Melrose Lady Raiders Volleyball

2 Minute Drill

2012-01-13T21:11:00.001-08:00

Boston Herald Volleyball All-Scholastics

2011-12-18T13:40:00.000-08:00

The Boston Herald reports its volleyball all-scholastics today. Props to Brooke and Sarah for their inclusion.

Banquet Photos

2011-12-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Don Norris

I'm a bit partial to the ones of the 'futures'.

Final Rankings

2011-12-12T19:32:00.000-08:00

I don't have to agree with the Globe final rankings.

You decide for yourself. We saw Marlboro, Central, Longmeadow, L-S, Reading, Newton North, Lynnfield, North Reading, and Westborough. Westborough deserved better, probably in the top 10. Just saying.

Globe Fall All-Scholastics

2011-12-11T18:11:00.000-08:00

Fall Boston Globe All-Scholastics are out.

Banquet Video

2011-12-11T18:04:00.001-08:00

Great work from Jeff Mate'. I'm still struggling with the 'dog thing'.

Full House

2011-12-09T20:30:00.000-08:00

Montvale Plaza hosted the volleyball banquet this year.

Photo by Don Norris

Captains

2011-12-09T20:27:00.000-08:00

Incoming and outgoing captains, left to right

Amanda Commito, Sarah McGowan, Brooke Bell, Alyssa DiRaffaele, and Jill Slabacheski

Photo courtesy of Don Norris

Who Let the Dogs Out...and More

2011-12-08T19:28:00.001-08:00

Melrose held its annual volleyball banquet, a celebration of the present, but also of the past and the future.

The players received their letters and certificates as well as a variety of special awards. Some awards and selections come from the coaching staff, and others (e.g. MVP) come from team voting.

Coaches Scott Celli, Steve Wall, and Andrea Basteri presented and also shared a little information about what each girl contributed. I apologize in advance for any errors.

Varsity Awards:

MVP: Sarah McGowan
Coaches' Award: Brooke Bell
Unsung Hero: Rachel Johnson
Top Defender: Alyssa DiRaffaele
Top Serve Percentage: Brooke Bell
Most Improved: Jen Cain

MGVCA Division 2 All-State: Brooke Bell, Sarah McGowan
Boston Globe All-Scholastic: Brooke Bell
Boston Herald All-Scholastic: Brooke Bell, Sarah McGowan
Middlesex League All-Star: Alyssa DiRaffaele, Brooke Bell, Sarah McGowan, Jen Cain

Junior Varsity:

MVP: Shannon Tarpey
Most Improved: Kaitlin Carson

Brooke Bell rendered poetic tribute to the seniors.

I serious recommend NOT watching the whole video.

The team handed down a variety of traditions, including:

The pre-game coordinate clap, to Kayla Wyland
The post-game brownies, remain with Sydney Doherty
"The Lollipops", to Jill "J-Mac" MacInnes
The "Who Let the Dogs Out" cheer to Shannon Tarpey

Jeff Mate' produced a stunning tribute video (will probably appear on YouTube.com in the near future).

Coach Scott Celli announced the open competition for all positions, AND named the new tri-captains based on team vote:

The 2012 captains include returnee Brooke Bell, Sarah McGowan, and Amanda Commito.

Banquet Tonight

2011-12-08T03:25:00.000-08:00

The end of the year breakup dinner happens tonight at the Montvale Plaza for the 2011 version of Melrose Volleyball.

General Program:

Meet and greet
Coaches introduction
Buffet dinner
Awarding of letters and certificates
Special recognition awards to players
Highlight video
Naming of captains for 2012 season

Special thanks to the 2011 senior class (Alyssa, Brittany, Jill, Maggie, Rachael), which had four consecutive 20 win seasons, three consecutive Division 2 North championships, and the most wins (88) of any four year period.

The Big Game

2011-12-05T19:28:00.000-08:00

Dan Krechmer's NCAA D1 observations.

More Honors for Lady Raiders

2011-12-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

Melrose standouts Brooke Bell and Sarah McGowan both achieve All-Scholastic recognition by the Boston Herald. Congratulations on well-deserved honors.

Dreams

2011-11-30T19:22:00.001-08:00

It's never going to look like this, but the offensive attack will continue to improve.

Making It Real

2011-11-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

Kids are pretty sophisticated these days, far more than we were when I grew up. The communication revolution via the Internet and also the realities of political and economic divisiveness give young people a lot of information and a lot to think about.

What has this got to do with sports? Success doesn't occur in a vacuum. Achievement follows leadership, energy, integrity, and honesty. The chance to be part of something special draws people who want to be part of something bigger than themselves.

The success of the volleyball program is well-documented. If your players trust you and your message, AND that message is both genuine and durable, they will walk through fire for you. Does that guarantee indefinite and unlimited success? I don't know any recipe that does. But it does give you a great launching pad for achievement.

Conversely, if the message becomes stale, or inconsistent, or the process lacks quality, then the sustainability of the program falters and the ultimate outcome suffers.

Volleyball isn't life or death, but supporting the program and the young people involved offers ultimate benefit to the community through development of the next generation of leaders.

Advanced Serving Techniques from Portland Clinic

2011-11-27T17:10:00.000-08:00

Specific drills, mechanics, and varied types of serves.

Just Dumb Enough

2011-11-26T05:06:00.000-08:00

You've seen the videos; here's the introduction. "I'm just dumb enough to keep trying". A great coach acknowledges his ignorance and flexibility.

When you begin as a player or evolve as a coach, you develop a philosophy and refine or change it according to your growth, success, or setbacks.

Six Skills, Blocking

2011-11-25T13:40:00.000-08:00

By way of review, my concept of volleyball skills as a NON-EXPERT is:

Exchanges (serving and initial passing)
Offense (setting and attacking)
Defense (digging and blocking)

Today's video from the Art of Coaching Volleyball series (some of the elite college volleyball coaches) reviews blocking. One coach says that the least taught skills are serving and blocking. To me, Melrose's best skill through the years has been blocking.

I watch every video to see if it seems easily understandable (setting a low bar for myself).

Art of Coaching Series, Setting

2011-11-24T20:05:00.000-08:00

More from the Art of Coaching series...learning about volleyball...really phenomenal the quantitative study of performance.

From a learning perspective...terrific.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T04:12:00.000-08:00

A site for the Melrose volleyball community. The site has no affiliation with Melrose High School, the City of Melrose, or the Melrose School Department.

The Art of Volleyball Coaching series has a lot of great information. Here's a drill from their site; obviously, absent a 'permanent' volleyball facility, developing off-season skills gets tougher.

Six Skills, Clinic, Defense

2011-11-23T21:36:00.000-08:00

The more I watch volleyball, the more the appreciation. The Art of Volleyball Coaching series has some intriguing video vignettes.

Here are a couple of "technical" videos where leading coaches give their thoughts on footwork, handwork, and coordination of movement in digging.

The coaches emphasize both similarities and differences, and the series is designed to promote variation in coaching philosophy.

Division 2 All-State Team

2011-11-23T16:50:00.000-08:00

The MGVCA published their Division 2 All-state team.

Local volleyball fans have seen many of these players over the past couple of years, including Brooke Bell and Sarah McGowan, Charette and Perron-Sovik of Fairhaven, Fearing and Scott of Marlborough, Murphy of Canton, Houff of Longmeadow, and Melvin and Olson of Westborough.

Faces in the Crowd

2011-11-23T16:42:00.000-08:00

Don Norris sends over some photographs of the atmosphere at the volleyball state championship last weekend. Captions are intentionally limited.

Future Lady Raiders.
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Former Lady Raider Athena Ziavras, goddess of volleyball?

Who's Crying Now?

2011-11-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

Few local athletes ever get to compete in state sectional championships. Fewer have won them. Even fewer have won three consecutive sectional titles. And only a select few have had the chance to compete for a state championship in the past decade.

