Reigning league champs look sharp in pre-season
Published in the August 31, 2017 edition
THE MELROSE Lady Raider volleyball opens their season this week, looking to begin another successful year. (Steve Karampalas photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The 2016 Middlesex League Champion Melrose Lady Raider volleyball team returns for another exciting season, ready to extend their continued success and earn another playoff run.
Leading the team this season are quad-senior captains, Saoirse Connolly, Lily Fitzgerald, Lydia Lombardo and Jill Mercer. Rounding out the roster are sophomore Claire Albuja, sophomore Emma Randolph, sophomore Erin Torpey, sophomore Grace Davis, sophomore Mary Kate Mahoney, sophomore Nicole Abbott and freshmen Sam Dewey and Caroline Kiernan.
Last year, Melrose dominated the Middlesex League again with a 15-1 record, and overall were 18-6 entering Div. 2 North playoffs with a dominating opening round victory over Weston before falling to a surprisingly tough Winchester team, 3-2.
This season, look for Melrose to be a defense-minded team who will excel at back row play. Returning players such as Jill Mercer, Nicole Abbott, Mary Kate Mahoney and Caroline Kiernan will keep Melrose tough on defense. Melrose lost a certain amount of wattage with the loss of Victoria Crovo and Cat Torpey up front, but bring back experienced senior hitters Saoirse Connolly, Emma Randolph, Lydia Lombardo and Erin Torpey, who will continue Melrose’s powerful hitting tradition. Keep your eyes on young, emerging hitters Sam Dewey, Claire Albuja and Grace Davis who help Melrose coach Scott Celli develop the Lady Raiders into a balanced offensive team.
“We’re excited for this season,” Celli said. “Losing Victoria takes away a power player but we have a chance to use many weapons this season. So much of that will rest of the setting of Lily.”
Fitzgerald, a senior all star, is one of the most talented setters in the division and has served in the role since sophomore year. Coach Celli contends that much of the team will be built around her.
“Lily is a huge part of our team, she’s been a starter since freshman year. She’s a great player who likes to confuse her opponents, she’s deceptive, and will spread our hitting options. She runs the show.”
Celli continued. “I’m excited what all my seniors bring. I expect big things from Lydia [Lombardo] as an outside hitter. She’s athletic and great in the back row too. Saoirse [Connolly] will play a key role on this team because she has equally good back row and front row skills, and our defensive specialist Jill [Mercer] is a lefty server, great at defense and very experienced.”
Melrose opens the season on Wednesday, Sept. 6 against a competitive Lexington at home at 5:00 p.m. at the MVMMS gym. Says Celli, “We can compete against anyone has long as we stay healthy, focused and have fun it will be a great season.”
