Postseason Game 1: Hingham 3 Melrose 1

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."

Hingham ended Melrose's season with a 25-19, 26-24, 22-25, 25-17 victory and moves on presumably to face the #1 seed in the Sweet 16. 

Melrose hasn't been on the road often to open the postseason. The last time I can remember was in 2005, where Melrose was "home" in Stoneham during school construction. Melrose outlasted the strongest opponent (Central Catholic) they would see until the finals.

Hingham was solid across the board - good serving, good defense, good setting, solid attackers, good blocking. They didn't have a glaring weakness

Melrose did a lot of good things, but was hurt by slow starts that forced them to play "uphill" throughout the match. 

In the second set they trailed 8-1 before mounting a resilient rally from 17-23 to seize the lead at 24-23. But they couldn't close out the set. 

If I can find video, I'll share some tomorrow. 

Three up:

1) Anna Burns - the junior libero had the best game of her career with big responsibilities surrounded by three freshmen and a pair of sophomores at times. 

2) Sabine Wenzel - the D1-bound senior closed out her Melrose career, unofficially with fourteen kills and seven blocks. 

3) Elise Marchais - the sophomore middle had a strong game blocking and was efficient when she had attacks. 

Honorable mention - Maggie Shoemaker delivered a spark with good moments as a "designated server." 

Melrose Notes: Melrose travels. In addition to many parents of current players, parents of graduates (Gary Fowke, Rollie Albuja) made the substantial rush hour drive to the South Shore. 

The "youth" of MVB (five sophomores and five freshmen) competed fearlessly and gained valuable postseason experience. During the remarkable second set rally, Anna Burns, sophomores Sadie Smith and Elise Marchais, and freshmen Adriana Santoriello, Dani DiGiorgio, and Alisa Dautovic were on the court. "They'll be back." 

The team held their heads high and recovered for a team meal at Shake Shack at the Hingham Mall. 

'Waze' directed us hither and you through Quincy, Weymouth, Wollaston and more. We passed the "Original Dunkin' Donuts" franchise in Quincy near the Southern Artery. We did not see that "history" coming.