Photograph from the Melrose Free Press.

The players can wear defeat as a thorny crown or a badge of honor. But if I were an underclassman, I'd have the photograph framed and on my desk, where I'd look at it each day, reminding myself that I'm not going back for a ribbon with a silver medal on it next year. Congratulations on a great season!

Six Skills, Continued

2011-11-22T17:21:00.000-08:00

I am NOT an expert on volleyball...in fact, outside of Melrose volleyball history over a decade, I'm still trying to understand the game.

But from an organizational standpoint, volleyball has three somewhat distinct phases:

Serving and receiving (exchanges)
Offense: setting and attacking (spiking, hitting)
Defense: blocking and digging

Naturally, as a team, you want to be as strong as possible in every area. The Internet may not always have much context, but it has absolutely phenomenal content.

With the long offseason, perhaps we can go on a meandering volleyball journey into the "six skills".

For the incurably scientific, the physics of volleyball serving and quantitative time impact discussed. Everybody hates a know-it-all, so please don't ask me to explain the physics. The simple answer is that a higher take-off (jump serve), flatter arc, and topspin all impact the 'hang time'.

For the Girls

2011-11-21T03:43:00.000-08:00

Congratulations on a wonderful season and a ticket to the Big Dance.

Congratulations to the departing seniors who gave so much to the program.

Congratulations to the coaches who worked tirelessly to achieve success.

You never know from where your next great players will emerge. (Don Norris photos from summer volleyball instructional camp)

Hardware

2011-11-21T02:53:00.000-08:00

Photographs courtesy Don Norris

Self-Scouting and the Reality of Perception

2011-11-20T15:52:00.000-08:00

Melrose has enjoyed tremendous volleyball success during the past decade with a legion of accomplishments. It is entirely fair to say that along with Central Catholic and Andover, Melrose has been one of the top three teams in the region. Within the athletic community, the volleyball program could legitimately claim to be the number one local 'brand'.

Here's the Tale of the Tape

10 consecutive playoff appearances
9 consecutive D2 North finals
7 All-State Players
6 D2 North Championships
3 Consecutive D2 North Championships
2 State Championship appearances
1 MIAA Sportsmanship Award
1 Division 2 Coach of the Year Award

All that being said, what is the perception of how Melrose plays amidst the six critical skills of volleyball: serve, dig, pass, set, attack, and block?.

Ultimately, you have to play to your personnel and the extent of offense you can generate...and a team like Marlboro had three superior hitters in Fearing, Silverman, and Scott, particularly with the versatile Fearing bringing a quality back row attack as well.

Coach Celli has made a commitment to tough non-league games (possibly to include Bishop Fenwick, Central Catholic, Lincoln-Sudbury, and at Westborough next year) to make the team tournament ready.

Melrose's coaching staff will work with the players to the extent permissible to improve the offense especially via self-scouting. Self-scouting allows teams to determine their tendencies (strong versus middle or weak attacks), role for back row hitting and the quick set, and so forth. Melrose returns eight players with extensive varsity playing experience and should be a favorite next year.

But as for the State Championship game, a terrific and deserving team, with great coaching, executing at critical times, clearly deserved to win.

States Pics Group 2

2011-11-20T14:39:00.000-08:00

From Don Norris. Click photos to enlarge.

Make no mistake about it, losing brings disappointment. But there's a huge difference between disappointment and discouragement.
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States Pics First Group

2011-11-20T12:47:00.000-08:00

Photos from Don Norris

You Haven't Seen the Last of Me

2011-11-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

hat tip: JB

After a tough loss, you have two choices. You can feel sorry for yourselves or you come back more determined than ever.

Fortunate Son

2011-11-20T04:24:00.000-08:00

We've been fortunate to have great coaching from the Melrose staff. Here is a cross-post from the Melrosegirlsbasketball.com blog on the subject of coaching.

ESPN Boston Interviews

2011-11-19T18:22:00.001-08:00

Click on the interview.

Giving Thanks*

2011-11-19T18:11:00.000-08:00

*A blog for Melrose volleyball fans. Opinions contained are solely my own and not representative of Melrose High School or the Melrose volleyball program.

I am thankful for having the opportunity of having shared the highs and the lows of a decade of Melrose volleyball.
I am thankful for us having a professional and dedicated coaching staff that has helped produce successful teams and young women.
I am thankful for the hard work, dedication, commitment, and sacrifice of players and their families.
I am thankful for the players who compete every day at practice, improving their team and their teammates, yet getting little recognition and limited amount of playing time.
I am thankful for the fans who support the team and coaches every year, home and away.
I am thankful for some special people who help me create and share this information with the community, including but not limited to Jeff Mate', Don Norris, and Dick Collis.
I am thankful to all those who have supported me and my Melrose volleyball family through the years, especially my daughters Karen and Paula, and of course, one of the first ladies of Melrose volleyball, Ellen.
I am thankful for the opportunity to support the Melrose volleyball program and hope for the chance to do so for many more years.

Dreams Delayed, Not Denied...Melrose Falls to Marlboro 3-1

2011-11-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

Dreams may come or go, but unachieved they do not disappear. The elusive state championship remains as Melrose battled hard but couldn't make enough plays and fell to Marlboro before a capacity crowd 25-22, 23-25, 13-25, and 20-25.

Melrose played its best volleyball of the year in the first set. The girls attacked and defended relentlessly, and the overconfident Marlboro Panthers seemed ripe for the taking. Melrose trailed early 2-0, only to rebound to 4-2 behind Jill Slabacheski and Sarah McGowan attacks.

Gradually, Melrose extended the lead, with aggressive blocking from Rachel Johnson and power offense from Sarah, as Melrose extended its leads to 9-5, 16-9, and 21-14. But Marlboro gathered steam behind the outstanding libero play of Vanessa Pascal and Taylor Fearing's brilliant setting to draw within 21-19, only to have a service error. Melrose finally clinched the first set as Marlboro errors proved costly.

Melrose amassed fourteen kills in the set, including six for Sarah, four for Jen Cain, and a trio from Rachel. It was on like Donkey Kong.

The second set was a back and forth contest, with ties at 1, 2, 3, and four before Melrose went up 9-5. But Alexa Fearing started to hammer away, and because of Melrose's blocking impact, Marlboro went to a back row attack style, which gave Melrose problems, and Marlboro a big run to go up 14-10. The Lady Raiders chipped away, but struggled to score, relying more on defense waiting for Marlboro errors. With Melrose trailing 21-19, a net serve proved costly, particularly when Melrose then rallied to go up 23-22 on Slabacheski and Johnson kills. But when crunch time came, Melrose couldn't make plays and the Panthers won the final three points of the set. Marlboro recovered from being dazed and confused and basically won the match there, surviving being punched out and on the ropes.

Melrose had just eight kills unofficially for the set, three for Rachel a pair for Sarah, and one each from setter Brooke Bell, Jen, and Jill.

Set three was all Marlboro, with attacks from Melissa Scott, Laura Silverman, and Fearing, while Pascal swallowed up everything in the back row like "Jaws".
Melrose trailed 6-3 after going out to a 3-1 advantage, and then fell behind 12-4, and 16-6 before the Lady Raiders were able to stop the bleeding. Overall, Melrose simply couldn't generate offense, and the team couldn't sustain the defense against Marlboro attacks. Melrose never got closer than 21-13 and it looked grim.

Melrose got nine kills for the set, including four from Jill and a pair from Sarah, but it was the worst set of the season for Melrose.

Literally playing for the season, the team regrouped and went ahead 3-1, only to see ties at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 before Marlboro ran up to 21-18. Melrose got a pretty Bell push kill to the deep left corner, and a McGowan kill brought it to 22-20, only to have a Marlboro attack bring the Panthers within two points of victory at 23-20. On the ensuing play, Melrose was called for a phantom double hit, with the ball not spinning a whit. The game ended quietly for Melrose as Panther fans swarmed onto the court, preventing the traditional post game handshakes from occurring for minutes.

