Despite the score, Wakefield put up a lot of resistance with aggressive attacking and solid defense. Melrose's superior consistency and fewer mistakes made the difference. Melrose had only one service error while Wakefield was in double digits.
Melrose jumped ahead 9-6 and Wakefield took a timeout at 11-6. Emma Randolph was immense on the outside. Melrose expanded the lead to 19-12 forcing another Warrior timeout. Wakefield hung around before dropping the set 25-19.
Set two was all Wakefield early as the visitors led 1-5, before Melrose captured 14 of the next 16 points to lead 15-7. Melrose has ridden the coattails of Triple E (Emma, Erin, and Emily) most of the season. Today saw growing production from "Club Med" hard-hitting freshman Jen Gentile and sophomore Elena Soukos who are also off-season teammates. Their efforts forced a Wakefield timeout at 20-9, but Melrose cruised 25-13.
The third set showed Wakefield's resilience and willingness to hit. The Warriors led 11-13 before a Melrose timeout proved to be a wakeup call. Melrose went on a 12-5 run with more good work from Emma and Erin and a key kill from opposite Grace Davis. With Melrose leading 23-17, Chloe punctuated the victory with a pair of kills at the net to apply the coup de grace.
Game notes: Wakefield did not go "gently into the night." In no way was the match a rout. Melrose got exceptional performance from back row leaders Nicole Abbott and Mary Kate Mahoney and the Lady Raider's "blocking game" continues to mature over the course of the season. All of the blocking combinations are improving.
Faces in the crowd included long-time photographer Don Norris and former Division 2 Player of the Year Brooke Bell.
Next up: Melrose travels to Burlington (7-1) on Friday for a major Freedom Division clash.
Winchester beat Arlington 3-1, Lexington defeated Woburn 3-1, and Reading topped Belmont 3-2 in Liberty Division play.
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