There isn't much of a Middlesex League sample size to go by, but Melrose, Lexington, Winchester, and Reading were expected to be contenders. Lexington is at 3-0 with a victory over Medford yesterday. Reading is listed at 2-0 as of September 10th in the Boston Globe. Certainly the quality of play is improving throughout the league.
Melrose benefits immensely from its non-league schedule as it faces numerous perennial powers to prepare for post-season challenges.
Undefeated reigning State Champion Notre Dame (Hingham) has defeated Ursuline (a Melrose common opponent) 3-1, and defeated future Melrose opponent Westboro 3-2 yesterday. Melrose travels to NDH on September 26th. Hopkinton handed Medfield its second loss yesterday, Marlboro, winner of multiple titles in Division 2, remains undefeated. Another central division power, Canton, remains undefeated. Last year's finalist in D2, Bishop Fenwick, had heavy losses to graduation and is 2-1 according to Maxpreps.com. Coach Adam DeBaggis always fields a competitive team.
In the west, Longmeadow and Minnechaug are at the top of the heap so far.
Greg Bidgood gives a preview of the Middlesex League with a focus on the Homenewshere.com communities. The Middlesex League partition into large and small, developed as a football convenience, has little meaning for volleyball fans.
His take: "The parity is not the same in the Freedom as Melrose, an historical power, once again will be the team to beat in the division as they are likely the best team in the entire Middlesex League and will contend for a D-2 sectional title and maybe even more."
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