Lexington High School's girls volleyball team lost back-to-back matches in straight sets, falling 3-0 to Melrose at home on Friday, Sept. 18, and 3-0 at Winchester on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The defeats ended a 2-0 start to the season under head coach Mae Driscoll. Lexington had opened with a five-set win over Burlington on Sept. 8 and a four-set win at Wilmington on Sept. 14.

No set was decided by more than three points against Melrose. The Red Raiders won 25-23, 25-22 and 25-22, according to MaxPreps. Lexington stayed within striking distance in every frame but could not close.

Akane Suzuki anchored the Minutemen's back row with 13 digs and four aces. Ela Sari contributed 11 assists, eight digs and two aces. Ally Lin added seven digs and two aces. The three combined for eight aces, but Melrose converted when it mattered.

Sabrina McArt paced the Red Raiders' attack with eight kills. Sadie Smith ran the Melrose offense with 21 assists. Melrose improved to 3-2 with the win.

Set scores for the Winchester match were not available. Winchester entered the contest at 5-0 and beat Lexington for its sixth straight win to open the season. Winchester coach John Fleming told the Winchester News his team's experience in tight matches has been the difference.

"We have really experienced players, who have played in a bunch of (matches) like this before, and were able to find a way to win," Fleming said.

Lexington split its next two matches, losing to Cambridge Rindge & Latin 3-1 on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and beating Waltham 3-0 on Friday, Sept. 25, according to the MaxPreps schedule. The Minutemen sit at 3-3 overall and 2-2 in league play, seventh in the Middlesex standings.

The schedule does not ease up. Lexington travels to Stoneham on Monday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 p.m. and hosts Reading Memorial on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 5:30 p.m. A Dual County League matchup at Concord-Carlisle is set for Friday, Oct. 30.