Game 21: Melrose 3 Whittier 0

Melrose advanced to the D2 North quarterfinals with a home victory over the Whittier Wildcats, 25-6, 25-10, 25-15. The win was number 400 at Melrose for Coach Scott Celli. 

Melrose rolled out to a commanding lead 15-1 first set lead and never looked back. "Emma Time" Randolph closed our her home career with another dozen kills as she moves near the statistical pinnacle of Melrose attackers. 

But everyone got into the party with a flurry of kills across the roster including several from the back row by Nicole Abbott. 

In early action, no surprises emerged. Middlesex League qualifiers advanced in D2N. 

Around the Net: History may not repeat, but it rhymes. Melrose walked into Andover for the 2003 D2N finals against 22-0 Arlington Catholic which had not lost a set. Melrose left with a sweep of the Cougars with a blend of experience and youth.

Melrose will likely travel to Lynn in its next match, pending the Classical-English matchup.   

"The Best Time of the Year"

"Trend is not destiny." 

Daughter Paula called the playoffs "the best time of the year." It's "Trick or Treat" for Melrose tonight at 6:00 at the Veterans Memorial Middle School Gym. 

Melrose launches its playoff run in search of its ninth D2 North championship and second state title. The Lady Raiders last appeared in the title game two years ago against Westboro, with nine current players on the 2017 roster. 

Hardware

Melrose athletes added some hardware to their trophy cases.

Middlesex League All-Stars:

Emma Randolph
Erin Torpey
Nicole Abbott
Mary Kate Mahoney
Emily Hudson

All Conference Team

Emma Randolph

Co-Player of the Year, Freedom Division

Emma Randolph

Congratulations. 

Around the Net: The Middlesex League finished 37-11 versus non-league opponents heading to the playoffs. 

Polls Are Over, Playoffs Are Here

The time for polls is over and playoffs are here. 

Final regular season Maxpreps.com poll. Needham beat Newton North to earn a spot in the top ten. The improved Middlesex League has helped Melrose's strength of schedule. 

Emma Randolph finishes the regular season in the top 5 in kills (Maxpreps.com)

Eva Haralabatos likewise makes the top 5 in assists and is a candidate for the mythical Rookie of the Year. 

Maxpreps.com didn't generate a full Digs list, but Nicole Abbott has been in the 10-12 range most of the season. 

And the Middlesex League doesn't have a "Freshman of the Year" Award, but if they did, then Chloe Gentile would have a claim. 

Trick or Treat. Melrose hosts Whittier Regional tomorrow. 

John Greenleaf Whittier was a well-known Quaker, abolitionist, poet, and supporter of women writers whose hometown was Haverhill, location of the eponymous high school. 

Bracketology Updated

Melrose volleyball (17-3) draws the 5th seed in Div 2. North bracket. Will host 12 seed Whittier (13-7) On Thurs. 10/31 at 6 pm pic.twitter.com/ZGYk00PtVw

— Melrose Weekly Sport (@MelroseWNSports) October 29, 2019

The brackets are pretty evenly matched, with the exception of the Fenwick bracket which gives them a good shot at getting to the Sectional semis. 

Bracketology

D2 North standings via Maxpreps.com  

If there are no Sullivan Rule qualifiers, then sixteen teams qualify for tournament play and Melrose (5) hosts Whittier (12) later this week. The most compelling first round match could be Lynn Classical (4) hosting Bedford (13) with an 11.4 Maxpreps.com strength of schedule differential. Another "upset special" could feature O'Bryant hosting Newburyport with a 15.5 strength of schedule differential. 

Game 20: Central Catholic 3 Melrose 2

Melrose (17-3) dug itself a hole it couldn't dig itself out of as Central captured a five-set win on Senior Night. Melrose will likely get a five seed in the D2North with Lynnfield, Danvers, and O'Bryant undefeated and Lynn Classical 18-2. Lynnfield and Danvers will have a coin flip for the one seed. 

If you had a "chalk" outcome, that sets up 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, and 4-5 quarterfinal matchups if you do the math. 

Data from the Boston Globe

Regular Season Finale Today at Central Catholic

Years ago on MMTV's Let's Talk Sports, another ML coach called Melrose volleyball a "legacy program." Twenty win seasons are the rule, not the exception, since 2003. 

Source: Maxpreps.com 

Coaching, commitment by players and families, a winning culture, community support, and more contribute.

Not playing the "Blame Game" also matters. "When we identify the bad guy, we are done thinking." Play hard. Finish strong. 

Regular Season Closeout at Central Catholic Monday

Melrose resumes its friendly rivalry with Central Catholic tomorrow (Monday). Central celebrates their Senior Night. 

JV and Frosh play at 430 with Varsity following. 

Melrose - Wilmington Images from Bill Heafey

Thanks to Bill Heafey for snaps. Click pics to enlarge. 

Abby Road? 

Melrose - Wilmington Shots from Coach K

Images courtesy of Steve Karampalas. Click to enlarge. 

Do more with four arms?