Who are the top servers in Melrose history? What are the criteria?
First, score points.
Second, be hard to return.
Third, leave an impression.
Fourth, not on the current team, so returners, you're not candidates.
Fifth, have video evidence.
I don't have video evidence of Marianne Foley's 28 point service run against Hamilton-Wenham. That's not to be duplicated in 25-point sets. In 2003 (I think), Paula Sen had a serving percentage of over 97 percent, missing four for the season.
Memory is flawed, selective, enhanced by emotion. We also remember best PEAK and END experience. "Leave 'em laughing" on the comedy stage.
This reminds me of Sara Blakely, CEO of Spanx, who experimented with standup comedy to improve public speaking. One joke went, "I decided to get a dog." Her mother answered, "Are you sure? That's a long-term commitment." Blakely added, "I'm getting a 14 year-old dog."
MVB 'serving excellence' can improve. Blakely says:
Make it.
Sell it.
Build brand awareness.
There's always a role for the designated server.
Candidates:
1. Alyssa DiRaffaele delivered 'sliders' that moved down and away from receivers. She is partly the reason that Lincoln-Sudbury didn't return a home-and-away series. See the video at the end.
2. Cassidy Barbaro served more like Leah Fowke...hard and often barely clearing the net.
3. Brooke Bell was the Mike Cuellar (old-time Orioles southpaw) of volleyball, who could deliver 'rotten grapefruit' over the net. Do you know how hard it is to return rotten grapefruit? She was the mistress of the short serve.
There are plenty of others (highly underrated was Amanda Commito) but these few come to mind quickly.
What is your MVB skill? Master something to get and keep you on the court.
Lagniappe. This 2011 video against Lincoln-Sudbury foreshadows a State Title in 2012. Study Alyssa's serves. Note the varied skills of the team (which went to the 2011 Finals, too) varying from power to finesse in a 25-18, 25-22, 25-15 demolition of a D1 power.
No comments:
Post a Comment