Knocks out Somerset Berkley to advance to Sweet 16
THE MELROSE High girls’ volleyball team has moved on to Sweet 16 play after prevailing in the opening round of Div. 2 playoffs. At press time they were due to travel to Longmeadow on Wednesday. (photo by Raj Das edphotos.com)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—It was easy does it the for the Melrose High girls’ volleyball team, who advanced past No. 23 seed Somerset Berkley in the opening round of the Div. 2 playoffs on Friday, Nov. 1 at the Melrose Middle School gym. Melrose swept the Blue Raiders in straight sets of 25-13, 25-14, 25-17 for the 3-0 win.
The victory advances Melrose to Sweet 16 play and at press time they were scheduled to travel to Longmeadow on Wednesday (post deadline) to play the No. 7 seed Lancers who are unbeaten at 17-0.
Of this anticipated pairing, Melrose head coach Scott Celli noted, “We are 2-0 against Longmeadow, but we haven’t seen them since 2012.” This is referring to, of course, Melrose’s state title earned against the Lancers in 2012. Nearly 13 years later, a lot has changed. “Though we haven’t seen them since they’ll be a good opponent. They haven’t lost a game all year,” the coach says.
The opening game against Somerset Berkley marked a bittersweet occasion for Melrose, who had their last home game of the season, greeted by a nice crowd who gathered to salute the team one last time at home in 2024, particularly their 9 seniors.
It was job well done as those seniors played a big factor in the straight set win. Yet it was a collective effort from the entire team as coach Celli used a creative lineup against a rather unmatched Blue Raiders. The night was a great opportunity to show promising up and comers including freshman Sadie Smith who scored 8 kills.
Meanwhile, senior middle hitters Sabine Wenzel and Sofia Papatsoris were as consistent as ever with 11 kills each, leading Melrose offensively. Hitter Emme Boyer also had some well-timed and executed hits in the opposite position (4 kills for the night.)
The team’s middles, Sabine Wenzel and Sofia Papatsoris, have not failed with blocks. “Key to the win was containing the outside hitting. When you play those teams that love to hit from the outside you need good blocking,” says Celli.
It was a terrific game for senior setter Leah Fowke who had 31 assists, passing 500 for the season.
And Melrose defense was as sharp as even behind the great efforts of Gg Albuja and Maggie Turner, with 11 serve receipts and 13 service points for Turner. Alex Homan was also strong in back row defense. Among those showing great skill on the service line were Anna Burns and Sofia Papatsoris.
It was certainly a night to showcase upcoming talent with the addition of underclassmen Sadie Smith, Elise Marchais, Ella Friedlaender, Maggie Shoemaker and Adelle Ackland this season. All will be expected to have large roles in 2025.
Melrose head coach Scott Celli has been creative with the lineup for varying reasons. One is that he is forced to work around the injury of senior hitter Caroline Higonenq, a player who doesn’t get off the court for Melrose.
“For a big senior team, we became real young real fast,” he said after the win. “Maggie Shoemaker and Sadie did a great job for us in the outside tonight. They’ve been working hard and maybe had 13 or 14 kills combined. That goes a long way because we need to complement our middles.”
Should Melrose advance past Longmeadow on Wednesday they will play the winner of Oliver Ames and Burlington at a time to be determined.
Says the coach, “When we play our game, we have good chance to win.”
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