Melrose had thirteen kills during the comeback effort, including five more for Sarah, three for Rachel, and a pair apiece for Brooke and Jen.

Game analysis: Melrose won the first set with outstanding defense and aggressive offense. To say the defense was spectacular would be an understatement. Everyone was effective, but Jen Cain was exceptional. But Marlboro found adjustments (back row attacking) that opened up the defense and limited the impact of blocks from Rachel Johnson and Kayla Wyland in particular, and Melrose couldn't finish set two. The Lady Raiders battled valiantly in the final set, but couldn't catch a break when it counted as Marlboro simply made a few more plays when it mattered, although Marlboro departs knowing that Melrose earned their respect. Melrose did a lot of good things, but that isn't enough when competing for a state title.

Melrose will return their seven juniors and sophomore defensive specialist Jill MacInnes. A healthy taste of success only increases the appetite for the prize.

Story Time

2011-11-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

Every generation has its artists, some use a guitar, a block of wood or stone, watercolors or oil, or even a computer.

Today, the Melrose Lady Raiders use the 18 by 9 meter hardwood canvas and 10 ounce volleyball as paintbrush to write their narrative. For some, volleyball is their 'second' sport passion; others were born to play, groomed for their role, their destiny since they first picked up a ball in elementary school. They perfected their craft in gyms near and far, with stops in the weight room and the training room.

No doubt that today's match will bring tears of joy or defeat, as every championship validates the winners and leaves an emptiness for a time in the vanquished.

Two hundred seventy-two teams began the season with aspirations of playing today, including seventy-five in Division 2. Six remain. Melrose has defeated three of the top ten teams in Massachusetts and two of the top five in Division 1.

Latest Maxpreps.com Division 1 rankings.

I believe. Why not!

Championship Saturday

2011-11-19T04:20:00.000-08:00

The Chinese character for "crisis" blends signs for "danger" and "opportunity". For the 23-1 Lady Raiders, today's volleyball state championship presents only opportunity. The 2009 team graduated seven seniors, meaning the following campaigns could present wholesale rebuilding. But with a firm infrastructure and committed players, Coach Scott Celli and his staff have advanced to their second chance at a title with a team of "young veterans".

Senior Tri-captain Jill Slabacheski will set the Melrose volleyball record for participation in post-season play today with her SIXTEENTH appearance, eclipsing that of Paula and Karen Sen from 2002-2005. The junior class, seven strong on the 2011 version, enters for their thirteenth postseason contest.

Melrose brings a full wagon, loaded with a pair of Division 2 All-State players, Brooke Bell and Sarah McGowan, the Middlesex League co-MVP Alyssa DiRaffaele, ML All-Star "Swiss Army knife" Jen Cain, and less recognized but very talented juniors Rachel Johnson, Amanda Commito, Kayla Wyland, and Sydney Dohery, and 'the rookie', sophomore Jill MacInnes.

McGowan is the kills leader among players still in the tournament (fifth overall in Massachusetts) and Johnson is just outside the top fifty overall in kills, despite missing several games with illness. Bell is fifth in assists (596) and will eclipse six hundred today.

Why not!

Got To Be There

2011-11-18T18:51:00.000-08:00

Will you be watching the state championship tomorrow? Check in on Facebook and support the team.

Why Not?

More than Meets the Eye

2011-11-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

Don Norris, in addition to his photojournalism expertise, has a breadth of volleyball experience. In early October, he forecast great success for Melrose.

Maybe the Central banners make a prediction of their own.

Hall of Fame Matchup

2011-11-18T03:26:00.000-08:00

It's not as though every coach in Massachusetts is in the MGVCA Hall of Fame. But tomorrow's match features Marlboro's Peter Lepore (inducted 2009) and Melrose's Scott Celli (inducted 2011).

Here is a link to the MGVCA Hall of Fame page and their criteria.

WHY NOT!

Why Not...a Theme from the 1989 Orioles

2011-11-17T19:37:00.000-08:00

Why not, we can win this thing...

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2011-11-17T18:39:00.000-08:00

Maxpreps.com has its newest rankings out.

Melrose faces number 2 Marlboro Saturday. Melrose lost to #6 Westboro, but beat #3 Central, # 7 Lincoln-Sudbury, and #9 Longmeadow.

One Game

2011-11-17T09:50:00.000-08:00

One game.

Why Not?

2011-11-16T21:22:00.000-08:00

Afterthoughts

2011-11-16T18:23:00.000-08:00

I'm not an expert on volleyball, but I've seen or called most of the Melrose postseason games over the past decade. Comparing one team with another or one player with another accomplishes little, but every player and team establishes its legacy. Memories linger because of great or small performances, and the magnitude of achievement within the moment.

Everyone contributed mightily but here are my observations.

A come-from-behind victory against a terrific team that propels a team into the state championship moves to the top spot of signature games in Melrose volleyball history.
Coach Scott Celli may not get another Division 2 Coach of the Year Award this season, but he might have earned it last evening with patience when the team struggled, and flexibility to substitute to go offense-defense in crunch time.
With Longmeadow blocking well, Brooke Bell backed the sets off the net that confounded the blockers.
Establish the pass with the run. Sarah McGowan coped with some blocks early, but her willingness to hit demanded blockers' attention, leading to opportunities for the short game later.
The serve can be a potent weapon, as both teams proved last night. Alyssa DiRaffaele's service run to begin the fifth provided a critical edge.
Gut check (Part I). The team rallied from behind in set four, trailing two sets to one and played more aggressively to get back into the match.
Gut check (Part II). In a long match, the athletic Melrose team showed a lot of stamina. Particularly noteworthy is Rachel Johnson, who returned from significant illness to go the distance.
Seventh player award goes to the Melrose crowd, which represented at least two-thirds in attendance and made the extended trip on a school night to support the team.
Melrose kept the 'four E's'. They had energy, energized each other, had the edge (discipline) when the going got tough, and executed in the big moments.
Unsung heroines? Kayla Wyland and Sydney Doherty split the award by bringing extra attack wins from the opposite position, although Sydney got the point of the game from the strong side.

On Like Donkey Kong

2011-11-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

"It's On Like Donkey Kong"

its on like donkey kong	386 up, 117 down
	A phrase to denote that it's time to throw down or compete at a high level; something is about to go down. The use of the comical video game character Donkey Kong provides comic relief but the phrase itself has greater or more significance than simply its on.

J-Mac digs it.
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Alyssa gets after it.
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Block that.
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Coach Steve Wall with words of wisdom.
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This veteran team is ironically still young.
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Photos from Don Norris.

More Shots

2011-11-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

More pics from Don Norris (more as time permits). Click to enlarge the photographs.

Big Mac attack
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Block City.
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Winning

2011-11-16T06:31:00.000-08:00

No drugs, no alcohol, no PEDs, no smoking. Just winning.

Photo courtesy Don Norris.

Morning Call

2011-11-16T03:18:00.000-08:00

Around the Net.

Boston Herald volleyball capsules.

Melrose Patch view.

Melrose's pair of Division 2 All-State representatives (Sarah McGowan-13, and Brooke Bell) go up for the block in state semifinal action at Nashoba Regional (photos courtesy Don Norris)

Melrose's tallest blockers, Rachel Johnson (5) and Kayla Wyland visit 'Turkey Town' with plenty of stuffing for the Longmeadow Lancers. Great form as the girls get high, with fingers spread, and penetrate the airspace over the 7'4" net. Rachel came up huge in set four and Kayla had some of the biggest winners of her career.

Fan-tastic.

Recap from Masslive

2011-11-15T20:58:00.000-08:00

Masslive.com game summary.

