Published December 7, 2018
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High School volleyball team gathered on Thursday, Nov. 29 at the Knights of Columbus Melrose to celebrate the end of their season. The league champions went two rounds in the Div. 2 North playoffs before falling to Lynnfield in November.
The evening was a chance for the team to say so long (for now) to assistant coach Ryan Schmitt who will be deployed to Afghanistan after the new year. While he will not return as coach next year, the well-loved junior varsity coach is expected to resume the following year upon his return.
Melrose Head Coach Scott Celli presented awards over the evening, which included the naming of the Middlesex League All Stars: Nicole Abbott, Erin Torpey, Emma Randolph and Mary Kate Mahoney. Other league-wide honors included?
All-Conference Team: (Top 6 in the entire Middlesex League): Nicole Abbott
Middlesex League Freedom co-MVP: Nicole Abbott
MGVCA Division 2 All-State Team: Nicole Abbott
Individual team awards were also given out. Among the awards were:
Top Server: Nicole Abbott
Offensive Player: Emma Randolph
Unsung Hero: Grace Davis
MVP: Nicole Abbott
Top Defender: Nicole Abbott
Most Improved: Claire Albuja
Coaches Award: Erin Torpey
The Lady Raiders will return their entire squad in 2019 as they look to take another league title and make a strong playoff run.