Melrose Continues ML Streak, Top Lexington 3-1

Having clinched a state tournament berth, Melrose traveled to Lexington with the intention to remain undefeated as they start the second half of the season. It wasn't easy, but the Lady Raiders captured the second half kickoff with a four game victory.

Lexington Coach Jane Bergin couldn't have been happy to see her charges fall once again to the young Melrose squad, especially when Lexington squandered golden opportunity.

Game one saw Lexington vault ahead 7-3, before Melrose leveled the score at 12. A pair of Leslie Hirschfeld kills got Melrose ahead 13-12, but the hosts surged back up 17-14. Then Hannah Brickley took over, with three kills and a block in a six point span to see Melrose go on top 21-18. Lexington knotted the score at 23 before Melrose closed out the game. A net serve by Lexington led to the key 24th point before Melrose won 25-23.

Game two showed another Lexington lead, this time 6-5, with the lead changing hands several times, before the action heated up with the score even at 15. Hannah went on a service run for Melrose to lead 19-16, and subsequently 24-18. But Lexington stormed back to bring the game to 24-23 before the visitors took game two by an identical 25-23 tally. Unofficially Hannah and Nicole Glavin both notched a pair of kills and Hannah had two blocks.

Game three saw another see-saw tilt, with the score even at 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 15, 16, and 17, before Lexington pulled out the win, again at 25-23.

Game four saw the momentum continue for the Minutewomen, as they took a 10-3 and 14-5 leads to open. But again, Melrose showed their staying power, as a Gina Ciccone service run brought it to 14-10, before Lexington again got the game to 16-10. After Melrose regained the serve at 16-11, Nicole Glavin went on a devastating service run, with 11 service points, including SIX CONSECUTIVE ACES to bring the score to 22-16 Melrose. Lexington's spirit was broken, and the Lady Raiders completed the job, topping Lexington 25-17.

Score by Games

Melrose 25 25 23 25

Lexingt 23 23 25 17


Lady Raider Notes: Melrose's victory brings the team to 11-0, 7-0 in the Middlesex League. Melrose has yet to break into the Boston Herald top five in Division II, led by Westboro, perennial power Medfield, winner of the last two Division II titles, and Arlington Catholic, last year's Division II North winner.

The bleachers have finally arrived from points west and workers are installing them in the new Middle School gymnasium. As of now, it is not expected that the job will be complete before the end of next week.

As always, thanks to Dick Collis for his detailed scoring summaries.

Melrose at N. Reading Photojournalism

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In a remarkable series of photos, Don Norris captures the competitiveness, style, and grace of the best of Melrose volleyball in their match against North Reading. His best work of our ladies hard at work. Take pride in our team and their consistency and achievements.
Nicole Glavin and Gina Ciccone prepare to do battle
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Nicole Glavin has stepped up to become a dominant frontline player this season.
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Alex Harlow, Annmarie Wiesen, and Kelly O'Neill are on top of the action
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Co-captains Lauren Howe (6) and Leslie Hirschfeld are having terrific seasons
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Gina Ciccone does the Heisman, er, lines up a serve
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Lauren digs it, and Nicole digs the action
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More Lauren on the back row defense
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Laura Irwin (17) and Lauren Howe
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Leslie prepare to 'swing' into action
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Nicole has one of the strongest serves on the squad
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Leslie has her game face on as the determined Lady Raiders battled back to play like North Shore League Champions
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Laura and Coach Steve Wall are into it
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Gina goes to the floor to dig out a hit while Laura looks on
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Gina takes a breather
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Coach Scott Celli shows his focus during the hard-fought win at North Reading
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Leslie and setter Colleen Hanscom celebrate some post-game victory high-tens
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Gina, Kelly, Hannah Brickley, and libero Jess Farr enjoy the spoils of victory

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose travels to Lexington Friday for a big game against one of the stronger teams in the Middlesex/North Shore League. Follow the Lady Raiders on MMTV (Melrose Cable Channel 15) with a number of their contests showing on local television.

