The only teams to wear the Middlesex League volleyball crown in the past twelve years are Melrose and Reading. Reading visited Melrose today with hopes of upsetting the defending ML champions, but left on the short end of a 25-21, 25-21, 25-10 Melrose win.
Reading took a quick 3-1 lead out of the gate, only to see Melrose break back behind Meri Lessing for a 6-3 lead. Melrose extended the lead to 13-7 and 15-8, but the Rockets hung around to square the set at nineteen. But Melrose regained the lead with a Hannah Mulcahey kill at 20, widened it off a Victoria Crovo ace to go up 22-19, and closed out the set with another Lessing winner.
Meri led the way with three kills, abetted by a pair apiece for Marissa Cataldo and Hannah. Five service errors also undermined the Reading opportunity.
The second set saw Reading go up 5-0 with Melrose chipping away at the lead to create ties at 10, 11, 15, 16, and 17, before Melrose restored order with an 8-4 run to close the set. A pair of Hannah's Hammers, plus one each from Meri and Victoria delivered the set. The usual excellent defense and setting from Allie Nolan was pivotal, and the back row led by Amanda Cain played their role.
After two very competitive sets, Reading appeared to run out of gas in the final frame. Melrose took a quick 6-2 lead, only to see the Rockets make their final stand, knotting the score at 7. From their Melrose led 9-8, then erupted for a 16-2 run to send the away side home empty. Marissa Cataldo had a big set with five kills, Cat Torpey had two from the opposite position, Hannah added a pair, and Victoria and Allie had one apiece.
The win raises Melrose's record to 14-1; Melrose travels to Woburn Friday.
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