Melrose brought playoff volleyball back to the Veterans Memorial Middle School gym, emerging with a 25-17, 25-16, 25-23 win over the Westwood Wolverines. Melrose advances to the Sweet Sixteen, hosting Dartmouth Tuesday at 6:00 P.M. as Dartmouth swept Marblehead.
It was the first home playoff game for many of the MVB roster and a valuable learning experience, especially the third set.
Westwood was advertised as having strong middles and potent serving, raising the question as to whether they were "Woburn lite." The Wolverines play a highly competitive schedule including Canton, Hopkinton, Holliston, Medfield, Norwood, and Bellingham - and had been competitive in many of those matches.
Melrose controlled the first two sets before Westwood made adjustments and gained the edge for parts of the final frame.
Everyone was solid for Melrose; Adriana Santoriello, Elise Marchais, and Alisa Dautovic were all in or near double digit kills.
Liberos Anna Burns and Gen Overlan were on point, as were middle Sabrina "Air" McArt, Dani DiGiorgio, and "Disney" (Happiest Place on Earth) Amelie Johnson.
And the sharpest knife in the drawer was Freedom Division MVP Sadie Smith, who "Roy Kented" her way around the court, making improbable or impossible plays, while delivering an estimated eight kills.
A few highlights:
Sabrina McArt wins a joust at the net.
Adriana punishes an overpass with topspin.
At point 32, Elise shows her menacing middle skill and on the next point Adriana changes up with an ace.
In the third set at point 32, trailing 15-16, Sabrina puts up the roof.
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