Stats Are In - Melrose vs Wilmington

 Today's stats: 

Attacks: In limited action, Sabine Wenzel had eight kills in two sets. 

Ten players had kills. Freshmen Ella Friedlaender (3) and Elise Marchais (2) both add multiple kills. 

Serving: Gg Albuja and Maggie Turner both had ten service points. Although Melrose's serve percent was down, the intent and service pressure on opponents was higher. That was encouraging. 

Assists: Leah Fowke added another 18 to her career totals. 

Digs/Receptions: Gg Albuja led in digs and Maggie Turner in receives. 

Banner 18

No, it's not the Celtics. MVB clinched the Freedom Division crown tonight, a title for the eighteenth consecutive season. 

Young players need to earn trust - trust in themselves, trust of teammates, trust of coaches. 

Proven success earns trust...one play at a time. Nobody is going to be perfect. Making plays, resilience after misplays, the will to prepare...all earn trust. 

That's the history of MVB, earning trust. 

New Senior Photo Swag for MVB

 

Game 16: Melrose 3 Wilmington 0

Melrose tuned up for Saturday's big match with Duxbury with a 25-11, 25-9, 25-10 over Wilmington. Melrose raised its record to 14-2.

On Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Night, Melrose got everyone a good run and most players got in the scoring column.

This lends an opportunity to give a shoutout to the JV/A team which launched two players onto the varsity this season with more to follow next season after the tutelage of numerous promising players by Coach Ryan Schmitt.

Here's the roster:

• #26 Leila Contin 
• #17 Ashlynne Marcotti
• #9 Kayla Ton
• #22Anya Kropewnicki
• #29 Stella Yung
• #20 Karen Deng
• #24 Grace Daniels
• #77 Gen Overlan
• #12 Mia Sasso
• #23 Kaylee Sedens
• #1 Sadie Smith
• #16 Sabrina McArt 

Swagger

Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. In principle, that sounds good. The meek may inherit the earth, but they do not own the court.

ChatGPT comments on the role of "swagger" in sports: 

Swagger in sports often represents a combination of confidence, style, and boldness—an attitude that can positively impact performance when channeled properly. It’s a visible expression of an athlete’s self-belief, which stems from past successes, preparation, and trust in their abilities. Swagger can be a psychological edge, especially in competitive environments where projecting strength can shake an opponent’s confidence.

At its best, swagger pushes athletes to excel by fueling their belief in themselves, even under pressure. It signals readiness and a refusal to back down, which can inspire teammates and intimidate competitors. Athletes with swagger walk a fine line between arrogance and self-assurance. When balanced, it promotes resilience, helping players recover from mistakes without losing their composure.

However, unchecked swagger can lead to overconfidence, where an athlete underestimates opponents or neglects preparation. It’s crucial that swagger be grounded in effort, experience, and focus, ensuring it enhances rather than detracts from performance. In team sports, swagger can set the tone for collective confidence, but it must respect teamwork and humility to avoid alienating others.

As a player or a team, when you have done the work and "the hay is in the barn," you earned self-belief and confidence. Confidence balances arrogance and doubt. Swagger means "knowing you're good" and "showing out" whether playing the best teams or those struggling.

Swagger 'shows up' with confidence, optimism, tenacity, and enthusiasm, the "COTE of arms" in Performing Under Pressure. Swagger helps teams earn signature wins - wins against 'the best teams', on the road, away from the comfort of home fans, and in the postseason.  

The Miracle Mets of 1969, led by exceptional pitchers Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, won an unexpected World Series against the 'superior' Baltimore Orioles. Their slogan was "Ya Gotta Believe." 

MVB...you be you...and believe. 

 

TIME CHANGE DUXBURY to 1:00 PM for Varsity

Time change via Coach Scott Celli:

Duxbury Saturday

Varsity 1:00

JVa/JVb 3:30

Wilmington Thursday

Melrose hosts Wilmington Thursday to open the final quarter of the regular season. 

 

Lessons from Over Twenty Years of MVB

Four questions from Michael Useem shade our thinking:

• What went well? 
• What went poorly?
• What could we do differently next time? 
• What are the enduring lessons (from an 'evolution')? 

Focus on the fourth.

1. MVB always differed from Melrose basketball, even when basketball won big. MVB revolved around team and MBB tended to revolve around hierarchy. Don't ask why. I don't know. Both worked at the time.

2. Most players liked volleyball better. Maybe it's culture, maybe it's contact, maybe it's coaching. Maybe it's a combination. 