Going to the 'Ship, Melrose Outlasts Longmeadow 3-2 in Semis

2011-11-15T20:24:00.000-08:00

Melrose (23-1) reproduced a version of "Havlicek Stole the Ball", the triple overtime game against the Suns in 1976, and game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. They traveled to Nashoba Regional High School and emerged bloody but victorious in a streetfight against West Champion Longmeadow, which lost its fifth consecutive state semifinal with a predominantly senior lineup.

There were the usual suspects in the heroine category, but critical play from key substitutions as Coach Scott Celli did a masterful job of offense-defense substitution down the stretch.

After parading into the gym and introductions, the teams got into it early, with ties at six of the match's first seven points. Melrose included a six point run to lead 12-7 behind a Jen Cain service run. The Lady Raiders extended the lead to 20-12, led by Sarah McGowan, only to have the Lancers come within a point at 20-19, when they made a pair of costly service errors to give Melrose the lead at 22-20. The teams traded points, but at 23-22, Jill Slabacheski cashed in a pair of winners to seal the deal at 25-22.

Longmeadow was gaining strength however, with a powerful front line of Megan Houff, Jen Hurwitz, and Amanda Brock, supplemented by potent service from Kaitlin Corbett. Leading 8-7 in the second, Corbett went on a service spree and the West champs led 12-7. Melrose closed within two at 14-12, 17-15, and 18-16, but the Lancers kept denying Melrose offensive opportunities, and five service errors cost Melrose dearly as Longmeadow won 25-18.

Melrose seized the lead early in set three at 2-0, but a 6-1 run gave the Lancers the edge. Melrose fought back, winning eight of the next eleven points, with Sarah McGowan piling up kills (5) early, and Rachel Johnson starting to dominate defensively. All that being said, from a Melrose lead at 14-13, Longmeadow went up 21-15, and the die was cast for a Longmeadow 25-17 rout.

And it was do or die in set four. Longmeadow broke to a 4-2 lead before a costly service error put Melrose on the attack. Five consecutive kills, reminiscent of "the comeback" at Central gave Melrose an 8-4 advantage, only to see Longmeadow take a 13-9 edge with a 9-1 run. Melrose could have folded its tent, but a brilliant run by Rachel with a handful of kills in Block City, took the starch out of Longmeadow and Melrose went up 18-15. But the Lancers weren't done as Houff bombs brought them up 20-19 and within five points of a trip to Algonquin. But from 20-19, it was the unlikely hero Kayla Wyland who had a very solid game with a kill, and a pair from Sarah to put the Lady Raiders in the drivers seat (25-22) headed to a decisive fifth set. It took fourteen kills to win the set, including five from Sarah, four from Rachel, and two apiece from Jill and Kayla.

The fifth set began fortuitously, with Alyssa DiRaffaele, again immense in the back, serving and Sarah in high gear as Melrose raced out to a 4-nil lead. Sarah had three of the first seven points and the teams switched sides with Melrose up 8-4. But Longmeadow continued to press, scoring five of the next six points, interrupted by a Wyland winner. With Melrose up 10-9, perhaps the key point of the match happened after Celli substituted in Sydney Doherty. Sydney came in cold and Brooke Bell delivered a 'cheddar biscuit' to Syd who ate it up with an outside attack winner to expand the lead to 11-9. With Longmeadow refusing to go quietly at 13-12, Kayla had the point of her career, a cross court topspin 'jumbo shrimp' to put Melrose ahead 14-12. With sophomore Jill MacInnes serving, Melrose got a return in play and Longmeadow made a defensive error to ice the victory and trigger an explosive celebration as Melrose returns to its first state title game since 2005.

Game analysis: Melrose won because they had many players who stepped up in the big moments. Brooke Bell, the model of consistency, set boatloads of nectar for the front, who responded with key attacks. Sarah McGowan had her usual dominant performance, using craft as much as cram to pile up kills. Alyssa was the steadying force in the back row. Jen Cain was her usual consistent self with half a dozen kills and solid defense, and Jill Slabacheski came through when it mattered.

But the game changer was the confidence that Coach Celli inspired in his players when some struggled, leaving them in to fight through it, and the substitutions made to get more offense with critical attacks from Sydney Doherty and Kayla Wyland during their rotation.

Five set matches haven't always been kind to Melrose. They had five set state semifinal losses to Marlboro in 2003 and Case in 2004, before getting wins over Central and Andover in 2005, only to lose in the 2005 final, 3-2 to Medfield. This would have to rank with the 2003 D2 North Championship (over undefeated AC) as arguably the biggest win in Melrose volleyball history, earning a trip to the title game.

And this comes just two years after graduating one of its best teams ever, with seven seniors, and two All-State players including Colleen Hanscom and D2 Player of the Year, Hannah Brickley. Melrose didn't rebuild, it reloaded.

The Real Deal

2011-11-15T11:42:00.001-08:00

According to Fenwick Coach Adam DeBaggis, "Melrose is the real deal."

State Semifinal Action Tonight

2011-11-15T08:50:00.000-08:00

Melrose travels to Nashoba Regional (Bolton) to face West sectional champion Longmeadow. Longmeadow has their own website here and a social media presence on Facebook.

Longmeadow defeated Reading 3-1 earlier this season, whom Melrose defeated 3-0, so there isn't much head-to-head competition to analyze.

I'm sure that the team eagerly anticipates its trip to Bolton tonight.

Bell Named Boston Globe All-Scholastic

2011-11-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

Brooke Bell achieved recognition today as a Boston Globe All-Scholastic in volleyball. Congratulations to Brooke.

Several other Lady Raiders could have also earned that distinction and we recognize that it's a "numbers" game, with generally only about fifteen players in Massachusetts selected.

D2 North Championship Highlights

2011-11-14T15:26:00.001-08:00

Superior production by Jeff Mate' to bring the action to you.

Post-game comments from Captains

2011-11-14T03:36:00.000-08:00

What it means to the players.With a few good snaps from wickedlocal.com.

Championship Team Photo

2011-11-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

Courtesy Jen Gentile.

Leader Board Update

2011-11-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

The latest Maxpreps.com updates are out.

State rankings - note that Melrose has defeated the number 4 and 5 ranked teams
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Assist leaders
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Kill leaders

In the Beginning

2011-11-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

A Boston Globe 2003 profile provides foreshadowing to the Lady Raiders first volleyball sectional championship. Appropriately titled 'That's how you make a name for yourself' the piece looks ahead at that time.

Praising Cain

2011-11-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

"Sports doesn't build character, it reveals character." - John Wooden

We're proud of what "our girls" have achieved, but the credit belongs to them and their coaches.

Melrose got a big lift with the return of junior Middle Hitter Rachel Johnson, whose defensive presence in the middle alters attacks. Not only piling up blocks, she was Melrose's second leading attacker after Sarah McGowan this season. In addition to her contribution on the volleyball court, Rachel is poised to have a breakout season on the basketball court.
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Junior outside hitter Jen Cain is one of the steadiest players on the court, playing both front and back. She may not be big, but plays big. Jen was third in kills for the Lady Raiders this season. She achieved a Middlesex League All-Star selection this season, and had the finishing kill yesterday against Bishop Fenwick.
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Despite the outstanding performance yesterday, Annalisa DeBari, Jen, and Brooke Bell have the "caught with the hand in the cookie jar" look yesterday, or pretty much the most awesome poker faces ever.

Photographs courtesy of Don Norris.

Pictures Coming

2011-11-13T08:58:00.001-08:00

Don Norris will be sending some pictures from the D2 North Championship.

Alyssa DiRaffaele has been outstanding at libero this season, but especially so during the second half of the season. Although she entered the program as a hitter, she transitioned to the back row and earned the 'white' jersey last season. As libero she gets free defensive substitution and applies a lot of pressure from the service line.

Alyssa shows great form here with her body low, knees flexed, arms extended with elbows locked and eyes on the ball. And it's always great to have perfect form literally right in front of the coaching staff.

