Hold that tiger. Melrose has enjoyed more than a degree of success against Division 1 teams, but had never beaten Newton North...until tonight. Hot and humid conditions worked against both teams, but the Lady Raiders prevailed 25-23, 25-15, 23-25, and 25-23.
Newton North always presents a formidable challenge, because their style is based on INTENT, the promise of delivering smashes at every possible opportunity. But Melrose succeeded for exactly that reason, four very capable hitters, senior captain Meri Lessing, juniors Hannah Mulcahy and Marissa Cataldo, and sophomore captain Victoria ("V-Rex") Crovo. Add in the capable setting of captain Allie Nolan, and Melrose's 2014 version emerged with a signature victory.
The undercard saw Melrose's JV win an exciting three set match against a very strong Newton North squad.
The first set saw tight action through 13-12, before Melrose led 17-13 only to see the Tigers come back to knot the score at 17, 18, 19, and 20 before North took the lead at 22-20. But Melrose rallied behind a North service error to make the score 22-21, followed up by a Nolan kill deadlocking the score at 22, a Cataldo winner, and Melrose opening a 24-22 advantage. North got within one but a service error, one of six for the visitors in the opening frame gave Melrose the set.
Hannah Mulcahy and Cataldo both chipped in two kills, and Nolan, Lessing, and Cat Torpey had one apiece.
Melrose dominated set two. North led 8-7 before Melrose runs opened up 12-8 and 15-11 edges. Melrose ran away from a 17-14 lead with a closing 8-1 burst to capture the set. Meri had three kills, Victoria two, Marissa two, Hannah two, and Allie one.
North exploded to a 5-0 lead in set three, with a Scott Celli timeout halting the run and getting Melrose back to an 8-7 deficit. North and Melrose traded punches before Melrose got even at 16, 18, and 19. A scoring controversy had Melrose take a 21-19 lead abetted by a rotation error, but North rallied from a 23-22 deficit to score the final three and force a four set.
Melrose caught fire to lead 10-2 in the fourth set via a trio of Mulcahy kills, but North, showing their mettle and mental toughness got back to 12-8, 14-10, and 16-12 as Melrose couldn't reestablish momentum.
The Lady Raiders opened up a 20-16 and 22-17 leads before North again fought back to 22-20 and 24-23 on a beautiful push to the corner down the line. But Allie Nolan got redemption for the 2012 North win with a brilliant near side corner shot to deliver the win.
Hannah had four fourth set kills and Meri and Victoria a pair apiece.
Overall, aggressive offense and consistent defense from Victoria and Marissa, libero Amanda Cain, and sophomore Kaitlyn MacInnes who all acquitted themselves splendidly. Stephanie Crovo performed her role as serving specialist almost flawlessly.
Game Notes: Much of Melrose's volleyball tradition was on hand, many parents from the 2012 State Championship team, the Back Row Gang, and Melrose's most renowned volleyball player, Hannah Brickley. Coaches Andrea Basteri and Athena Ziavras joined Scott Celli and Steve Wall on the bench.
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