3. MVB has a welcoming and inclusive culture. Hall of Famer Sarah McGowan referred to that in her induction speech. "The varsity players were not only dedicated to teaching volleyball, but also embodied the MVB culture, creating a warm and inclusive environment. They were there not out of obligation, but out of genuine passion."

4. There's a better way to do things. For example, the 'group book reading' shared broad life lessons, such as from Jay Bilas's book Toughness or Coach Krzyzewski's Beyond Basketball. 

5. Be coachable. Know what the coaches want. Want to learn. Want to improve. Leverage learning and improvement into role. 

6a. Work to understand what is random and what is not. Nassim Taleb wrote Fooled by Randomness years ago. Taleb is arrogantly brilliant and brilliantly arrogant. The smartest people often are. Playing time and roles are not random. In extremely refined systems like aircraft engine turbines, the difference between one turbine and another is tiny. In most volleyball teams the difference between the top and 'stay ready' players is larger. That accounts for differing results.

6b. The biggest problems arise when the smallest differences exist between starting and reserve players. Those playing less rightfully think, "I'm not so different than she is." 

7. Trust the process. Sample size is not an issue with over twenty years of track record. An athletic director elsewhere said that a parent complained that the coach knew nothing about a sport (not volleyball). The AD explained that the team was 19-1, suggesting maybe the coach knew more than the parent thought. 

8. "Fight for your culture everyday." Find a mentor. Be a mentor. Encourage teammates. Never "bigfoot" an underclassman. 

9. Do. Not. Quit. Being an underdog or trailing doesn't prevent success and comebacks. The biggest comebacks create the biggest memories. 

Out of system and back row attack lead to another attack with pass, set, hit, and win. 

10. The success equation applies, ACHIEVEMENT=PERFORMANCE x TIME

It might not be "10,000 Hours" but do the work over time, focus and listen, and it yields the best window for success. 

Lagniappe. Leaders have well-defined intent and clear messaging. 

I coach to win, but more importantly I coach to help my players reach their full potential in life. 💙pic.twitter.com/LzVGiKofsQ

— Kara Lawson (@karalawson20) October 11, 2022

Lagniappe 2. Make the work consistent. That's what greatness does. 

Kara Lawson was an assistant coach in Boston for one year with Jayson Tatum and brought him in to speak to her players on @DukeWBB. Worth the listen.pic.twitter.com/8rw3oCds0V

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) September 27, 2023

Leaderboard

Raw numbers may or may not tell the story because they depend on opponents, sets played, and effectiveness. 

Leah Fowke is third in D2 in assists. 

Sabine Wenzel is sixth in D2 in kills. Carol Higonenq is 21st. 

Maggie Turner is 19th in digs. 

Big Week Continues

After dispatching Burlington tonight, Melrose hosts Wilmington Thursday and travels to play MIAA D2 #7 Duxbury on Saturday.

The Wildcats and Dragons represent opposite ends of the volleyball spectrum. Wilmington (1-14) has struggled and Duxbury (14-0) is undefeated. 

Thursday's JV match should start around 4 PM and Saturday's JV tilt should tip off at 1 PM. 

The Idea Incubator - Conflict, Comfort, Coaching

Develop 'belief systems' and road test them. Challenge our assumptions. Penn Professor Adam Grant does that in Think Again. Here are excerpts from a review of the fourth chapter. 

• Constructive conflict: Grant argues that conflict, when approached in a respectful and constructive manner, can lead to better decision-making and problem-solving outcomes. By engaging in healthy debates and discussions, individuals can expose blind spots, uncover new perspectives, and refine their ideas through critical feedback;
• Task conflict vs. relationship conflict: Grant distinguishes between task conflict, which involves disagreements over specific ideas or opinions, and relationship conflict, which involves personal feuds or animosity between individuals. While task conflict can be beneficial and lead to improved outcomes, relationship conflict can be detrimental and hinder collaboration and cooperation;
• Challenge network: Grant introduces the concept of the challenge network, which consists of trusted peers or colleagues who are willing to challenge our thinking and provide honest feedback. By surrounding ourselves with individuals who are not afraid to question our assumptions or point out flaws in our reasoning, we can avoid groupthink and confirmation bias and make more informed decisions.

Rework our assumptions. Imagine a pro baseball pitcher considered 'mediocre' because he had only one 'plus pitch' (his curveball). The Astros turned him into a superior pitcher by changing his pitch mix. They asked him to throw the curveball more. 

Throw your plus pitch more. Critical feedback creates sustainable competitive advantage.

Don't fear constructive change. 'On task' means more focus on team and less on individuals. The "game cam" shows both the action on the court and the engagement of "stay ready" players. It captures the excitement of the team for great plays. 