This year she received Co-MVP of the Middlesex League and all-star honors, functioned as a senior Tri-captain (along with Jill Slabacheski and Brooke Bell), and has been a steadying force with the young back row usually comprised of Amanda Commito and Jill MacInnes (both looking on).

She also has a big role on the basketball team as a terrific rebounder and plays catcher on the softball team.

A Program Built to Last #

2011-11-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

#All opinions expressed are solely my own. This website is not affiliated officially with Melrose High School or any local organization.

This year's team accomplished a three-year run of Division 2 North championships, but the groundwork was laid long ago. One of the long-time (anonymous) boosters of the volleyball program shared his thoughts with me today after the victory at Lawrence. He noted that many of the pioneers of the program share responsibility and deserve recognition. The great success from years ago encouraged today's players.

In addition to Coach Scott Celli, Coaches Steve Wall and Andrea Basteri help the team steadily improve. (photo by Don Norris)

Coach Scott Celli probably never dreamed of becoming a coaching legend locally, but built a program based on continuity, success, and especially fun. He helped establish volleyball as the most popular girls' sport locally, with more players playing, playing at a younger age, and playing in the offseason.

A lot of factors contributed to the program's development:

Superior coaching
Early and iconic success
Encouraging elementary and middle school players to develop interest and skill in volleyball**
Local summer volleyball camps
Player and family dedication to improvement
Tremendous community support
Multimedia exposure through community access television
A vision dedicated to producing the highest level play possible to achieve program goals
A willingness to play the best teams available as non-league opponents (e.g. Barnstable, Westboro, etc)
Development of 'friendly rivalries' which improve both programs (specifically with Central Catholic). Both teams benefit.
Establishment of a middle school volleyball program
A willingness to focus on team versus individual goals

No, we're not California, Florida, or Texas and we understand our limitations, but we're working hard to keep climbing the mountain. We thank all those who continue to contribute to make volleyball popular and successful. It's a team effort.

**the interest sometimes inflicts damages to lamps in the home...I've seen this up close and personally. Maybe that's why they call it "bumping".

Answering the Bell, Melrose Moves to State Semifinals

2011-11-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

Melrose rolled into the Division 2 North finals against a determined, well-coached, defensively-skilled Bishop Fenwick and emerged with a decisive 25-18, 25-16, 25-20 win.

Everyone had a hand in the victory, with a crowd-pleasing, attacking style that had Fenwick on their heels for most of the match.

Fenwick came out of the gate fast, leading 4-1, but Melrose responded with a nine point run sparked by five kills from Sarah McGowan. McGowan was immense in the first set with eight kills. Fenwick got within two at 11-9, but Melrose answered again with an 8-3 run and the Crusaders never got closer than four. In addition to Sarah's exploits, Melrose got steady attacking from Jen Cain, Jill Slabacheski, and a denouement kill from Kayla Wyland with a beautiful topspin kill over the back row.

Melrose trailed at 1-0 and never again in set two. The teams were tied at 2, 4, and 6 for Melrose went on a run sparked by service aces, a pair from Sarah and one from Brooke Bell, to go up 13-7. Fenwick could never get closer than six and Melrose had diversified offense with three kills from Sarah, one from Kayla, Brooke, Jen, and Jill Slabacheski.

The Crusaders came out hard in set three, trying to keep their season alive, leading as late as 6-5 and trailing by only one at 9-8, with Rachel Johnson's return from injury a spark for Melrose with a pair of block-kills, and then the play of the match, with Alyssa DiRaffaele making a diving one-armed save out of bounds, kept alive by Amanda Commito, who deflected it to Rachel whose two-handed bump found a winner.

After Fenwick rallied to 9-8, Melrose went on a 15-5 run led by a 'reheated' Sarah as she went into S-Mack mode with four kills in five points. With Melrose leading 24-13, the team had a little premature celebration, suspended animation, losing seven consecutive points to make it 24-20. Coach Scott Celli took a time out, and an aggressive Melrose attack led to a kill by Jen Cain wiping a block from the strong side and the official celebration was on.

Game Analysis: The Lady Raiders showed up with an "all hands on deck" effort, with contributions all-around. With very few exceptions the Lady Raiders had great communication, very solid serve-receive, and almost no tentative play. Fenwick didn't play badly, but just got pounded by an attacking Melrose offense which struck from everywhere. Melrose's front-row defense benefited from Rachel's return, as her blocking was a game-changer.

Unofficially, the victory marked Coach Celli's 300th career win. We will try to get confirmation.

Melrose will play next on Tuesday at Nashoba Valley (Bolton).

Checkmate! Melrose 3 Bishop Fenwick 0 (more to follow)

2011-11-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

Division 2 North Champions for third consecutive season.

Pre-game Photos

2011-11-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

Don Norris sends over a few shots.

Coach Scott Celli has been through these wars many times.
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Senior Tri-Captain Jill Slabacheski brings four years of varsity experience.
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The 7th player, the Melrose crowd, always shows up in force for the post-season.

Sectionals Saturday

2011-11-12T04:19:00.000-08:00

The little girl sits in the stands, overwhelmed by it all. She has sixteen 'sisters' on the team, she giggles at the excitement, and stares in awe at the girls clapping, smiling, diving on the floor, and soaring over the net. Someday, maybe she'll be the next one out there.

We've previously reviewed the "Best of the Best" and Melrose added another signature win in the season finale against D1 Central finalist Lincoln-Sudbury.

The best way to get respect is to give it, and Melrose knows that nothing comes easily.

Storylines? There's never a lack in the sectionals.

Milestones? Melrose seeks a second 'three-peat' in the D2 North Championship.
Tournament experience? Melrose returns for the ninth consecutive year.
Local color? Several of the key Bishop Fenwick players come from Melrose.
Something new? The site moves to Lawrence with a seating capacity of 3200 and a new car smell (well, not really)
History in the making? Coach Scott Celli received induction into the Massachusetts Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame this season.

Every match has adversity at some point, and how a team performs under pressure becomes its legacy.

Play together.
Play hard.
Play smart.
Have fun.

Perfect Game

2011-11-11T03:51:00.000-08:00

We talk a lot about improving our process with our young players. Process comes about from skill development, athletic sports performance training, and mental training. We introduce sports psychology early and reinforce it on a regular basis to complement the physical abilities of the girls with 'mental toughness'. In the sport of basketball, legendary coach Bob Knight says, "the mental to the physical is four to one".

You get a quality product (the ultimate goal of process) by applying what you know and can do consistently, to maintain the play 'trajectory' that brings quality.

The 2011 team has achieved some milestones already - first senior class with four twenty win seasons, best record in the ML after the large-small split, record ninth consecutive sectional championship appearance - but the immediate goal is to sustain the best volleyball for the next game.

Melrose has the capacity to play at a high level against the best teams in the state. You can assist development of your mental "highlight reel" by incorporating elements of actual highlights.

Attitude is everything.

No Bulletin Board Material

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Salem News summarizes the Fenwick win over Stoneham. The teams match up for a repeat of the 2011 Division 2 North final.

Melrose VB on the Web

2011-11-10T03:16:00.000-08:00

They've got the date right, but not the day (finals Saturday) and some nice pics. You want some time perspective? The last time Melrose lost in the D2 North semis, Brooke Bell and her classmates were in second grade.

Melrose on the web. A reminder that the game is SATURDAY at LAWRENCE High School at 3 PM

JUMP!

Photos by Don Norris.

D2 North Semi Shots

2011-11-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

Brooke's a little goofy at times, but she's all business when it comes to winning.

More great snaps from photojournalist Don Norris.

SWAT Team, Melrose 3 North Reading 0

2011-11-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

In some cultures, the number '3' is lucky. Melrose (21-1) ousted North Reading in the post-season for the third consecutive season, as Scott Celli's chargers advance to the D2 North finals for the ninth consecutive season with a 25-17, 25-18, 25-18 win at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Gym. It takes three wins to capture the D2 North title and Melrose seeks its third consecutive title.

