Coach Scott Celli earns his 16th ML title
Published in the November 3, 2017 edition
COACH SCOTT Celli and his Melrose High volleyball team earned their 16th league title after finishing 19-2 overall this season. They begin playoffs this week. (Steve Karampalas photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose Lady Raider volleyball team wrapped up the regular season at 19-2 as they enter the Div. 2 North playoffs as a #2 seed. They host Whittier Tech in the opening round of the Div. 2 North playoffs at home, this Thursday (post deadline) at 7:00 p.m. at the MVMM gym.
In their quest to return to the Div. 2 North Finals, Melrose will set their sights on either Arlington Catholic or Hamilton-Wenham, with Hamilton-Wenham (18-2) being more of a threat for Melrose (who previously beat Arlington Catholic this season.)
As the team’s regular season wrapped up last week, Melrose posted a 3-1 victory over Burlington on Thursday, Oct. 26, which clinched the ML Freedom League for the team-the sixteenth Middlesex League title for Melrose head coach Scott Celli. Seniors Saoirse Connolly (14 kills) and Lydia Lombardo (13) combined for 27 kills in the night. Lily Fitzgerald posted 32 assists.
Melrose was dominant in their first two sets (25-11, 25-13) before Burlington forced a set four with a third set win, 26-24. Melrose bounced back and shut the door in game 4, 25-13. The Lady Raiders relied on some magic from sophomore Mary Kate Mahoney, who flipped a 23-21 deficit to force a 24-24 match point that unfortunately went to Burlington, thanks to work from their hitter Madison Metzdorf. Melrose was back in business in set four with kills from Lydia Lombardo and Saoirse Connolly that helped lift Melrose to victory.
Overall, Melrose struggled with serving, which lent the Red Devils some needed points (though Melrose’s Lombardo was flawless.) Set one was all Melrose with Connolly, Lombardo and Emma Randolph combing for 11 kills. In set two, Melrose went on a tear, behind Lombardo’s serves and Connolly, who delivered kill after kill, plus the work of frosh Emily Hudson who impressed with a block kill, all which helped give Melrose leads of 9-2 and 14-4. Nicole Abbott served up something special at the line and Mary Kate Mahoney closed the door to give Melrose a 25-13 set two win.
Burlington came out aggressive in set three as Melrose appeared to be slowing down. The Red Devils took an early 3-2 lead, then deeper leads of 11-9, 15-13 and 22-17 while Melrose got caught up in a series of fouls. With the game slipping out of their hands at 23-20, Melrose’s Mahoney stopped the drainage with a super appearance at the line but Burlington found holes in the floor to take the set 26-24. But Melrose was back to old form the next set and finished the night with a 25-13 set victory.
This Monday, Melrose’s goal to get to a 20 win season fell just one game short. In a contest against Central Catholic, Melrose fell 3-1 in sets of 28-18, 25-13, 26-24, 25-17.
Melrose will look to amp it up this Thursday (post deadline) against Whittier Tech. Fans are encouraged to visit www.miaa.net for up-to-date playoff information.