Photographs courtesy of Don Norris
Scoring summaries and highlights courtesy of Dick Collis

Lady Raiders Sting Hornets, Go 10-0

In 1967, after a lengthy road trip, the Boston Red Sox returned to Logan Airport to a hero's welcome. Ken Coleman crooned in 'The Impossible Dream", "Look at 'em go, 10 in a row, and now our kids are second." Well, the Lady Raiders reeled off their tenth consecutive win with a hard fought donnybrook at North Reading. North Reading has been among the top teams in Division III, including a trip to the State Finals within the past several seasons.

Melrose now stands at 10-0, 6-0 Middlesex League after topping the Hornets, who came in at 7-2, among the leaders in the Cape Ann League.

North Reading won the opening game 25-14, breaking open a 12-12 match, simply overpowering Melrose.

But after regrouping between games, Melrose licked their wounds early in Game 2, trailing 12-6. But a massive 13-1 run, behind service runs from Gina Ciccone and Nicole Glavin brought the Lady Raiders a 19-13 lead. During that time Nicole had three aces. Melrose finished strong to take the contest 25-20 and level the score.

In Game 3, the teams traded runs, with the game tied at 6 and 9, before Melrose opened up a 16-11 lead. Hannah Brickley and Leslie Hirschfeld unofficially each came up big with a quartet of kills, but North Reading closed to within 16-15, with the teams ultimately knotted again at 21 and 22. Finally Melrose closed it out with North Reading struggling under the pressure, and Glavin and Hirschfeld delivering closing kills.

Game 4 saw the Hornets sting first, opening up a 9-2 lead as they defended their house. The lead went to 12-5 before Melrose turned the momentum around, getting it to a manageable 14-12 deficit, before yet another stirring comeback got Melrose up 19-16. Hannah had a big 6 point service run en route, and added another four kills in the process.

Melrose went to an insurmountable 24-18 run, before a stirring North Reading comeback gave the home team a 25-24 lead before the red and white staved off defeat with a pair of points, including a Brickley kill. Finally, with the game locked at 26, Melrose was able to deliver the knockout punch and put the Hornets down for good.

According to local fans, the match was a real barn burner, the most hotly contested play of the season, as the team learns how to prevail in the big games.

Lady Raider Notes: The team will next be in action Friday at Lexington. The MMTV camera, capably manned by the Volleyball Boosters captured the game, and will likely also be filming Friday's battle. Lexington is one of the stronger teams in the league and gets plenty of respect from Coaches Celli and Wall as the team continues their road trip.

Melrose Volleyball Tradition, Then and Now

Photos courtesy of Don Norris. Click photos to ENLARGE. Best viewed with FIREFOX.

Melrose has a rich tradition of volleyball dating back almost thirty years. Today's players create memories for themselves, their families, and the community, just as former players did.

Don LeSaffre dug out folders of the '78 and '79 USVBA national tournaments in Texas and Ohio. The 1978 New England Masters team that played in the El Paso event. Four of the players are from Melrose:

Number 13, Herb Emery, then of East Foster Street, now of Maine. Number 1, Don LeSaffre of the Daniels-LeSaffre family, now of Wakefield; Number 3 at top right is Don Norris of Spear Street, and finally, the late Eddie Austras of Brazil Street. Other members are 11, Don Knight of Framingham; Number 8, John David of Worcester; and Number 9, the late Vito Eikinas of Randolph.

We didn't win anything and were knocked out in the first round -- but we went there, played, and watched the very best players in the nation competing. One day I was seated in the stands watching the women practice, and Flo Hyman -- voted best player in the '77 games -- sat beside me. We chatted for quite a while, while watching Debbie Green setting her club. What magic!

Bill Hirschfeld looks on with Melrose Athletic Director Pat Ruggiero
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Some younger fans might be future Lady Raiders
__________________________________________________________________________________As always, the Junior Varsity has some future contributors, including Athena who enjoys the moment.
__________________________________________________________________________________A pensive Coach Scott Celli reflects on the action.
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Aaaacccee!
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From left, Alex Harlow, Les Hirschfeld, and libero Jess Farr
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Defender Lauren Howe prepares to serve
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Alex Harlow is yet another of the young players helping Melrose continue its winning tradition
__________________________________________________________________________________Sophomore Hannah Brickley's outstanding play has come as no surprise to those who watched her last season.
_________________________________________________________________________________Nicole Glavin knows when to smash them, and when to dink and dunk
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Setter Colleen Hanscom's athleticism and poise have helped Melrose to a 9-0 start.
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Another solid victory for the girls in the red and white. Gina Ciccone congratulates Hannah (25).
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CONGRATULATIONS! 200...200...200

