Game 14: Melrose 3 Woburn 0

Woburn returned for the second year of its participation in volleyball and gave a good account of itself in a 25-14, 25-8, 25-19 victory for Melrose.

Woburn had a number of freshmen and sophomores getting heavy playing time and its easy to envision the Tanners moving into the upper half of ML volleyball, especially with Athletic Evolution located in Woburn.

Melrose dominated set one, leading 4-1, 8-3, and 14-5 before coasting to the first set edge. Unofficially, junior Meri Lessing and freshman Victoria Crovo had three kills apiece.

Set two was a rout with Melrose up 6-1, 13-3, and 18-4 along the way. Annalisa DeBari had four kills and Meri three, along with a pile of assists for setter Allie Nolan as Melrose put up eleven kills.

Coach Scott Celli substituted liberally in set two and three, and Woburn got off to a commanding 8-1 lead early. But the coaches let the players "play through it" and they went on a 10-0 run to lead 11-8 and after 12-10, the Tanners never got closer than three. With Melrose up 23-15, Woburn took a time out and ran off four points, but Hannah Mulcahy had one of her pair of kills at 24 to get Melrose to match point and a Woburn error sealed the deal.

Game Notes: The win keeps Melrose undefeated in the Middlesex League as they close in on their seventh consecutive Middlesex League title.

Former Lady Raiders Sydney Doherty and Rachel Johnson from last year's championship team were both in the house as they came home for the long weekend.

Latest update from Maxpreps.com

Remaining regular season schedule

Playoff preview.

Likely qualifiers for D2 North tournament. Greater Lawrence has a record of 8-6. Belmont is at 7-7 and is on the bubble. At this point, that would make eleven qualifiers, with three play-in games and the five top seeds (by record) with a first round bye.

Weston could be a sleeper, with Coach Fabe Ardila, and two solid hitters averaging at least three kills/set, senior Paige Gordon and freshman Athena Ardila.