Post publication updates:
Melrose falls to Burlington 3-2 (Oct. 20)
Melrose falls to Duxbury 3-0 (Oct. 18)
Melrose defeats Woburn 3-0 (Oct. 16)
Published October 17, 2025
Tourney time for Melrose girls’ volleyball
Melrose punches ticket for D2 playoffs with Arlington win
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Some things are inevitable for Melrose sport fans, and seeing Melrose girls’ volleyball battle in the Div. 2 playoffs is a tried-and-true fall staple. On Oct. 8, Melrose once again cemented their way into playoffs, punching their ticket into the Div. 2 playoff field by clinching their 10th win of the season with a 3-0 road win over Arlington. It also represented Massachusetts Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Scott Celli’s 500th Melrose win as head coach at Melrose. (see accompanying story.)
With the win (in sets of 25-18, 11-25, 25-15, and 25-21) Melrose has improved to 10-5 on the season and will enter state tournament play for the 26th straight season, after their regular season concludes.
Against Arlington, Melrose was led in hitting by senior captain Sabine Wenzel with 21 kills and Emme Boyer with 8. Scoring was rounded off by Ella Friedlander with 6 kills and Adrianna Santoriello with 5 kills. Setter Sadie Smith had 32 assists and Daniella DiGiorgio led with 17 service points and libero Anna Burns had 27 serve receipts and 9 digs.
Coach Celli is now focused on earning more wins and post-season preparation. “Being able to play better back row defense has been the key to our success,” he says. “Blocking the pin hitters will be our focal point as we move into the postseason.”
Melrose will now find themselves in a field of familiar Div. 2 teams like playoff rivals Billerica, Duxbury and King Phillip and Middlesex rivals —who gave Melrose trouble this year – Wakefield, Burlington and Reading. The field will be as tough as always and this (very) young Melrose team will draw upon the talent that brought them 10 wins to make a dent. The top teams to beat include undefeated Oliver Ames, Longmeadow and Duxbury, the latter of which travels to test Melrose this Saturday at the MVMMS gym at 2:30 p.m.
Melrose’s pivotal win against Arlington was followed by two losses that won’t affect their playoff qualification but perhaps their rankings.
Last Friday evening, Melrose hosted and fell to Newburyport, a first time playing the surprisingly strong Clippers, 3-2, in sets of 25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 24-26, and 12-15. It was a game that saw Wenzel with 20 kills and Elise Marchais with a season best 10. Setter Sadie Smith had a career-high 40 assists. Libero Anna Burns was lights out on the service line and led in digs with 19, and teammate Danielle DiGiorgio was flawless on the service line as well.
On Tuesday, Melrose traveled to Wakefield (12-4) to battle league rival Wakefield and fell, 3-0 to the Warriors 25-18, 25-23, 25-23. For Wakefield it was a big victory because it was the first ever time they’d beaten Melrose in 13 years. They have come plenty close, especially over the last three years under the guidance of their coach, Melrose High volleyball alum Kayla Wyland.
Melrose was led in hitting by Sabine Wenzel with 10 kills, but saw Wakefield’s Lila Arkinstall lead the night with 17 kills. Melrose had much momentum in set one but the Warriors outplayed them 11-1 in the home stretch. Melrose led in set two but great blocking from Wakefield shut down hitting from Melrose’s Wenzel and Adriana Santoriello. Melrose took a lead of 6-0 lead in the last set, but Wakefield fought back to a series of point ties and tied it at 20. Melrose went up 22-20 but Wakefield pulled ahead including a game-winning kill in the corner for victory.
Melrose will host Woburn at home on Thursday (post deadline) before welcoming the tough Duxbury Dragons on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., which is sure to be a entertaining contest.