven seniors, meaning the following campaigns could present wholesale rebuilding. But with a firm infrastructure and committed players, Coach Scott Celli and his staff have advanced to their second chance at a title with a team of "young veterans".

Senior Tri-captain Jill Slabacheski will set the Melrose volleyball record for participation in post-season play today with her SIXTEENTH appearance, eclipsing that of Paula and Karen Sen from 2002-2005. The junior class, seven strong on the 2011 version, enters for their thirteenth postseason contest.

Melrose brings a full wagon, loaded with a pair of Division 2 All-State players, Brooke Bell and Sarah McGowan, the Middlesex League co-MVP Alyssa DiRaffaele, ML All-Star "Swiss Army knife" Jen Cain, and less recognized but very talented juniors Rachel Johnson, Amanda Commito, Kayla Wyland, and Sydney Dohery, and 'the rookie', sophomore Jill MacInnes.

McGowan is the kills leader among players still in the tournament (fifth overall in Massachusetts) and Johnson is just outside the top fifty overall in kills, despite missing several games with illness. Bell is fifth in assists (596) and will eclipse six hundred today.


Why not!