Logically anyone trying to sabotage their school's chances would target Elise. Even the slightest amount of intel gathering would reveal Melida was a lost cause just a little while earlier, so beating her even in a fair fight shouldn't be extremely difficult for competent opponents. Elise, however, has always been a very promising student. Of course if it was internal bullying, it's a different thing. But even so the bullies might have felt like Melida will fail on her own anyway, so concentrating on Elise is more necessary.