"The star of the team is the team", as Melrose attacked from all directions and was able to maintain chemistry, communication, and energy for prolonged periods. But North Reading didn't make it easy.

As in the Lincoln-Sudbury win, Melrose's Alyssa DiRaffaele opened the match with an ace. After Melrose garnered a second point, the Hornets went on a 6-1 run to lead 6-3, before a service error started a Melrose run. Amanda Commito was back in form serving, as Melrose went up 8-6. Again the Hornets struck back, taking a 12-10 lead before the Lady Raiders turned the match around. Sydney Doherty hammered home a winner, and Jen Cain and Sarah McGowan went on a killing spree, with three winners apiece, turning a 14-12 deficit into a 20-15 lead. More Cain, McGowan, and Doherty put the Hornets down.

Brooke Bell served masterfully and Cain had six first set kills, complemented by four for Sarah and a pair for Sydney. Nobody had to find the offensive Waldo.

North Reading didn't plan to go easily, taking a 3-1 lead in the second stanza. But a J-Mac (Jill MacInnes) service run got Melrose to 7-3. Both of the youthful defenders, Amanda Commito and J-Mac looked much more comfortable in their second playoff appearance. North Reading was able to fight back to within a point at 10-9 and 17-16, but more DiRaffaele service magic, undeterred by Hornet timeouts gave Melrose an 8-2 finishing flourish.

Unofficially, Sarah had four kills, Jen three, and Sydney added another.

Melrose couldn't stand prosperity in the third, trailing 5-2 and 6-3 before another service error hurt North Reading. The Lady Raiders went up 7-6 before the Hornets swarmed to a 10-7 lead. A Melrose timeout refocused the energy and Sydney came up with a pair of critical kills at points 9 and 10 as Melrose leveled the set at twelve. Melrose then sniffed the finish line, going on an 8-2 run led by three kills by Sarah and a pair of authoritative finishes for Jill Slabacheski got Melrose to 20-14. North Reading never got closer than five and Doherty finished a winner at 24-18, although the Hornets got called for a net violation.

No deer in the headlights here.

Game analysis. North Reading has shown a capacity to raise their game in the post-season and tonight was no exception. For Melrose, the coaching staff expects the "high profile" players, All-Staters Brooke and Sarah, and Middlesex League co-MVP Alyssa to shine. Yet the key to the victory was Jen Cain stepping up with double digit kills, and a very solid substitute role offensively and defensively in the middle by Sydney Doherty and steady play on the outside by Jill Slabacheski. Also, the back row was back in form as they became accustomed to the playoff intensity.

MGVCA Division 2 All-State players Sarah and Brooke.

Coach Scott Celli kept exhorting the team to apply pressure.

We look forward to going to the sectional finals in Lawrence's new facility that we've heard great reports about. If the Boston Globe scoreboard is correct, their opponent will be Bishop Fenwick.

MIAA Bracket update.

Burlington Recap via Melrose Free Press

2011-11-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

The Melrose Free Press has a summary of the opening round playoff game. The print edition has a couple of worthwhile photographs as well.

Semifinals Tonight

2011-11-09T03:43:00.000-08:00

The Melrose Middle School becomes the battleground again as Melrose volleyball renews its rivalry against North Reading. The Hornets stand in the way of the ninth consecutive trip to the Division 2 North championship Saturday at Lawrence. Game time is 7 PM.

North Reading has gone 12-5 since an 0-3 start. The teams have few common opponents. Melrose beat Lynnfield during the preseason, and Bishop Fenwick and Lexington (twice) during the regular campaign.

Melrose has exceptional depth this season, and may need to use that with Rachel Johnson (134 kills) on the mend from illness, although Melrose has four players with at least 100 kills this season, Sarah McGowan, Rachel, Jen Cain, and Jill Slabacheski. Add in All-State setter Brooke Bell and Middlesex League co-MVP Alyssa DiRaffaele and Melrose delivers a potent offense.
Watch more videos of Melrose volleyball
Melrose has enjoyed a lot of success in its terrific home venue...slaying a lot of dragons through the years.

For the postseason, Sophomore Annalisa DeBari moves up to the varsity.

Site Unseen?

2011-11-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

The update Division 2 North bracket, with the finals scheduled at Lawrence High School.

D2 North Semis Up Next

2011-11-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

The Division 2 North Semifinals have been very good to Melrose through the years, with the Lady Raiders riding an eight-year winning streak.

The North Reading Hornets come to the Middle School Gymnasium to take up the gauntlet against the highest remaining seed in D2 North.

Melrose defeated the Hornets in the D2 North finals in 2009 and in the semis last year as Kayla Wyland had a breakout performance.

Last year's semifinal box score.

North Reading always has athletic defenders and diversified offense.

North Reading's signature win this season came over Bishop Fenwick 3-2 and they've played better after losing their first three games of the season.

Preparing for Adversity

2011-11-08T03:42:00.000-08:00

Kevin Sivils has written a series of wonderful books on basketball, but he adds great value through his academic training in sports psychology.

Today, he reviews the importance of coping with adversity.

Here is an excerpt:

Developing a proactive and positive plan to deal with adversity must deal with creating an appropriate mental mindset for both the coach and the players. Embracing adversity in concept is not enough. There must be a plan in place to deal with adversity and the challenges it will bring. Eight concepts are suggested here to be included in any plan developed to teach players and teams to deal with adversity and include:

Control what you can control
Develop a strong TEAM concept
Develop the ability to respond appropriately
Demonstrated ability leads to confidence under stress
Strategic and tactical preparation
Appropriate response to mistakes
Teach problem solving
Develop depth in the roster as early in the season as possible

In 2005, Melrose played the eventual Division 1 finalist Andover on a Saturday afternoon in Andover. Setter Amanda Hallett broke a shoelace during a critical moment in the game, and reserve setter Taylor Pearson came in and the team won 6 of 7 points while she was in the game as the 'equipment malfunction' got repaired. Melrose won that set and the game.

As we teach our young players, "the star of the team is the team."

Meanwhile, the D2 North section has played out as I projected it would, with Stoneham and Bishop Fenwick on one side of the bracket and Melrose and North Reading on the other.

Quick Looks

2011-11-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

Don Norris sends an eyeful.

Advanced Placement, Melrose 3 Burlington 0

2011-11-07T18:26:00.001-08:00

Melrose, despite a wealth of experience, brought a young team to the playoff stage tonight, and shook off some early jitters to advance to the D2 North semifinals with a 25-23, 25-8, 25-18 win. The Class of 2012 becomes the first Melrose class to have four twenty win seasons as they move to 20-1.

Melrose advances to host North Reading Wednesday as the Lady Raiders try to advance to the D2 North finals for the ninth consecutive season. North Reading beat Greater Lawrence to advance.

Melrose again had to improvise on its lineup as junior middle Rachel Johnson sat out with illness.

The first set saw Melrose go out fast 3-0 and 8-2, only to allow Burlington to come back and lead with self-inflicted wounds, including five first set service errors. But from an 18-15 deficit, Melrose fought back to tie at 18 and lead at 21-18, only to see the Red Devils tie at 21 and keep it tight at 24-23. But a Kayla Wyland kill from the opposite found a hole and Melrose escaped.

All-state attacker Sarah McGowan had three kills, Jill Slabacheski added three, and another all-stater, setter Brooke Bell, tallied a deuce. But key kills from Sydney Doherty, Jen Cain, and Kayla put Melrose over the top.

Set two saw Melrose rule from box to wire. A 3-0 lead got as close as 5-4 before Melrose went on a 13-1 run behind McGowan and Bell serves to cool off the Devils. Melrose never allowed Burlington to gather any momentum while keeping the visitors in single digits.

Jen Cain carried the biggest stick of the frame with four kills, ably assisted by three apiece from Sarah and Sydney. Four more service errors marred the party.

