Update post publication:
Melrose falls to Canton 3-1 in the Quarterfinals (Nov. 10)
Published November 10, 2023
Volleyball girls pass first test in playoff opener
3-0 win over Scituate advances Melrose to Sweet 16
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—It was mission accomplished for the 18-3 Melrose High girls’ volleyball team who earned a first-round MIAA Div. 2 playoff win over No. 27 seed Scituate in the opening round of the playoffs at home last Friday evening, a 3-0 sweep secured in sets of 25-14, 25-18 and 25-20.
The win advanced No. 6 seed to Round of 16 play this week and at press time the girls were scheduled to host Billerica, a very familiar post season opponent, on Wednesday, Nov. 8 (post deadline) Should Melrose beat the Indians they will play Canton on the road sometime over the weekend. In the last two years, Melrose has faced the Indians in semifinal and quarterfinal play to advance to an eventual Final 4 Sectional title.
Melrose had a slightly easier time against traveling Scituate and produced lots of offense courtesy of senior captain Sadie Jaggers (13 kills) and Sabine Wenzel (10 kills). Additional scoring was clocked in by Sofia Papatsoris (4 kills) Manon Marchais (3) and newly returned Caroline Higonenq (3) who offered firepower on the outside.
Melrose setter Leah Fowke had a big 29 assists. Defenders Grace Gentile and Maggie Turner had 13 digs each, with libero Gentile racking up an eye-popping 21 service points and aces, which set the tone in set one, when Melrose took a whopping early lead of 10-1 on the serving of Gentile and some heaving hitting from Sadie Jaggers, who had 3 kills early in the game. Melrose took a 13-2 lead on a Sofia Papatsoris kill and a cannon from Caroline Higonenq to make it 14-3. Gentile would wrap up the set with another appearance on the service line with three service points and an ace to help close the set 25-14.
Defense ruled in set two, behind some terrific diving plays from juniors Gigi Albuja and Maggie Turner. Three straight kills from Sadie Jagger helped Melrose take an early 10-8 lead and Sofia Papatsoris and Manon Marchais both added one a piece. Caroline Higonenq looked sharp in back row play and Sabine Wenzel closed the door on the Sailors with three straight kills to end the second set 25-18.
Serving was a gem for Melrose in set three. Coach Celli’s squad was quite assured in the set, but Scituate put up a fight, climbing back into the set after Melrose took an early 5-1 lead. Grace Gentile served up a few points and Sadie Jaggers tallied an early kill. Gigi Albuja had three aces on the serving line and Sabine Wenzel hit two shots in a row to give Melrose a convincing 15-9 lead. Later in the set, Albuja closed the door with two straight aces to finish the job, 25-20.
After the win, Melrose coach Celli credited his team for an overall consistent performance.
“Our serving was huge. It was our best serving of the season and Grace [Gentile] is the one who got us going. Set one she ran off about 9 in a row and that set the tone for us. And then, Gigi’s serving at the end was fabulous.”
Set two seemed to really seal the momentum shift for Melrose. Celli noted that hitting picked up in the stanza. “Leah had 16 assists in the second set, so our hitting was really coming around by then. Thanks to our passing and her setting we really took command of the set.”
Next up is Billerica, who, at press time scheduled to come to Melrose on Wednesday, Nov. 8 (post deadline). Melrose famously stole a 5 set game for them for a Sectional Title in 2021 after being down 0-2. Last year, Melrose beat the Indians 3-1 to advance to Elite 8. History runs deep with these two teams.
“Billerica is probably a little sick of us,” quipped Celli. “And maybe out for blood. We’ll be ready.”
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