16-2 Melrose also clinches league for 18th time
THE MELROSE High girls’ volleyball team celebrated their nine seniors at the start of their game against Stoneham on Senior Night on Monday. From left: Leah Fowke, Maggie Turner, Gg Albuja, Caroline Higonenq, Sofia Papatsoris, Abby Dennison, Alex Homan, Milana Noessel and Ava Perrotti. (photo by Raj Das, edphotos.com)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—It was a most satisfying week for the Melrose High girls volleyball team who not only upset higher ranked unbeaten Duxbury on the road Saturday, 3-1, but also clinched a Senior Night league win over Stoneham on Tuesday to improve to 16-2 on the season.
Melrose has once again clinched the Middlesex Freedom League for the eighteenth time under the direction of head coach Scott Celli. They are tied with Winchester as leaders of the Middlesex League overall with just one league loss.
Melrose is at press time poised to host an opening round playoff game, thanks in part to their solid No. 9 Power Ranking spot in the Div. 2 field. Playoff brackets are expected to be announced next week.
The Duxbury Dragons are old rivals of Melrose, a team they had to get past to earn their 2022 Final 4 sectional trophy, and they entered the game unbeaten at 17-0. Duxbury’s flawless schedule is now imperfect thanks to Melrose’s solid all around game, one of their best collective efforts of the year, with the team’s middle hitters Sabine Wenzel and Sofia Papatsoris combining for 36 kills (Wenzel with 21 of them) and solid serving from Leah Fowke (38 assists) and Gg Albuja. Maggie Turner had a strong 20 digs in the night.
The win is perhaps Melrose’s best effort of the season, given the strong non-league challenge, and certainly an example of what their playoff competition would look like.
Just days later, on Tuesday evening, Melrose hosted Senior Night at the well attended MVMMS gym, held prior to their home league game against Stoneham.
Melrose celebrated their 9 seniors, which includes captains Gg Albuja, Leah Fowke, Maggie Turner and Abby Dennison, Caroline Higonenq, Alex Homan, Milana Noessel, Sofia Papatsoris and Ava Perrotti.
Stoneham put up a fight in set one with one of their more competitive efforts in several years, pushing Melrose (who used their bench) to ties of 6-6, 16-26 and 20-20 but Melrose benefitted from solid hitting from Sabine Wenzel, who leads the team in hitting, Caroline Higonenq, plus solid serving from Maggie Turner and Alex Homan. Some quality aces from Gg Albuja helped Melrose eventually take the set, 25-20. Set two saw a strong game from Sofia Papatsoris, who had 4 kills and 5 kills from Wenzel. Melrose cruised to a much easier win by a score of 25-7. The third set was cut short, along with the game, when an injury prompted medical intervention and eventually the contest to be called.
With just two games left on the regular season, Melrose looks to close out their home schedule with a must-see game against Newton North, who travels to Melrose this Friday evening. The Tigers (17-1) are old rivals of Melrose and will be a perfect – and challenging – opponent to prepare for Melrose’s playoff run.
First serve is at 6:00 p.m. at the MVMMS gym.