While Melrose removed any doubts in the second set, the third set lacked drama after Melrose went out 6-0 and from 12-6, the Red Devils never got closer than five at 18-13. Melrose just had too many offensive answers, even without their second leading hitter (Rachel).

Unofficially, Sarah (S-Mac?) added another half dozen winners, while Jill Slabacheski and Jen each fired in a trey. Melrose celebrated prematurely at 24-17 as they were called in the net, but Burlington returned the favor at 25, and Melrose moves on.

Game Analysis: Melrose followed John Wooden's script of "don't whine, don't complain, and don't make excuses" as the reorganized lineup made offensive adjustments. The Lady Raiders got big games from their biggest guns, and enhanced production from Jen and Jill while the back row did its usual blue-collar job led by Middlesex League co-MVP Alyssa DiRaffaele, and the young backliners Jill MacInnes and Amanda Commito..

In other action, perennial state champion Medfield was eliminated 3-1 by Westborough, which will face Marlboro in the Central semis.

Advanced Placement, Melrose 3 Burlington 0

2011-11-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

Melrose, despite a wealth of experience, brought a young team to the playoff stage tonight, and shook off some early jitters to advance to the D2 North semifinals with a 25-23, 25-8, 25-18 win. The Class of 2012 become the first Melrose class to have four twenty win seasons as they move to 20-1.

"The Best Time of the Year"

2011-11-07T03:11:00.000-08:00

Daughter Paula called the postseason "the best time of the year", when the challenge meant playing the best teams before enthusiastic crowds.

The key is to identify where you need to be intensity-wise to optimize performance. The bright lights come on and it's opportunity, not nerves for a team that has played some of the top teams in Massachusetts this season.

Many successful athletes use breathing techniques, mental imaging, and create a personal highlight reel to reinforce neural pathways to maximize athletic performance.

As a program, you've been there before.

You want to be the school with the target on your back. You have to be fearless when attacking. You capitalize on experience. It's about stepping up in the big moments.

More Honors for Melrose Volleyballers

2011-11-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

The Massachusetts Girls Volleyball Coaches Association (MGVCA) has named Brooke Bell and Sarah McGowan to the Division 2 All-State team.

They become the sixth and seventh Lady Raiders to achieve this distinction. Congratulations and well-deserved recognition of achievement to both.

Melrose-Burlington Preview

2011-11-06T05:50:00.000-08:00

Melrose and Burlington have very different volleyball legacies. Melrose has appeared in the Division 2 North finals eight consecutive seasons, winning five, and Burlington is a newcomer to post-season play having their best season ever.

Photo by Don Norris.

In their first meeting this year, Melrose defeated Burlington 25-11, 25-16, and 25-23. In their second encounter, Burlington proved more resilient, Melrose winning 22-25, 25-15, 25-16, and 25-13.

Burlington earns a quarterfinal appearance with a 3-0 rout of Burke in the first round, and their best two wins of the season were a pair of 3-1 wins over Stoneham. Melrose has appeared in the Maxpreps.com top 20 in Massachusetts all season, and Burlington comes in ranked 95.

However, in the Burlington Union earlier this year, coach Carolyn Crowley was quoted, “I think that playing the tougher teams really brings out the best in the team.”

Melrose has won at least one playoff game every year since 2002, with the dramatic five set comeback win over Dracut literally launching the program to prominence. The Lady Raiders look to match the 2003-2005 edition of Melrose volleyball that won consecutive Division 2 North Championships and appeared in a state championship final.

Support your team and see hard-nosed, competitive volleyball at the Middle School Gym at 7 PM Monday.

Boston Globe Tournament Capsule

2011-11-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

Liz Torres has her Boston Globe volleyball tournament preview. Here are her comments regarding the North.

Andover and Central Catholic will be competing for the driver's seat in the Div. 1 North. Central Catholic served the Golden Warriors its only loss of the season. Reading will be in the backdrop with a solid chance to advance to the semifinals until they meet Central Catholic.

Although Div. 2 Boston English's Yabriela Perez has a killer hit, Melrose should fly by to the final while Lynnfield strides to the Div. 3 North final.

Respect your opponents, as playoff volleyball has a higher intensity level. The team that can bring sustained and consistent intensity has an enormous edge.

D2 North Bracket Update

2011-11-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

Melrose hosts Burlington Monday at 7:00 PM

Core Concepts

2011-11-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

Cross-post from MelroseGirlsBasketball.com.

What happens on the court evolves from strengthening self-imaging and constructing achievable goals and the process to reach them.

For example, one part of your performance statement might be, "focused and relaxed, I get to every ball and deliver the pass." As part of your identity statement, you might say, "I am the mentally toughest player on the floor. I do my job every time I step on the court."

Handicapping the Early Bracket

2011-11-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

UPDATED

Several games open up tonight in the D2 North brackets, and it's a lot like conference and BCS play in college football. Overall, the strength historically is in the Central bracket, and we can look at several of the early games.

Stoneham hosts Bedford on the "other" side of the bracket. Stoneham relies on three players above all, Sam Trant, Cristina Dakoyannis, and setter Krissa Leong. Leong is consistent and has good overall play, and Trant, considering her sophomore status is a talent. Stoneham has an excellent chance to go to Andover but will rely heavily on Trant playing at a high level in the post-season.

The best game of the night may be Bishop Fenwick hosting Winchester. Fenwick, last year's D2 North finalist, has excellent defense and Winchester has shown steady improvement during their time in the Middlesex League. Fenwick has a couple of local players, Anna Witkowski and Jen Crovo. Based on their defense, Fenwick deserves favorite status.

Finally, Burlington travels to Burke. The city teams have considerable handicaps against what I'll call the "mid-majors" to extend the football analogy, and Burlington is a prohibitive favorite to win and face Melrose on Monday.

But there's an old saying, "that's why they play the games." And apologies if I've got any of the spelling wrong!

Today's results. No prediction errors.

Honor Roll

2011-11-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

The regular season is over, so let's examine the accomplishments of the season so far.

Currently, Melrose is ranked in the top 20 among Maxpreps, although has defeated the number 7 and the number 12 teams.

Melrose won another Middlesex League championship, finishing at 13-0 in league play.

The league coaches have selected the all-star team, which included four Melrose players:

Brooke Bell
Jen Cain
Alyssa DiRaffaele (league co-MVP)
Sarah McGowan

Brooke Bell finished fourth in assists in Massachusetts (482) and went over 1000 for her career this year.

Sarah McGowan finished tenth in kills (233), and Melrose had a pair of additional players with over 100 kills, Rachel Johnson (134), and Jen Cain (115).

Melrose scrimmages at Andover tomorrow (3:30).

Bracketology

2011-11-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

MIAA Division 2 North bracket. Never underestimate your opponents. On the 'other' side of the bracket, I opine that Fenwick and Stoneham are the strongest teams.

Mate' Magic

2011-11-02T03:28:00.001-07:00

Jeff Mate' with a remarkable turnaround on yesterday's highlights.

Couldn't get to Lincoln-Sudbury yesterday? See the best shots in Jeff's highlights.

Photoessay: Melrose-Lincoln Log

2011-11-02T03:18:00.000-07:00

Don Norris captures the intensity of the moment.

To paraphrase the legendary "Ball Four" : "You spend a good piece of your life gripping a volleyball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time."
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Signature Win, Roaring into the Playoffs, Melrose Blasts L-S 3-0

2011-11-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

Melrose traveled to Lincoln-Sudbury to face the 6th ranked Warriors, and left with the spoils of a 25-18, 25-22, 25-15 sweep in the regular season finale.

Lincoln-Sudbury has a terrific facility, with outstanding lighting and sight lines, and Melrose enjoyed playing in a great venue.

