11 - 3. Outgunned. Central Tops Melrose 3 - 1.

Melrose prepped for Friday's big match against Winchester with a 22-25, 25-22, 16-25, and 17-25 defeat against Central Catholic. 

Melrose got out quick with 7-1 and 13-6 edges and even led 19-16 before Central finished with a big 9-3 run. 

Central led early in set two at 5-0 before Melrose responded to go up 6-5. There were ties at 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 18 before Central went up 21-18. From there, Victoria Crovo had three late kills in a 7-1 run to close out the set. 

The comeback took some steam out of Melrose in the third stanza as Central raced out to a 10-1 lead. Melrose got as close as 16-12 before Central bounced to a 21-13 edge before finishing the set 25-16. 

The fourth frame went better earlier with ties at 2, 3, and 4 with three Crovo kills keeping it close. But Central heated up to leads a 10-5 and 16-8. The Lady Raiders answered to come within four at 16-12, but another visitor run took the advantage to 20-12 and Melrose couldn't make another comeback. At 24-13, Melrose rallied to 24-17 but that wasn't enough. 

Melrose has a chance to rebound in a big Middlesex League tilt tomorrow against Winchester. 

Coming attractions.