Melrose Lady Raiders Volleyball

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Melrose AC Photo Essay, The Show Must Go On

Thanks once again to our brilliant shooters, Steve Karampalas (this collection) and Bill Heafey who share their great images.

Click an image to enlarge.

Joy. The premier Melrose volleyball photograph of 2019 so far...

Exemplary technique: hands over the net, fingers spread, space contained, penetration into the airspace of the hitter.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Melrose Stats Versus AC, The E's Have It

Usually statistics confirm "what the eyes see and the ears hear."

The E's have it. Emma, Emily, Erin, and Elena all with at least five kills.

Double digit digs for Erin and Nicole.

Eva with another strong setting session.

Game 7: Melrose 3 Arlington Catholic 0

Illness-ridden but unbowed, Melrose (7-0) began a stretch of three games in five days with a 25-12, 25-13, 25-16 home victory over Arlington Catholic (4-3).

The Lady Raiders remain one of two unbeaten Middlesex League teams, tied with Winchester, also 7-0.

Melrose jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead behind the powerful outside attacks of Emma Randolph, despite Arlington Catholic's credible defense. Melrose started to spread the attack out including crafty placements from Erin Torpey, middle blocks from Emily Hudson and freshman Chloe Gentile, and weak side attacks from sophomore Elena Soukos. And setter Eva Haralabatos continued to pile up assists in the 25-12 attack.

AC was more competitive in the final two sets, but Melrose had too much offense for the visiting Cougars.

Highlight plays: Mary Kate Mahoney had a brilliant dig early in the first set.

Around the Net: The Melrose High School Audio-Visual department carried a live stream of today's action. Melrose welcomed AC assistant Ryan Celli to his first appearance in the lengthy rivalry. Winchester Coach John Freeman was in the crowd today.

A respiratory illness with fever has swept through the team and Erin Torpey and Nicole Abbott both played through it.

Melrose hosts Wakefield Wednesday at about 5:15.

We are live with MHS-TV coverage of Volleyball vs Arlington Catholic https://t.co/RDrXLsC8p3
— MHS-TV (@MelroseHighTV) September 23, 2019

Varsity action starts at about 58:00

Lessons Shared from Hall of Fame Inductees

Inductees into the Melrose High School Athletic Hall of Fame shared valuable lessons. Here are just a few cross-posted from my basketball blog.

Rivalry Monday, Melrose Hosts AC at 615

Melrose and Arlington Catholic have squared off about twenty times in the past seventeen years, with each side having its moments.

Both teams had numerous outstanding teams and have been to the State finals. Melrose's Maria Scocca played for several exceptional AC teams over a decade ago.

Melrose carried high postseason hopes into the AC gym in 2002 only to have the Cougars dispatch them with relative ease, 3-0. The following year AC came into the D2 North finals 22-0, with an unblemished record in sets. Melrose upset them 3-0 to capture its first of eight sectional titles.

Last season it was all AC, as the Cats won in straight sets. AC has coaching fortification with Scott Celli's son Ryan signing on with the Cougars.

The Cougars have a quality win over (5-1) Cardinal Spellman and lost to Lowell and always strong Bishop Fenwick.

Melrose will need to bring its 'A' game to keep the Cougars at bay.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

2012 State Champions Enter Athletic Hall of Fame

Melrose lost just four sets in 2012 en route to a 25-1 Division 2 State Championship. Coaches Scott Celli, Steve Wall, and Andrea Basteri and many players attended the Melrose High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner last night.

Steve Karampalas generously shares photos. Click to enlarge.

What drove their success? They returned seven seniors to a team that had lost in the State finals the previous year. They set one goal and were championship-focused. They had star power and depth (seven league All-Stars) and a myriad of terrific role players.