BACK ROW defense has been holding up nicely for the 2-0 Melrose volleyball team. (Jennifer Gentile photo)
Melrose beats Arlington, Woburn
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High varsity volleyball team has started off with a 2-0 record after consecutive wins over Arlington and Woburn this week. Melrose kicked off the season on the road on Thursday, Sept. 9 and beat Arlington in straight sets of 25-12, 25-18 and 25-15 and then opened at home at a well-attended game against Woburn. Melrose also secured victory against the Tanners in three sets of 27-25, 25-16 and 24-19. At 2-0 it’s far so good for coach Scott Celli’s squad.
Hitting remains a major plus for the team who has tallied 73 kills in two games, much of that behind the work of senior captain Elena Soukos who has totaled 25 kills in two games (ten against Arlington, fifteen against Woburn) wreaking havoc on the competition. Setter Emma Desmond is showing some major oomph earlier in the season with 32 assists in the Woburn match for 59 to the season. Senior captain Autumn Whelan is admirably holding down the fort on defense in the libero position, fending off a few heavy hitters on the Arlington and Woburn teams.
SENIOR AVA Burns delivers a kill while Gia Vlajkovic and Chloe Gentile look on during Melrose’s 3-0 win over Woburn. (Jennifer Gentile photo)
Melrose hit the road against Arlington and had a fairly easy time against the Spy Ponders, winning the first set 25-12. Melrose took leads of 5-1 and 10-4 behind the hitting of Abby Hudson and Elena Soukos. Soukos would finish with 6 kills in the set as Melrose took wide leads of 19-9 and a final score of 25-12. Set two was more competitive as Arlington chopped away on a late set run but still fell 23-18 to Melrose thanks to hitting from junior captain Chloe Gentile and junior Gia Vljakovic. Melrose also enjoyed solid serving from Emma Desmond and Abby Hudson. Set three was tight to start but Melrose pulled away with kills from Sadie Jaggers and Chloe Gentile. Senior Ava Burns shined on the service line with an ace and a service point.
Melrose opened at home on Monday in front of a full crowd and faced a pretty talented Woburn squad who gave Melrose their biggest challenge in set one, forcing Melrose to 27 points in Melrose’s 27-25 victory. The Tanners put Melrose in a 5-1 hole to start as Melrose shook off nerves but junior Emma Desmond tied things up for Melrose, 9-9, with an ace on the serving line. Abby Hudson, Chloe Gentile and Gia Vlajkovic helped extend that lead to 16-14 and Elena Soukous shut the door at the end of the set, helping Melrose tie it up 25-25 before a Melrose captured the set in 27-25.
Melrose had more wiggle room in set two with an abundance of hitters chipping in with kills including Chloe Gentile, Gia Vlajkovic, Elena Soukos and Sadie Jaggers. With a solid serving run from Emma Desmond, Elena Soukos and Autumn Whelan, Melrose stretched their lead to 15-9, before two straight kills from Chloe Gentile gave Melrose a 20-13 lead they wouldn’t surrender. An Elena Soukos dagger finished the job at 25-16. Set three featured solid hitting from Sadie Jaggers, Gia Vlajkovic, Chloe Gentile and Elena Soukous. They combined for sixteen kills, essentially taking Woburn out of the game from the whistle blow. They finished the day with a 25-19 set win.
Next up, Melrose will travel to Belmont on Wednesday (post deadline) and host Stoneham on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. All fans (masked) are welcome.