Congratulations to Coach Scott Celli on his 200th career coaching win...and we're not talking scrimmages and preseason, either. The Melrose Lady Raiders volleyball team capped a homestand with a 3 game victory over Belmont, to go 9-0 (6-0) Middlesex League as they complete their first pass around the league.Coach Scott Celli, assisted by Steve Wall, add more cars to Melrose's victory train...

Score by Games

Melrose 25 25 25

Belmont 7 15 18

Once again, the margin of victory allowed Melrose to play the roster, and allow the younger players to garner more valuable game experience.

Game one was a walkover, with Laura Irwin on a big service run of fourteen consecutive points (half of Marianne Foley's school record). Included in the run were six aces. Hannah Brickley dominated at the net, toying with Belmont through much of the period. Melrose had only one service error during the game as well. The serve-receive defense led by libero Jess Farr and Lauren Howe also played a vital role.

Melrose trailed 4-3 in game two before running out to an 11-4 lead. Hannah added another trio of kills as well as a host of service points.

Game three saw more fight from Belmont, with more good service from Laura, and a quartet of Hannah kills and a pair from outside hitter Nicole Glavin. Belmont got as close as 18-14 but the outcome was never in doubt.

Congratulations again to Coach Celli who built and maintained the local volleyball program to the point where it is a perennial contender for league and divisional titles, and known for its competitiveness and sportsmanship.

Alumni Note: Former Lady Raider Andrea Basteri has a tough job ahead of her as Watertown mentor, but she's up to the task.

Lady Raiders Make Watertown 8th Win

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The Watertown Red Raiders traveled to Marcoux Gym as an expansion team in the Middlesex League. Not long thereafter they departed with straight game losses to Melrose (8-0, 5-0 Middlesex League). Developing a program from scratch means a big task for former Lady Raider Andrea Basteri, especially in season with a powerful Watertown Field Hockey program capturing many top athletes.

Watertown had problems even returning the serves of the more experienced Melrose players, and Coach Scott Celli took the opportunity to play his entire roster. Kelly O'Neill got some quality time as libero in the sweltering gym, and Annmarie Wiesen and Alex Harlow also had extended action.

Siena Mamayek has her game face on as she has her first year in the volleyball program.
__________________________________________________________________________________Volleyball ladies can have some fun, right?
__________________________________________________________________________________Hannah Brickley (25) makes her entrance as a force while only a sophomore.
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Gina Ciccone smashes while Laura Irwin and Jess Farr (in red) look on.
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As always, plenty of fan support for the Volleyball Girls.
__________________________________________________________________________________Colleen Hanscom has quietly steadied the Lady Raiders both offensively and defensively while setting. The setter plays every point and gets no rest.
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Melrose celebrates another individual game victory.
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More hot air from the 'Bald Row Boys', Joe Celli and Ron Sen
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A lot of times, watching is harder on the families than on the players.
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Nicole Glavin goes high for the block.
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Something must be right for the Melrose program with so many smiling young ladies.
__________________________________________________________________________________Leslie Hirschfeld winds up her service.
__________________________________________________________________________________The always photogenic Lauren Howe shares a few moments with some fans.
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The Melrose players understand their priorities, handed down from frormer Athletic Director Sonny Lane and the numerous Melrose coaches : family, school, and sports. Here Kelly O'Neill pounds the books.
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No program achieves durable success without development and younger players. Here the future Lady Raiders, the Junior Varsity prepare to face Peabody.

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose hosts improving Belmont Friday as they complete the first 'turn' around the Middlesex League and seek to remain atop the circuit and go to 6-0 in league play. Coach Scott Celli reports that Division II scouts have their eyes on Belmont's top player.

Photographs courtesy of Don Norris.

Lucky Seven, Melrose Whips Tanners, 3-0

While unevenness in schedule quality has always been a problem for local volleyball, today brought a solid opponent to the Marcoux Gym, only to see Melrose wear down the visiting Peabody Tanners, 26-24, 25-22, and 25-15.

