Game 15: Three-quarter Pole, Melrose 3 Stoneham 0

Melrose finished a lengthy road trip with a 3-0 victory over Stoneham to raise its record to 14-1 (12-0 Middlesex League).

Stoneham had given Melrose fits in their earlier meeting, with outstanding play from Olivia Gaughan...but today was another story as Melrose won 25-13, 25-12, 25-19.

The Lady Raiders took a quick 3-0 lead and the Spartans got no closer than 5-3, as a 12-3 run broke the match open early. Melrose delivered kill after kill, with three quick ones from Meri Lessing (four for the set), and a season high five for outside hitter Annalisa DeBari. Add in a pair apiece from freshman Victoria Crovo and sophomore Marissa Cataldo and total domination ensued in a service error-free set.

Set two was more of the same as Melrose opened up 5-1, 9-2, and 14-4 advantages behind a pair of early kills from Meri, Marissa, and Annalisa. The team continued its hitting onslaught...as the hits kept on coming with another Baker's Dozen. Again Meri added four kills, while Annalisa pounded in three as did Marissa, and the V-Rex added a pair.

Stoneham put up more resistance in the third set, but Melrose still led 3-1, 8-3, 11-5, and 17-9. The Spartans got as close as 19-15, but a closing run finished the visitors aspirations. Meri delivered another five kills, Annalisa four in her career best performance, and Victoria put three more notches in her belt. Melrose blasted in forty kills for the day, with most of the assists coming from setter Allie Nolan.

Game Notes: Melrose delivered its best 'box to wire' match of the season, with the usual consistent performance by the back row with Jill MacInnes, Maave Moriarty, Cassidy Barbaro, and Alyssa Abbott all extremely consistent in their digging and passing. The lions and tigers (Lessing and Crovo) got exceptional support from DeBari and Cataldo, the kind of play necessary for teams with championship ambition. In my opinion, the passing was the best of the season. And it goes without saying that excellent passing allowed Allie Nolan to put up the "biscuits" for the hitters to devour.

Stoneham's Gaughan was exceptional and merits All-League status.