More Recognition for Volleyball Team

Melrose heads into the postseason with a raft of honors.

Erin Torpey, Emma Randolph, Nicole Abbott, Mary-Kate Mahoney are Middlesex League All Stars

Nicole Abbott- Middlesex League All Conference Team (top 6 in the league)

Nicole Abbott- Co MVP of Middlesex League (Freedom)

Congratulations to the players, their families, teammates, and coaches who made this possible.

Honors for Emma

Max preps.com Massachusetts player of the week.

https://twitter.com/mhsredraiders/status/1057413763941482496?s=21

Game 20: Central 3 Melrose 1

Melrose finished its 2018 regular season 13-7 with a four set defeat to Central Catholic. 

Melrose won the opening frame but Central's size and athleticism wore the locals down. 

Emma Randolph led Melrose with 15 kills followed by Emily Hudson (9) and Erin Torpey (8).

Dig it. Melrose defenders spread out the digs with four players in double digits, led by libero Nicole Abbott. 

Bracketology - Melrose Volleyball

Melrose (13-7) drew the eleven seed in Division 2 North. 

Lynnfield is the "power" team on the right side of the bracket and Melrose goes on the road in their opening matchup at Lynn Classical. The winner of Lynn Classical - Melrose will likely face Danvers whom Melrose played in the postseason last year. 

Melrose - Westborough Volleyball Photoessay

Images courtesy of Bill Heafey. Click the photos to enlarge. 

"This is your team." 

Achievements...

12 consecutive league titles 
8 sectional championships 
4 state finals appearances
1 state championship 
0 excuses 

Winning is hard.  

Game 19: Westborough 3 Melrose 1

Melrose (13-6) got valuable experience in their rematch of last year's State Championship, but came out on the short end versus Westborough, 25-16, 14-25, 17-25, and 17-25. 

Westborough came in ranked fourth in Massachusetts in the Maxpreps.com computer ratings. 

Figure from Empire of the Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne

The Comanches dominated the central United States for over 150 years, thriving as masters of a technological revolution...the horse. But westward expansion put inexorable pressure on roughly 25,000 Comanches, with ultimate victory by the Rangers, who literally outgunned the Comanches using the next tech revolution, the Colt 45.  

And so history rhymed if not repeating at the Middle School Gymnasium. The Red Raiders literally got outgunned by the Westborough Rangers with a dominant strong side attack. 

Melrose opened well in the first set, with strong work from the M and M pairing, Emma Randolph and Emily Hudson. Melrose defended well and Westy struggled to find the hitting range, attacking long repeatedly. Effective blocking by Claire Albuja also contributed to the fast start. 

But the Rangers changed up their attack, mixing up the outside and back row attacking, gaining the upper hand in aggression and dominating the second stanza. 

Melrose rallied back in the third frame, with particularly good work from Erin Torpey and Nicole Abbott, but the Rangers had too much ammunition. 

Westborough got off fast to a 15-5 lead in the fourth set and Melrose hung in, but there was too little and too late in the good effort. 

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose completes the regular season Monday, hosting Central Catholic at 6:00. 

Stat Leaders and More

In the Maxpreps.com statistical leaders, Emma Randolph clocks in at 13 in Massachusetts with 223 kills. Emily Hudson is at 40.

Kiki Kiernan is in the top 40 of assists. 

Nicole Abbott is in the top 40 of digs. 

Melrose hosts Westborough tomorrow, the Rangers number four in the Maxpreps.com team power rankings. 

Game 18: Late Melrose Rally Sends Red Devils Packing, 3-2

Melrose (13-5) overcame a two-set deficit on the road to beat Burlington in five sets.

Melrose trailed 20-15 in set four before rallying to win 26-24.

Emma Randolph (22), Erin Torpey (16), and Emily Hudson (10) all had double-digit kills.

Nicole Abbott had 25 digs and Autumn Whelan (29) and Kiki Kiernan (11) combined for forty assists.

The "signature win" helps Melrose earn needed confidence headed into the home stretch with non-league contests against Westboro (tomorrow) and Central Catholic next week. The Burlington win avenged an earlier loss to the Red Devils.

Melrose - Wakefield Volleyball Photoessay

Images courtesy of Steve Karampalas. Click to enlarge.

Melrose recognized assistant coach Ryan Schmitt who is deploying soon with the Coast Guard and will be unavailable for the next season.