Friday, March 09, 2007
Double Dipping
Melrose hasn't had overwhelming athletic success throughout its athletic programs over the past few years. But amidst the struggles, two programs have stood out, the Lady Raiders basketball program and the Melrose volleyball program. Melrose returns to the Division II North championship for the fourth time in five years in basketball (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) and has played the Division II North volleyball championship for the past four years, winning three (2003, 2004, 2005).
Coaching has been a big part, with leadership from Coaches Dave Brady and Rob Ferrante in basketball and Scott Celli and Steve Wall in volleyball. And personnel, with extensive crossover between the hoop and volleyball programs counts, too.
How many Lady Raiders have 'doubled', playing in Sectional or State Championships in the same school year? In the 2002-2003 season, Marianne Foley, Erin Hudd, Karen Sen, and Paula Sen each played at the Fleet Center, but were eliminated after a win in the volleyball postseason. In 2003-2004, the same quartet won D2 North volleyball, but were eliminated in the D2 North hoop semifinals. 2004-5 and 2005-2006 saw the Sen twins playing in both D2 North finals, along with Taylor Pearson in 2005-2006, with both teams capturing D2 North championships in the 2005-2006 school year.
Foley and Hudd both played on two D2 North championship squads (one apiece in basketball and volleyball) as did Pearson, while the Sen sisters appeared with five D2 North championships apiece.
And this season, the story continues, with freshmen Hannah Brickley, Colleen Hanscom, and Laura Irwin, along with Senior Pearson doing the double dipping in sectional championship play. You can be sure that the strong synergy between basketball and volleyball will continue, as talented athletes and coaches put Melrose on the athletics map.
Coaching has been a big part, with leadership from Coaches Dave Brady and Rob Ferrante in basketball and Scott Celli and Steve Wall in volleyball. And personnel, with extensive crossover between the hoop and volleyball programs counts, too.
How many Lady Raiders have 'doubled', playing in Sectional or State Championships in the same school year? In the 2002-2003 season, Marianne Foley, Erin Hudd, Karen Sen, and Paula Sen each played at the Fleet Center, but were eliminated after a win in the volleyball postseason. In 2003-2004, the same quartet won D2 North volleyball, but were eliminated in the D2 North hoop semifinals. 2004-5 and 2005-2006 saw the Sen twins playing in both D2 North finals, along with Taylor Pearson in 2005-2006, with both teams capturing D2 North championships in the 2005-2006 school year.
Foley and Hudd both played on two D2 North championship squads (one apiece in basketball and volleyball) as did Pearson, while the Sen sisters appeared with five D2 North championships apiece.
And this season, the story continues, with freshmen Hannah Brickley, Colleen Hanscom, and Laura Irwin, along with Senior Pearson doing the double dipping in sectional championship play. You can be sure that the strong synergy between basketball and volleyball will continue, as talented athletes and coaches put Melrose on the athletics map.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 4:46 AM 
