Table of Contents
The Winchester High volleyball team won 21 matches this year, counting the postseason, while losing just twice, a record that should never be dismissed casually. For their efforts, they were seeded seventh in the final Division 1 power rankings. But that last loss will always be defined as bitter, which is unfortunate, because only one team in each division can win a state championship. Most of the time it comes down to a fortuitous bounce of a ball.
The Red & Black made it all the way to the Elite 8 after dominating 3-0 wins over North Andover and Needham in the first two rounds. They then had to go up against second-seeded Newton North (22-2), a team that defeated them during the regular season, 3-1. Unfortunately, history repeated itself all the way down to the exact same score.
The Tigers have since shutout Central Catholic in the state semifinals, the sixth seed, 3-0, to move on to the title matchup against Franklin, the fifth seed, on Saturday night (Nov. 15) at 8 p.m. in Billerica.
Winchester coach John Fleming is still naturally disappointed coming up just short of his team’s ultimate goal, but he will never complain about the effort.
“It was really a tough way for our season to end, but I thought the girls played tough and fought tooth and nail until the last point,” Fleming said. “As a team, we had a tremendous season, and have nothing (to be ashamed of). All of the girls should be incredibly proud of the season that they had. It’s disappointing that this match was played in the third round, which meant that it was (at Newton North) and not a neutral site, because I think we are the two best teams in the state. It should have been at least a state semifinal matchup. That being said, we knew that at some point we would have had to beat Newton North, if we wanted to win the state championship.”
Newton North won each of the first two sets by two points. “It would have been nice to finish off the first or second set,” said Fleming. “We had our chances to do so, but just couldn't take advantage of them.”
The veteran Winchester coach went on to say: “Overall, we once again had a great season as Middlesex League champions, while losing just twice to the same (non-league) team (Newton North). We have so much to be proud of like having several players being recognized individually as league all-stars. (Senior captain) Johanna (Melhorn) and (junior) Hazel (Lovins), in particular, were named to the All-League and Division 1 All-State teams. Hazel was also chosen league MVP.”
Freshman Kaiyal Kumaran, a libero, and juniors Maddie Crooks, an outside hitter, and Defne Mergen, a setter, made the league all-star team for the second time. Melhorn, a middle hitter, is also a repeat all-star, and her ascension to the All-League squad meant that she is among the top six players in the league this year.”
Fleming will definitely miss his four seniors – Juilia Campo, Nora Harstad, Gwen Gaiko and Melhorn – who “brought a lot of skill and leadership to the program over the last four years,” he said, while adding, “they will be feted, along with the rest of the team at our end of the year
banquet on Sunday (Nov. 16).”
But Fleming also has a solid group of 12 returning next fall, including six starters, and among the returnees are second middle hitter Viviana Cella, Karen Huai, Izzy Bormann, Kumaran, Crooks, Lovins and Mergen.
“These returning players will have some big shoes to fill to replace the graduating seniors, but they are all eager and are ready to work hard in the offseason to make another deep run in the state tournament next (fall),” said Fleming.
Considering the program’s recent past, who’s going to deny Winchester from being one of the top Division 1 teams once again in the state next year. They certainly have history to back them up.
Joe McConnell is a longtime, award-winning sports editor for numerous North Shore publications. He began covering Winchester sports for the News last November.