Melrose, sporting new home uniforms, got off to a slow start in Game 1, trailing 9-5 and 12-7 before the locals could get in gear. The secret to winning volleyball remains aggressiveness and prudent risk-taking, bringing the attack to the defense and forcing errors. Defensively, you must challenge every ball at the net, regardless of whether you are outsized. At the outset, Melrose let Peabody carry the play, but that changed with a 7-1 spurt spearheaded by service points from Middle Hitter Leslie Hirschfeld. Leslie played one of her stronger offensive games carrying the play from the middle to the taller Tanners.

Down the stretch it was a team effort as the teams were even at 24 before a Hannah Brickley kill gave Melrose the lead and Colleen Hanscom's serve forced an error to seal the victory. Nicole Glavin (unofficially) had three big kills in the game also.

Game 2 had Melrose jumping out 4-0, with Brickley and Laura Irwin thundering kills opening the lead, followed by a Hirschfeld ace. But Peabody gamely fought back to level it at 4. Hannah had another four kills to spark the hosts, while Nicole had a pair of overpowering slams down the stretch and a service point to ice it. Glavin clearly was the deciding force in the second stanza, as the Senior Outside Hitter comes into her own.

Game 3 found Peabody wilting under the Melrose attack, again led by Hannah's five kills. Peabody closed to within 15-13, but Melrose closed them out with a 10-2 run to stretch their undefeated streak to seven. The Lady Raiders are now 3-0 in interconference games in the North Shore League and 4-0 in the Middlesex League.

Score by Games

Melrose 26 25 25

Peabody 24 22 15

Lady Raider Notes: Coach Scott Celli was pleased with how his team met the challenge of the tall Peabody team, especially with the more difficult portion of the schedule coming up next week. Sophomore Hannah Brickley remains a force offensively and defensively in the middle, and the Seniors, Gina Ciccone, Lauren Howe on defense, Leslie Hirschfeld, and Nicole Glavin have all been active.

Unofficially, Melrose had only three service errors for the match, a big improvement. The team still battles the 'overpass' which Peabody translated into a number of easy points. Passing skill inconsistency also 'trapped setter Colleen Hanscom at the net more than we'd like to see. Taller, experienced front court players are not fooled by setters either tied up at the net or trying to find holes in the opposition defense...turning 'dekes' into points.

Melrose won the match because of greater consistency, particularly in the serve-receive part of the game. Beyond the libero, Peabody struggled with their serve-receive game, allowing Melrose to become the aggressor, setting up the front row for kills.

Conversations with Pat Ruggiero couldn't yield much news on the 'phantom bleachers' for the new Middle School Gym. Fortunately, local fans have the improved Marcoux facility to compensate for their disappointment at not getting into the fabulous new facility.

Volleyball Schedule Correction

Wednesday's contest with WATERTOWN is HOME this week, so the Lady Raiders have a three game home stand this week.

Watertown is an expansion program in the Middlesex League. Developing a new program in a community with a dominant fall sport (Girls' Field Hockey) could prove a daunting challenge.

Updated Standing and Schedule

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The Melrose Lady Raiders face their toughest challenge of the 2007 season Monday as they host Division I Peabody. Melrose (6-0, 4-0 Middlesex League) has a pair of home contests this week before hitting the road next week.
Melrose has gotten off to an excellent start with a young team, and will need a total integration of offensive and defensive skills to keep their winning streak alive.

Lady Raiders at Lynnfield in Pictures

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Leslie Hirschfeld (33) and Colleen Hanscom set up the double block, while Nicole Glavin covers the opposite side.
__________________________________________________________________________________Here Leslie prepares to hit.
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The Lady Raiders appear pleased with the results of this play. Left to right, Kelly O'Neill, Laura Irwin, Nicole Glavin, Hannah Brickley, and Colleen Hanscom.
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More photos when Blogger cooperates. The photos just don't want to go up right now.

The Lady Raiders travel to Burlington tomorrow. Rumor has it that the bleachers have arrived at the new Middle School Gym...

Photos courtesy of Don Norris.