Tale of the Tape - King Philip (2) Versus Melrose (6)

I am not in the prediction business. Let's examine the King Philip versus Melrose matchup with some help from Maxpreps.com. 

When I think of Wrentham (home of King Philip), I think first of the Wrentham Village mall (haven't been there) and former Senator Scott Brown, a former resident. I need to get out more. 

King Philip isn't a new arrival on the volleyball scene, having lost in the D2 semis last year to ultimate winner Hopkinton. 

Both teams won their league titles, KP tied with Attleboro and Franklin (who lost to Barnstable in the D1 quarterfinals) in the Hockomock League. Melrose won the Middlesex League. 

Both KP and Melrose have six seniors on the roster. 

KP had a pair of losses, one to Franklin with whom they split and once to Attleboro, another top ten D1 team. Melrose lost to three number one seeds in their divisions, Newton North, Westborough, and Frontier, and its opening match with Peabody.

KP lost only 8 sets in their league during the season. Melrose lost 6 sets in the ML12. 

Both teams play on a neutral court for the first time this season. 

Both teams defeated their common opponent, Stoughton. 

 

KP has three attackers with 200 or more kills. It's top two hitters have an impressive attack efficiency of at least forty percent. That usually reflects skill, height, and quality of sets. Melrose doesn't publish attack efficiency statistics. 

On paper it's an attractive matchup, two proven teams returning to the Divisional semifinals in consecutive seasons with senior leadership and quality schedules.