Game 4: Positive Thinking But Melrose Loses to Fenwick 3-1

Melrose hosted Bishop Fenwick with the ambition of leaving with either a victory or a confidence building performance. Fenwick sought to solidify its belief that they are the top team in the North. A 25-22, 22-25, 25-12, 25-15 Fenwick win gave Fenwick what it needed and Melrose some of what it wanted.

Melrose raced out to an early 8-3 lead, only to see the Crusaders strike back to go up 11-10 behind the outstanding play of middle Kate Lipka. Although the Lady Raiders got the lead back at 14-12, the visitors put on a burst to regain the lead at 17-14. Melrose got even at 17 and 19, but Fenwick had the goods down the stretch, as Melrose had a kill drought late. At 24-22, a Melrose serve sailed long, one of three first set costly service errors.

Melrose (unofficially) had eight first set kills, three from Meri Lessing and a pair from Annalisa DeBari.

Set two saw back-and-forth action early, with ties at 4, 6, 7, and 8 before Fenwick opened up a 15-10 edge. But Melrose closed to 15-14, only to see Fenwick go up 18-16 after a controversial non-call on a block out of bounds. Trailing 19-17, Melrose came on strong with an Allie Nolan kill, followed by a pair of critical kills by freshman Victoria Crovo and a closeout kill by freshman Cat Torpey as Melrose won the set 25-22.

Melrose had fifteen kills for the set including great play by Marissa Cataldo (4), Victoria (4), and Meri (3). Melrose had the momentum.

Set three began innocuously enough, with ties at 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. But Fenwick, behind Lipka and Jen Crovo simply lit up the Lady Raiders with a 17-4 run as Melrose could generate no answers offensively, with a mere five kills for the set.

Set four was almost "deja vu all over again." Ties at 1, 2, and 5 were followed by another Fenwick offensive explosion at the lead widened to 13-5, 18-9, and 23-11. Melrose put on a mini-run late with kills by Ashley Harding and Victoria, but it was too little too late. Meri led the hosts with two kills among Melrose's six.

Game notes: Melrose showed that they could compete with Fenwick, but also struggled to maintain offensive intensity. The comeback in the second set seemed to leave Melrose more drained than energized, and Fenwick's experience and superior hitting from Lipka, Crovo, and Gianna Pizzano were the difference makers.

Melrose's back row had a tiger by the tail fighting off the Fenwick attack, and Fenwick's defense had little trouble with the Melrose tip attack. The better team simply won.