The foreshadowing of the day came on the opening point, an Alyssa DiRaffaele ace, and the senior tri-captain never let up on the day, delivering great serves and putting in the best defensive performance of her career. L-S responded to go up 3-1, and the teams traded points throughout the first set, with ties at 4, 6, 9 and 12 before Melrose went up for good at 15-12. The hosts never got closer than one at 15-14, and the Lady Raiders closed out the set with a 13-6 run from twelve. It was an inauspicious start for Senior Night.

Melrose had four aces and twelve kills including five for Sarah McGowan, three for Jen Cain, and a pair apiece for Jill Slabacheski.

The second set began better for L-S with a 7-1 lead, triggering a Scott Celli timeout. Melrose chipped away to 8-6 and 11-10, before finally getting the equalizer at 14, with ties at 15, 17, and 18. An L-S service error gave Melrose the lead at 19-18, and Melrose got key attacks from Jill and Jen to go up 22-19, only to see L-S get even at 22. A Warrior error gave Melrose the lead 23-22, and in the key juncture of the match, Alyssa delivered consecutive aces to win 25-22.

Melrose had another four kills from Sarah, three from Jen, and a pair for Jill, and had no service errors for the set.

In the third set, Melrose played Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. They raced out to a 3-0 lead, held the edge at 3-2, and then went on 10-5 and 17-8 runs to double up L-S at 20-10. Rachel Johnson did the lion's share of the damage, opening up a 21-13 lead from 13-8 with four kills. Melrose coasted in from there as the Warriors seemed overwhelmed.

Rachel had her four kills, Sarah three, Jen and Jill a pair apiece, and setter Brooke Bell, with yet another masterful performance delivered a deceptive dink in the midst of a five point run.

Game Analysis: Melrose volleyball version 2011 earned another 'signature win' over a high quality Division I opponent. After last week's loss to Westborough, Coach Celli amped up the service intensity seeking a higher risk-reward equation, and intensified the team's running to prepare for potentially longer postseason matches.

What noticeably improved and outstanding, however, was on-court communication and the play of the back row, led by Alyssa, by abetted by heavy doses of Jill MacInnes, Amanda Commito, Brooke, and Jen. The back row made so many outstanding digs as to recall the great play of Kerry Dillon in the past. I look forward to watching the MMTV broadcast in the near future.

More Senior Night Snaps

2011-10-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

Senior Night gives the volleyball community a chance to celebrate the careers of players who have given four years to the program. Don Norris preserves the moment. I just put up a representative sample from his collective genius.

Does anyone have any questions? Raise your hand...
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Why do the "SENIORS RULE" logos remind me of bar codes?
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Volleyball Update

2011-10-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

Rankings:

Maxpreps: 19

Boston Globe: No new rankings up.

On Maxpreps.com, Melrose's opponent tomorrow (away), Lincoln-Sudbury is at 6. A good opportunity for Melrose to have excellent competition and hopefully make a statement.

Senior Night Teaser

2011-10-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

Don Norris sent over some shots from Senior Night. This is a starter set.

"Why can't I be a senior, too?"

Essence

2011-10-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

Don Norris shows us the essence of Melrose volleyball with a shot of Maeve Moriarty and Amanda Commito, presumably with Maeve's sister Maggie on Senior Night.

Home Stretch: A Season in Pictures*

2011-10-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

Volleyball season flies by every year. Growing up, most players can only dream of undefeated seasons and playing for a championship. Heck, if I cried ever game I lost as a kid, I'd have died of dehydration. Celebrate not only the destination but the journey - the effort, attitude, dedication, persistence, sacrifice, and sharing.

As always, sometimes you need to click the photographs to see the entire frame (working on that). I am trying to limit the captions, but sometimes I can't help myself.

Enjoy the stretch run, the bus rides and team meetings, pasta parties and floor burns. Be assured that your families, your friends, and the community supports you all the way...and know that tears wash away the sorrow so that you can see the joy ahead.

Teacher's pet...

*Photographs by Don Norris

Seniors Honored, Melrose 3 Watertown 0

2011-10-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

Melrose held its traditional Senior Night, honoring seniors on their final regular season home game with a 3-0 win over Watertown 25-11, 25-4, and 25-7.

In a well-decorated Middle School Gymnasium, Melrose presented the visiting seniors with a flower, and then each Melrose senior was presented with their parents, and an underclassman discussed what that senior meant to them. Particularly touching was sophomore Maave Moriarty's comment about her sister, being not only her teammate, but her best friend.

The seniors honored included Jill Slabacheski, Alyssa DiRaffaele, Brittany Adelman, Rachel Wolley, and Maggie Moriarty.

Most of the presenters shed a few tears during their readings. How many? I'm still shocked that the custodial staff didn't have to mop the floor.

The match itself was largely an afterthought, as two teams going in opposite directions faced off, Melrose with one defeat and the visitors with a lone win. Coach Celli started all of the seniors, most of whom played the lion's share of the game. Also, he substituted each out during the late stages of the third game, so each got a departing ovation.

Photojournalist extraordinaire sent over some shots today, and they are presented without captions. Occasionally viewers must click the picture to see the entire frame.

The victory puts Melrose (18-1) within two wins of another twenty win season and the team travels to Lincoln-Sudbury Tuesday for a key matchup with a Division I volleyball power and a great tuneup for the post-season.

Rankings Update

2011-10-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

Melrose dropped seven spots in the latest maxpreps.com rankings. The Lady Raiders sole loss and overall low strength of schedule probably accounted for this.

Nonetheless, the team has a great opportunity to go deep into the postseason this year.

Within Division 2 North, the playoff picture is a lot more complicated. Bishop Fenwick is the highest ranked team (21 within the Division), but Greater Lawrence is undefeated and will get a top seed. Winchester, Burlington, North Reading, and Stoneham are the highest ranked other north teams within the top 50. Boston English is also undefeated, and their low strength of schedule won't impact their playoff seeding within the MIAA tournament.

Melrose is likely to face (statistically) either North Reading, Fenwick, or one of their Middlesex League rivals in a quarterfinal matchup.

Just a reminder, that it's Senior Night this evening, the final regular season appearance at home for the five graduating Lady Raiders.

Reaching for Heaven

2011-10-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

It has been said that hitting a round ball with a round bat is the hardest task in sports. That's not even in the ballpark.

Who has the hardest task in sports? Players who sacrifice every day, coming to practice, working hard, maintaining a positive attitude, encouraging their teammates...unselfish, anonymous, uncelebrated...a player might outwork and out-hustle another, but not achieve the same level of success because of the vicissitudes of sport.

The differences among players- size, strength, quickness, athleticism, skill, and decision-making - can be either subtle or transitory. Regardless, the unheralded teammate, especially on talented teams deserves special mention.

The 2011 edition of Melrose volleyball has fifteen players, all of whom would start on many of the teams in the Middlesex League. The junior varsity has players who could start on some ML varsity teams now. But no matter what the talent level the coaches can only put six players on the court at a time.

The current team has three or four players who (at the end of their high school careers) will ultimately be recognized as among the top dozen players Melrose has had during the past decade. For that reason, finding a way to get on the court becomes all that more difficult.

So as Senior Night approaches, celebrate all the players, but especially the seniors who have given so much to the program.

Senior Night Up Next

2011-10-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

Melrose (17-1) hosts Watertown tomorrow night at the Middle School Gymnasium. Before the game, the coaching staff and fans recognize the contributions of the Class of 2012 to Melrose volleyball.

The Class of 2012 has a shot at being the second to have a 'three-peat' of Division 2 North championships and the first to have four consecutive twenty win seasons. Seniors to be recognized tomorrow include:

Alyssa DiRaffaele (tri-captain)
Jill Slabacheski (tri-captain)
Brittany Adelman
Maggie Moriarty
Rachael Wolley

The JV Game starts at 5 PM with the Varsity game to follow.

You Have the Power

2011-10-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Cross post from Melrosegirlsbasketball.com. You determine your destiny, with the incorporation of positive thoughts and beliefs into your self-image.