THE MELROSE High volleyball team comes back after another league-winning season. They’re pictured celebrating during Tuesday’s scrimmage win over Lynnfield. They open up on the road in Arlington on Sept. 9. (Jennifer Gentile photo)
League champs are eyeing playoffs this fall
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Nearly five months after another league-winning season, the Melrose High volleyball team returns with great expectations this fall as they embark on a twenty game season that will feature something they didn’t get to enjoy during their Fall2 season: a state tournament.
It looks like normal volleyball finally for the team, though they are the only fall team to wear masks during competition. They begin their season on a road opener at Arlington on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. They open at home on Monday, Sept. 13 against Woburn.
Melrose volleyball claimed its fourteenth consecutive league volleyball title last season and went undefeated within the Freedom Division, with a final record of 12-1. Melrose coach Scott Celli in his 20 plus years of coaching has earned 550 wins, over 400 of them here at Melrose. Under his reign Melrose has only not won the Middlesex League twice—in 2002 and 2006. In the last two seasons, Melrose has gone 31-5 in competition. Thus, the bar is set high.
According to Celli, a return to “normal” volleyball is most welcome. “We’re excited to have a full schedule and a gym full of fans again. It will be a refreshing return to normal volleyball.” This season he will once again be assisted by JV coach Ryan Schmitt and freshman coach Lydia Mays.
Melrose enjoyed an undefeated season last spring going into ML playoffs when they battled Div. 1 powerhouse Winchester in the finals to fall 3-0. But that undefeated streak helped them earn another league title and proved Melrose to be among the best in Div. 2. This year they want to prove it.
“Last year’s loss to Winchester was a learning lesson,” says Celli. “We ran into the better team that day. But, I think we learned the importance of playing our best at all times. Against a team like that, you have to.”
Lucky for him, Melrose returns a lot of weapons, and so far, shows few holes. While they gradated two starters in their all-star setter Eva Haralabatos and All Scholastic hitter Emily Hudson, they’ve filled those gaps with seasoned players inheriting the roles.
SENIOR CAPTAIN Autumn Whelan will be among those who will lead Melrose volleyball this season. (Jennifer Gentile photo)
The team will be led by quad captains: returning captains Chloe Gentile and Autumn Whelan and new senior leaders Abby Hudson and Elena Soukos.
“This is a team that I can’t find much weakness with,” says Celli. “They all worked out during the off-season, elevating their game. There’s not one player who doesn’t devote major time to training. They aren’t coming in cold, by any means.”
Senior captain Autumn Whelan is an All Star libero with a calming presence. “Autumn reads the floor about as good as anyone whose every played in this position,” says Celli. “You’re not going to see her bruised and battered out there because she doesn’t require it. She’s just smooth.”
Junior captain Chloe Gentile leads the team in career kills and earned a starting spot on the team as a freshman, when she became captain at age 14. As a junior, she’s now expected to showcase her experience. “Chloe brings a tremendous energy to the game,” says Celli. “She’s a second year captain who takes control. Her energy and Autumn’s coolness are a perfect mix.”
New senior captain Abby Hudson has developed into one of Melrose’s most powerful weapons as outside hitter with a cannon that throws rivals off-guard. And senior captain Elena Soukos remains the team’s hitting juggernaut. She led in scoring last season for Melrose with her lights-out hitting that can simply take out defense. Rest assured, rivals worry when the ball are in these two players’ hands. Says the coach, “Abby and Elena lead by example. They’re strong out there because they’re tough players who never stop working.”
Throw in right side hitters Ava Burns (senior) and Gia Vlajkovic (junior) and Melrose can easily be considered one of the best-hitting teams in the division. Notes Celli, “It’s fair to say we have many weapons in hitting. Maybe the most we’ve ever had.” That includes sophomore Sadie Jaggers as a middle hitter. Says the coach, “Sadie’s worked really hard on the off season to get to the higher level. She’s ready.”
New in the setting role is junior Emma Desmond, who started last year in the back row and has proved to be one of the team’s most versatile players. “Emma’s athleticism makes her stick out,” says Celli. “She has a good pair of hands, can pass well and is quick on the floor. She knows what the hitters need and they feed well off each other.”
Look for defensive specialists Grace Gentile (sophomore) and Ava McSorley (junior) to help maintain back row defense to aid Whelan in the libero spot. Both show a quickness and agility that make defense another strength for Melrose. And two new players were added to varsity: hitter Anna Shoemaker and setter Ruth Breen, who will be sure to get minutes during the twenty-plus game season. Both looked sharp on Monday when Melrose competed in a scrimmage against rival Lynnfield. Melrose handedly defeated the team who knocked them out of the 2019 Sectional semifinals.
Overall, there’s no reason to not expect a solid post season for this team. “On paper, absolutely we can make a run,” says Celli. “But in order to get that far, you have to have a few things work for you: You have to have the talent, you have to stay healthy, and sometimes you need a little luck. Often it could be the bracket you fall in. There are many factors. For us, it’s one game at a time. One goal at time. A league title, a sectional title. Then, move on from there.”
The schedule is a challenging one—they will play heavyweights like Newton North, Central Catholic, Frontier and Winchester—and that is intentional. In order to stand out in post season you have to battle the best in getting there.
“We never go out seeking an undefeated season,” says coach Celli. “They don’t give out trophies for that. We just want to be the best team playing at the end of the season.”
Melrose will open at home on Monday, Sept. 13 at Woburn at 5:30 at the MVMMS gym.
