Free Press Features Volleyball in Year in Review

The Melrose Free Press features volleyball in its year in review.

Season Wrap

Click pics to enlarge.

The Lady Raiders, hosted by the Volleyball Boosters, celebrated another championship season last night at Anthony's in Malden. Coach Scott Celli emceed the event.A Melrose resident made key chain trinkets for each of the players.

Team accomplishments
1) Division 2 North Championship
2) Middlesex League Championship
3) 22-2 overall record, tied for Melrose volleyball's second most wins in a season
4) Four consecutive appearances in Division 2 North Championship game
5) 3-0 defeat of six-time consecutive Division 1 North Champion Barnstable

Individual accomplishments
Coaches All-State Division 2 Team: Hannah Brickley, Colleen Hanscom
Boston Herald All-Scholastic: Hannah Brickley
Boston Globe Division 2 Player of the Year: Hannah Brickley
Middlesex League Player of the Year: Hannah Brickley
Division 2 Coach of the Year: Scott Celli

Middlesex League All-Stars
All-League Team
Hannah Brickley
Laura Irwin
Jess Farr
Colleen Hanscom

Second Team (Middlesex League)
Alex Harlow
Athena Ziavras

Special Team Awards
Top Server: Colleen Hanscom
Unsung Hero: Siena Mamayek
Top Defender: Jess Farr
Most Improved: Alyssa DiRaffaele
MVP: Hannah Brickley
Coach's Award: Hannah Brickley

Melrose Captains Laura Irwin, Colleen Hanscom, and Hannah Brickley

As a close observer of Melrose volleyball for the past eight seasons, I can say with some authority that this was one of Melrose's best teams, with three players among the all-time elite players in school history. Jess Farr was as good as any Melrose libero, a tall order when one considers the excellence of the Dillon sisters. Colleen Hanscom not only holds the assist records for setters, but also had remarkable defensive and offensive versatility using her height and athleticism. Hannah Brickley set the standard for Melrose volleyball with hitting records (including from the back row), passing, digging, and blocking. With three All-Scholastic and All-State team recognitions, she will be remembered as the top player in school history.

I'll proudly wear my Melrose volleyball hat, which the team presented to a number of supporters of Lady Raider volleyball.

First Look: Volleyball Banquet

The Melrose Lady Raiders held their annual break up dinner tonight. It's late, but I'll review a few highlights.

• Coach Scott Celli celebrated the accomplishments, both team and individual from the 2009 season, including Melrose's fourth D2 North Championship, and big wins over Barnstable, Canton, and Bishop Feehan.
• Coach Celli thanked Coach Wall for his many contributions.
• Players received a variety of certificates, varsity letters, bars and stars (Captains), and other recognition.
  
• Jeff Mate' (VideoJam Productions) filmed and produced a wonderful highlight video of the 2009 season.
  
• The team presented some terrific mementos, especially some great Melrose Volleyball ball caps.
• Hannah Brickley was recognized as MVP, and Brickley and setter Colleen Hanscom both received MGVCA plaques as All-State players.
• Athena Ziavras, Jill Slabacheski, and Alyssa DiRaffaele were voted captains for 2010.

A terrific night for a great group of players, coaches, and the entire Melrose Volleyball family.

Final Maxpreps Massachusetts Rankings

Final Maxpreps.com Massachusetts rankings.

Special Recognition: Now and Then

Click media to play/enlarge.

This season's team created memories and landmark accomplishments. In addition to a Division 2 North Championship brought back to Melrose...the players got well-deserved special recognition.

Middlesex League All-Stars
All-League Team
Hannah Brickley (League MVP)
Laura Irwin
Jess Farr
Colleen Hanscom

Second Team (Middlesex League)
Alex Harlow
Athena Ziavras

MGVCA Division 2 All-State Team
Hannah Brickley (three time selection)
Colleen Hanscom (first time selection and fourth Melrose player so honored)

Boston Globe All-Scholastics
Hannah Brickley (Division 2 Player of the Year)

One individual who deserves a lot of credit (and asks for none), is assistant coach Steve Wall. He shares in the success of Coach Celli (Division 2 Coach of the Year) along with another fixture of Melrose volleyball, his wife Heidi.

Several fans asked me if I had any old video from the 2005 season...and I was able to retrieve part of the Melrose comeback against Medfield in the state championship game. Medfield captured its fourth state championship in five years yesterday, 3-0 over Bourne.




You might notice several features on this video:

• the powerful hitting and approach of Medfield's Molly Barrett
• the spectacular point at 23-21 where Jen Cohane got a concussion as she hit the floor
• the remarkable hand-eye coordination of setter Amanda Hallett...how she picks the ball off the net
• the comeback from 23-16 was one of the great sequences of Melrose volleyball, made possible only because the coaches believed in the team
  

The Coach

According to the Melrose High School website, Coach Scott Celli has earned Division 2 Coach of the Year status.

Successful coaching blends talent evaluation, teaching, psychology, communication, and politics as the coach serves many constituencies. And guaranteed, not all of those partners will embrace the evaluation and implementation of coaching strategy.

These are just some of Scott's accomplishments during the past seven years:

• Averaging over 21 wins/season (20 game regular game season)
• Four Division II North Championships (seven consecutive D2 North final berths)
  
• One State Championship appearance
• MIAA Team sportsmanship award
• Six Middlesex League Titles/co-titles
• Player development (one D2 Player of the Year, three All-State players, four All-Scholastic players, three North Shore League players of the year, numerous Middlesex League All-Stars)
• Numerous players with high academic achievement, both present and past teams
• High level of community interest
  
• Scandal-free program

All this has occurred with an enrollment in the bottom half of the Middlesex League, generally undersized players relative to the competition, no ability to recruit players from outside the community, and no ability to coach outside the regular season.

This doesn't mean that everyone's happy 24/7, because Scott's commitment to winning sometimes steps on the toes of the seniority in a volleyball meritocracy. Consensus development on strategy and deployment of personnel will never achieve universality.

As we review this season, several features stand out:

1. The team recaptured the Division 2 North title for the first time in four years
2. The team achieved success despite playing the 'best' non-league schedule in its history, including Central Catholic, Barnstable, Bishop Feehan, and Canton.
   
3. Clear evidence of player improvement from the prior year at all grade levels, including the best Melrose Junior Varsity team
   
4. Increasing enthusiasm and attendance at matches
5. Expanded media coverage by MMTV
   
6. Development and strengthening of new rivalries
7. The "win today, win tomorrow" program returns six underclassmen including three sophomores and two freshmen who will be able to contribute immediately
8. First year with a freshman team
   

Highest regards to everyone in the community working to create a better experience for our young people.

Congratulations

From the Melrose High School Website:

Important Information

Congratulations are extended to:

• Division 2 Volleyball Player of the Year Senior Hannah Brickley
  

• Division 2 Coach of the Year, Mr. Scott Celli.

Melrose Volleyball celebrates another successful campaign.