Quarterfinals: Melrose 3 Bishop Fenwick 1

Melrose, seeking its 12th consecutive Division 2 North final berth, advanced to the semis with a 21-25, 25-10, 25-12, and 25-20 victory at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.

During warmups opposite hitter and blocker Cat Torpey sustained a leg injury and was unable to play tonight, giving Senior Stephanie Crovo a big role tonight.

Melrose got off to a quick 5-3 lead only to see Fenwick run off 9-2 to take a 12-7 edge. Melrose played uphill the rest of the set, getting close at 18-19 and tied at 21 only to see the visitors play outstanding defense to win.

Melrose had twelve kills including five for Hannah Mulcahey and three for Victoria Crovo. Allie Nolan had a busy night retrieving serve receive and first passes and deserves a lot of credit for her efforts.

Set two saw Melrose race out to a 9-1 lead and leaving no doubt as they led 16-4. A combination of better play and Fenwick struggling saw the Lady Raiders knot the match at 1-1. Meri Lessing had a big set with five kills and Marissa Cataldo and Victoria each added a pair.

Melrose played its best volleyball in the third set, rallying from a 5-1 deficit, leveling the score at six, and taking a 17-8 lead with a barrage of kills including a flurry from Hannah Mulcahey.

For the set, Melrose had fifteen kills, including five for Hannah, three for Meri and Victoria, and two for Marissa. The Lady Raiders had only two service errors for the match.

Good teams never quit, and after a couple of sets Melrose controlled, Fenwick fought back in the final frame. The black-and-gold trailed 8-3 early and 19-10 but got within a point at 21-20, forcing a Melrose time out at 21-19. But Melrose responded sharply with kills from Steph Crovo and Hannah Mulcahey, and the Crusaders' final return crashed into the tape and Melrose was celebrating another match Thursday.

Melrose unofficially had eighteen kills in the set, led by seven for Meri, six for Hannah, and pair of stylish kills from Allie Nolan.

Game notes: Both coaches, who coach together at St. John's Preparatory, got satisfaction from the match. Coach Scott Celli was happy to advance with a late lineup change, and Fenwick skipper Adam DeBaggis commented that he had pointed to getting his squad to this game. Coach DeBaggis has noted that he has a young team with a bright future.

Melrose hosts Weston Thursday and ML competitor Winchester travels to Arlington to face the AC Cougars.