Reflection

Coaches continually assess our teams. "What does my team need now?"

"Control what you can control." It's never too late to be better. 

• Increase scoring (manufacture points)
• Decrease giveaways (serve errors, receive errors, passing errors, attack errors)

Increase scoring. Scoring occurs off serves, attacks, block-kills. How realistic is this? 

Getting more aces is about risk benefit. This reminds me of tennis and 'second serves'. Depending on situation, a "sure" safe serve is the better choice. The 2012 team got aces from a designated server, Cassidy Barbaro. She had a hard serve with topspin. 

Better attacks. Attacks coordinate passing and hitting. Leah Fowke clocks in at number five in assists in the Commonwealth...only six away from number one. Sabine Wenzel is second in volleyball kills. Carol Higonenq is tied for 37th. Every attacker should ask how can I get one more kill? You're seeing Leah get more attack points, including those off two balls. Carol and Emme have the ability and opportunity. Coach Scott Celli has strategized differing attacks to generate more chances. More attack points will mean a combination plus potentially more from the right side via slide attacks or more attack efficiency. 

More block attacks. Blocking involves multiple factors - anticipation/reading hitters, timing, shaping the block, and attitude. Great blockers attack the process. Years ago Melrose played Burlington, which featured three boys. Coach Celli allowed the boys to play everywhere, not just back row. An MVB blocker delivered consecutive stuff blocks against a 6'3" boy. Defy gravity. 

Decrease giveaways (turnovers). 

Fewer service errors. Service errors are the ultimate turnover. There's no coming back from them. This is the low hanging fruit.  

Fewer passing errors. "Great" is the enemy of good. Overly aggressive passing risks overpasses and trapping the setter at the net. 

Reduce attack errors. These might not be 'true' attack errors, but downballs carry risk when many are "get me over" freeballs. Carol is solid while most players get few opportunities and more inconsistency.