Improvement demands leaving our comfort zone.

No toadies. Don't choose friends solely by their unsolicited praise or relentless ego massaging. Would you want a coach who only praised you and neglected to 'coach up' your 'needs' or limitations? Blaise Pascal wrote a letter once with an apology for its length. "I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter." Our best work takes time. 

Sonny Lane used to say, "If I stop yelling at you, I've stopped believing in you." Great coaches don't give up on players and teams. 

Great players thirst for coaching. Coaching is not criticism. 

Stats Are In - Melrose at Burlington

Melrose topped Burlington to complete the season sweep.

Attacking: Sabine Wenzel had 13 kills, with nine for Sofia Papatsoris, and seven apiece for Carol Higonenq and Emme Boyer. 

Serving: Melrose had a serving percentage over 92% and Maggie Turner and Gg Albuja both had double digit service points. 

Digs: Maggie Turner doubled up with ten. 

Assists: Redoubtable Leah Fowke put up 31 assists. 

  

Game 15: Melrose 3 Burlington 0

Preliminary...

Melrose traveled to Burlington who returned last year's Co-MVP Grace Seaman, handing the Red Devils a straight set defeat. I have only fragmentary information about the match at this point.

Melrose came up with a big blocking night led by Sabine Wenzel and had the usual exceptional performance by setter Leah Fowke, coming off eclipsing the 1,000 set milestone.

Melrose limited the Burlington attack and won the critical serve and serve-receive battles vital to victory.

The win brings Melrose to 13-2 and virtually assures Melrose of an eighteenth consecutive title as the Freedom Division champion, having beaten Burlington and Wakefield twice. 

MIAA Power Rankings Updated

Melrose marching in place with no games since prior rankings. Canton had a couple of losses and has recently drifted down.

It's still early to be too invested in Bracketology. 

 

It's Not About Awards - At Burlington Tuesday

"When he won coach of the month, and I was like, 'hey, congratulations.' And he just looked at me and said 'nobody cares.'"

Celtics guard Derrick White on his favorite Joe Mazzulla quote 😂

(via @NoaDalzellNBA)pic.twitter.com/eqKCD5bgez

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 14, 2024

Melrose travels to Burlington Tuesday in a clash of the top two teams in the Middlesex Freedom Division.

How do you play your best? Make it about the moment, like Joe Mazzulla. 

That reminds me of a psychological test where they ask you to name as many animals as possible in a minute. If you start with 'chinchilla' then I'm thinking you know the questions. And in volleyball it's good to know the questions. 

Lagniappe. 

Michael Jordan said, "You have to be uncompromised in your level of commitment to whatever you are doing, or it can disappear as fast as it appeared."

"Excellence isn't a one-week or one-year ideal. It's a constant."

Excerpt from his book Driven From Within. pic.twitter.com/q5sl2xDjp5

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) October 14, 2024

Respect

Respect is always a big topic in sports. Barnstable has been THE top volleyball program in Massachusetts for decades. When Melrose visited them, MVB was greeted by the strains of Mickey Mouse. Where's the respect there?

Respect matters internally and externally. 

• Respect your coaches and teammates. 
• Respect your opponents. 
• Respect the officials. 
• Respect the game. Deliver effort and sportsmanship. 
• "The best way to get respect is to show respect." 

Some teams aim to use distraction to get opponents unfocused. One team Melrose defeated in the sectionals almost two decades ago danced around after every point. Superiority silenced the dancing. 

There's precedent in the 1996 Olympics where the Cuban team earned a comeback victory over Brazil with taunting and other antics that nearly triggered a riot afterward. 

Lagniappe. Covering the block is critical.

 

 

Banner Values

Benefit from the experience and cultures of other exemplary teams. Here's the latest on a culture update from the Boston Celtics.  

There is a new Banner (not Banner 18) in the middle of all the championship banners. It reads:

Humility
Mindset
Togetherness
Toughness
Passion
Compete

Those are the principles Joe Mazzulla said he wants the #Celtics identity to be built on. pic.twitter.com/BZXmMuu1ve

— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) October 11, 2024

Programs run with their beliefs, attitudes, and values. 

• You can only be as good as your self-belief. 
• Attitude might include mastery, positivity, and purpose. 
• The Celtics share their values on a new banner. 

Cultural values can be private or public. 

AI says: 

The Boston Celtics are clearly emphasizing a set of core values that go beyond just basketball skills. Each of these values—Humility, Mindset, Togetherness, Toughness, Passion, and Compete—reflects a cultural framework that promotes growth, accountability, and team-first thinking.

