Stepping Stone

Years ago I examined an ICU patient, noting her 'unusual' hair, different in texture and wondered whether she might have a thyroid problem. Outside the room, the nurse sensed my confusion and said, "it's a wig." I can be wrong.

That said, we all have 'recency bias' as we judge ideas and actions through a temporal lens. Yesterday's outstanding win presents a growth and continuation opportunity. Janet Jackson sings it "what have you done for me lately?"

Melrose controlled the match throughout, bringing more weapons to the fight, hitting with intent and not settling for small ball. Trailing 7-6 in the first set, the Lady Raiders reeled off an 11-3 run and this 'gut punch' established Melrose as the better team for that match.

Volleyball reality is that coaches make adjustments, both strategic and personnel-related, that change the playing dynamic, energy, and that process and the team's response to the process inform later results.

Last night, Melrose got superior offense from Hannah Mulcahey (14 kills), Vick Crovo (13), Marissa Cataldo (10), and Meg Leyne (5). Against the lions and tigers of the local volleyball universe, you must bring guns not knives to the cat fights. Attack percentage is kills less attack errors divided by total attacks and Melrose stepped up both strategically and tactically.

Lily Fitzgerald sparkled with thirty assists, Saorsie Connolly was a model of consistency, and the back row play K-Mac (Kaitlyn MacInnes), Julia Symonds, Lydia Lombardo, and Marissa Cataldo (the Jen Cain clone) merits high praise. With the exception of Cataldo, all are underclass women.

But the whole exceeded the sum of the parts, as integrated play between the front and back rows was the difference. Getting side outs to rotate AC's big hitter to the back prevented the second coming of Kara Charrette, Fairhaven's All-Scholastic.

Melrose volleyball has succeeded for many reasons - coaching, player development through sacrifice by players and families, and internal competition. Very fine differences exist between full-time players and reserves. I am convinced that if Melrose had two teams in the league, both would finish in the top four, speaking to the exceptional work ethic of the entire squad. But the reality is that you can only play six at a time.

In 2002, premature substitution cost Melrose a set and nearly the match and Coach Celli has never allowed that to recur. In 2005, Melrose trailed 23-16 down two sets and came back to force the match to five sets in a state championship loss.

History informs the present. Internal competition defines roles. Continue to compete. "Do more to become more and become more to do more." Enjoy the victory, but carry the mindset of challenging yourselves to reach even greater achievement. Make this 'signature win' the first step. Be pleased but not satisfied.