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The Winchester High School volleyball team (20-3) started the postseason as the 13th seed in Division 1 with 18 wins. They then went 2-1 in the state tournament after falling to Needham (17-6, fifth seed) in the Elite 8, 3-1.
But Needham was then shutdown by Newton North (24-1, top seed), the eventual state champs, in a state semifinal matchup, 3-0. The Tigers then went on to beat Brookline (19-4), the second seed, in the state title match by the same score.
“We were not surprised at all by our tournament run,” said Coach John Fleming. “Truthfully, I think all the girls feel like we very well could have continued on. I think they believed in themselves, even if the power rankings had us as the 13th seed. We knew that we had a legitimate shot to make a run at the state title. Our hope is that this year's group raised the bar to motivate next year's team to go even further in 2025.”
From the Needham game, captain Helen Zhou (21 kills, 15 digs), Johanna Melhorn (11 kills, 8 blocks), captain Margo Kaduson (2 aces, 19 digs) and Defne Mergen (42 assists) were the Winchester team leaders in the Round of 8 matchup.
“Helen had one of her best hitting games of the season,” Fleming said, after the Needham encounter. “To finish her (scholastic) career with 21 kills at such a high percentage is incredibly impressive. Likewise, her co-captain (Kaduson) also finished on a high note. She passed and served very well. For someone who was named Middlesex League MVP, she somehow seemed to take her game to even a higher level in the state tournament.”
Fleming admitted it took his team until the third set against Needham to really start playing the way they are capable of playing.
“I’m really proud of the fight that the girls showed,” the veteran coach said. “They could have easily backed down and lost in three, but they showed some real grit and found a way to win the third. The fourth set truly could have gone either way. We had our chances to win, but couldn’t capitalize. Volleyball is a game of momentum, and I think if we had pulled off the fourth set, we could’ve taken that right into the fifth with a good chance to win the sectional title.”
Against Attleboro in the Sweet 16, Kaduson (4 aces, 16 digs), Melhorn (3 aces, 7 blocks), Hazel Lovins (16 kills), Zhou (14 kills) and Mergen (36 assists) helped the Red & Black secure the win, 3-1, the same score they defeated Andover by in the Round of 32 to begin the postseason.
“(Melhorn) was such a force at the net against Attleboro,” said Fleming. “We needed a big-time presence there against such a potent offensive group. Both outsides needed to get us kills to offset their offenses weapons, and Helen and Hazel did just that.
“(Mergen) continues to prove herself as a top tier setter,” added Fleming. “She is really understanding the game, and also how to move our offense to get advantages over the defense.
“The girls came ready to play against Attleboro. From the start of the match, they were ready to play, and competed at a really high level,” he continued. “I’m not sure many people in the gym believed that we could hang with Attleboro, let alone beat them, but I think early on, the girls figured out that they could, despite their size and power. They also have perhaps the best hitter in the state.
“Winning the first set was really important for us, and I think that momentum carried over to the second set,” he finished. “From there, we knew they’d fight back, but we kept on trying to focus on the next point being the most important. The fourth set was close, and then Margo finished it off with a tremendous run on serves.”