• Humility likely encourages players to stay grounded, no matter their level of success, and focus on continuous improvement.
• Mindset emphasizes a mental approach to the game, suggesting that the right attitude and preparation are essential to success.
• Togetherness promotes unity and the strength that comes from collaboration, which can elevate the team.
• Toughness refers not just to physical resilience, but mental fortitude, showing the importance of overcoming challenges.
• Passion speaks to the love for the game and the energy that drives sustained effort.
• Compete reminds players that every moment on the court is an opportunity to give their all and strive for excellence.

When the Chips Are Down, Where Are You?

Gold from Saban. Leadership 101.

Transformational > Transactional.

In my opinion, in this NIL era, it matters more than ever.pic.twitter.com/GzSqmNreqZ

— Kevin DeShazo (@KevinDeShazo) October 5, 2024

"Negative experiences without teaching kills morale." - Saban

The longer your involvement in sports, the larger the number of highest high and lowest low outcomes. Unavoidable. 

The majority of the time, the worst experiences didn't occur because of effort and execution. Most often they came about from lack of focus and lack of resilience. 

Coaches expend vast amounts of time teaching technique, tactics, and physicality, when the pitfalls often relate to mental toughness. Pro and Olympic athletes universally have sport psychology and mindfulness training which increase focus. Exceptional players have exceptional mental approaches. 

Lagniappe. Search Inside Yourself... mindfulness is easy and the results are real. I read the book three times. 

Lagniappe 2. How do we transform goals into outcomes? It requires self-regulation, discipline, and decisions. Read more about the process here to build a stronger you. 

Happily Never After

"God doesn't limp." - Gregory House in House*

Here's how the ML12 teams stand as of 10/13, by MIAA power rankings, playoff eligible in bold. 

Division 1

• #15 Winchester 3.53
• #19 Lexington 3.15
• #23 Belmont 2.28
• #42 Arlington -0.24

Division 2

• #10 Melrose 3.44
• #18 Burlington 2.01
• #25 Woburn 1.42
• #32 Reading 1.09

Division 3

• #15 Wakefield 1.93
• #53 Wilmington -.90
• #58 Watertown -1.63

Division 4

• #27 Stoneham -0.80

A large part of the problem is the ML12's 14-23 record against non-league competition, including an 0-15 record among the bottom four teams in the standings. 

What's the solution? MVB doesn't have ownership of the rest of the ML12. Here's a prompt and a ChatGPT 'hallucination'. 

Artificial intelligence works to make us happy, to be accurate, and to avoid mistakes. 

Prompt: Philosophy is the "love of wisdom." Stoicism has developed a following among professional sports. Discuss "control what you can control" in the context of sports philosophy.

ChatGPT said:

The Stoic principle "control what you can control" resonates deeply within sports philosophy because it encourages athletes to focus on factors within their power, fostering resilience and mental clarity in competition. The Stoic mindset is about differentiating between what is within your control—your effort, mindset, preparation—and what is not, like the opponent’s performance, weather conditions, or referees' decisions.

In sports, adopting this philosophy helps athletes manage stress and anxiety, avoiding wasted energy on external distractions. It’s about accepting uncertainty while committing fully to your own performance. For example, a volleyball player can’t control whether the ball hits the net on a serve, but they can control their reaction—reset, refocus, and prepare for the next point. This builds mental toughness and allows athletes to stay composed under pressure.

By focusing only on what they can control, athletes enhance their focus and performance. They learn to embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth, rather than feeling defeated by things beyond their influence. This mental shift not only improves outcomes but also leads to a greater sense of fulfillment in sports and beyond. It aligns well with Stoic wisdom, promoting discipline, perseverance, and emotional balance in the face of challenges.

The polls, power rankings, and pundits don't define what happens during the remainder of the regular season. Your preparation, competitive character, and performance do. Your coachability, effort, and focus matter most. "Be here now." 

Lagniappe. "The refrain, "Let it be," encourages calm acceptance in the face of adversity, not unlike how Stoicism emphasizes focusing on internal responses rather than external events. While the song doesn't explicitly call for action, it represents the idea of maintaining peace and perspective, even when situations are beyond your influence. It’s about trusting that things will work out, while controlling your inner calm and response."

Author's note: the series "House" has the ultimate rule-breaker as its protagonist. A famous fictional medical novel, "The House of God" discusses the 'system' of medical training. Greg House, diagnostician extraordinaire, is figuratively 'the god of House'. 

 

Practice As Though Your Legacy Depends on It

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own.  

“Most of our athletes today don’t practice to be great and don’t practice to be dominant; they practice to practice.

They practice just to get through practice.

I practiced to be the best ever.”

