Define Yourself

Author Salman Rushdie notes that certain writers have a unique style - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Toni Morrison.  “What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it.” - Gabriel García Márquez: A Life

"He no longer dreamed of storms, nor of women, nor of great occurrences, nor of great fish, nor fights, nor contests of strength, nor of his wife. He only dreamed of places now and of the lions on the beach." - Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

Rushdie explains that how we tell stories matters. If someone says of our writing, "anyone could write that," it's beyond damning. The same applies for volleyball, basketball, or tennis. Your distinctive play defines you.

Change out the number and facial recognition with deepfakes and you'd still recognize Gia Vlajkovic, Elena Soukos, or Victoria Crovo. Court presence and play marked them as them.

Scientist Neil DeGrasse Tyson shared his father's quote, "It's not enough to be right. You have to be effective." Work on your distinctive style and skill set. But be effective. 

Signature play produces signature wins.

• Be consistent when serving, communicating, defending, passing, and attacking. 
• Communicate. Balls drop in when communication suffers. 
• "Fall in love with easy." Simplicity works. 
• "The game honors toughness," both physical and mental. 
• The more aggressive team has an edge. 

Summary:

• Have your style.
• Your play defines you.
• Write your narrative. 
• Be effective.
• Signature play produces signature wins. 

Few teams have a breakeven record against Barnstable, the greatest team in Massachusetts volleyball history. Melrose is 1-1 against the powerhouse. 

Lagniappe.