The MV Season as a Three-Act Play

"All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts."

- Shakespeare in As You Like It

You write your story. You live it. How it might appear within the structure of a three-act play...with some AI help. MVB is nearing the end of Act II where "our heroes" face challenges. 

Act I — Setup (August to early September)

We defined the world: who we are, how we train, what we value. Inciting incident: the first matches that showed both promise and needs. The first two matches raised hope that pointed out a clear direction—raise our first-ball contact and attack or get left behind.

Constant: Team first. Know your job. Do your job. The leadership is known, having been 'through the wars'. The actors blend experience and an abundance of youth - untested, unproven. 

Act II — Confrontation (mid-September to now)

The schedule sharpened; matches exposed needs; small errors felt bigger. Midpoint: a swing match that reframed the season - signature matches that clarified your work. Since then, the pressure cooker: tighter sets, louder gyms, faster reads. We qualified for playoffs—and uncertainty remains. That’s normal. In drama, Act II asks: What will you risk to become who you say you are? 

Now: This is the “refinement stretch.” Not reinvention—repetition with precision.

Act II Checklist (this week)

• First contact: 3 cues—platform angle, quiet feet, call early.

• Tempo: Beat the ball to base. Win the first two steps.

• Communication: Name seam ownership before serve.

• Serve plan: 1 target, 1 purpose (disrupt their best passer or slow their best hitter).

• Transition: Off the net fast; setter window consistent.

Act III — Resolution (final eight days + playoffs)

Climax is coming: we’ll have to make the defining choices under pressure. Payoffs help define the season: habits, roles, trust.

What must pay off:

• Identity: Sideout rate and serve pressure are our plot engine.

• Role clarity: Middles show early; pins step up the block; DS owns short zone; setters own tempo.

• Composure: Next-ball focus after errors; no stacked mistakes.

Act III Game Plan

• One point stories: Every rally communicates who we are - start the story with serve, finish it with block/defense to transition.

• Three winning plays per set: Belichick calls them "Gotta Have It." Circle them - big dig, serve run, out-of-system score. Hunt those moments.

• Bench impact: Voice, eyes, chants - add value every rally.

The Stakes

Growth, fulfillment, or something less. The script isn’t written; you make your choices. Momentum is built, not wished for. The standard is the standard—one play at a time. 

Lagniappe: Gotta Have It (Setup 1). At 23-21, resilience is needed. 

Lagniappe 2. The end of set two...the game is about making plays.