- @DeionSanders

DISCUSSION QUESTION

👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/EopuFXeu0S

— Coach's Diary (@ACoachsDiary) December 23, 2022

Don't practice because there's practice. Huh? 

You want the designated server spot or the opposite spot? Practice to win that spot, to block better and get backset attack winners. Underclassman? Fight to win more than a roster spot, but a position. 

You want to beat Burlington, Billerica, Canton, Duxbury, Westborough. What's your plan? Practice the individual and team skills necessary to defend the best outside hitters, pipe attacks, hard serves. 

In 1970, USC and Alabama agreed to a home and home series in football. USC, with an integrated team, went to Alabama and savaged the Crimson Tide. Alabama fans, the state of Alabama demanded integration, not because they believed it was right, because they wanted to win football games. Alabama integrated the team, closed practice to everyone outside the team, implemented the 'wishbone offense' and won the return contest in LA. They practiced, not to practice, but to be great. 

Sport transforms society. 

Post 4100 : Mature Simplicity, Recipe for Success

Distill the game to its essence. 

Master the core concepts of volleyball.

1) Put the ball down on offense. 

2) Keep the ball up on defense. 

On offense

Bobby Hurley on shot selection 🗣 🗣

“This is basketball, not figure skating. You don’t get extra points for the degree of difficulty” pic.twitter.com/0mMH3laGrr

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 7, 2024

"Putting the ball down" comes in three flavors:

1) Attacks

2) Blocks

3) Service

Some players have the power or size to hit through or over double and triple blocks. Others (like Sarah McGowan) had both power and finesse to have a portfolio of shots - e.g. tips and cut shots to hit around blocks.

If you're a reserve or JV player with a dream, figure out how to put the ball down or keep the ball up.  

Be effective and efficient. 

“Basketball is a simple game…The best coaches are the simple coaches! The guys who screw it up the most are the ones trying to be the smartest guy in the room. Don’t try to be the smartest guy in the room, be the toughest guy in the room, the hardest working.”
~ Kelvin Sampson pic.twitter.com/T7mCWwgCVo

— JIM BOONE 🏀 (@CoachJimBoone) October 9, 2024

Simplicity means to be "good at what you do a lot." It also means to "do more of what's working and less of what's not." The game tells you what's working and you have to listen to it. 

Listen to your coaches and "Beginner's Mind." 

To quote zen master Shunryo Suzuki, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”

What does that mean? To compete against the top teams with high scoring attackers (generally outside hitters), you need to be on top of your blocking game. Not just offense propelled State Finalists to their destiny. 2012 had Rachel Johnson and Kayla Wyland. 2005 had Paula Sen and Jen Cohane. The top blocking pair for 2024 (in my opinion) is Sabine Wenzel and Leah Fowke. Each blocking pair (strong and opposite side) has to challenge itself to excel. If your blocks are getting tooled, why? Are you reading the play and getting there or are you 'ball watching'? Is your outside hand at the pins angled in to direct the ball back into the court? 

Challenge yourself to be great. Don't obsess about slaying the White Whale; become the White Whale. 

Summary: 

• Master Core Concepts
• Be Effective and Efficient 
• Learn "Beginner's Mind"

Lagniappe. Version 3, best imitation Jiffy cornbread recipe (best to date)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Dry ingredients: combine

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 3/4 cups yellow corn meal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teasp salt
• 2 tablesp baking powder 

Wet ingredients:

• 1 egg beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup oil 

Add wet ingredient to dry and mix to combine but not overbeaten

Bake 20-25 minutes (I usually use the lower end times, but family may feel underdone if under 22 minutes). Cook in a greased 8" x 8" pan. 

"Get To"

Joe Mazzulla is such a legend.

Jayson Tatum has the privilege of dealing with unfair criticism.

Love the message. pic.twitter.com/IpaxZUPZCI

— Savage (@SavageSports_) October 10, 2024

Understand the privilege of playing on a good team with high ambitions. You can play on many teams without having those opportunities.

"Pressure is a privilege." 

There's an analogous maxim, "nobody backs up over a skunk."  

Lagniappe. What leadership skills do you need to work on? 

John Maxwell said, "Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others."

Leadership means doing more.

It means leading from where the other person is, not from where you are.

5 Characteristics of Great Leaders: pic.twitter.com/hpMjdDln7a

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) October 8, 2024

It's easy to think, "I don't have to lead now. I'm an underclassman." Almost every freshman who ever played with MVB became an eventual leader, not only on MVB. Develop your leadership skills from the beginning. Find ways to impact winning. You are not along for the ride. 

 

Lessons from Jack Clark

Many of the same qualities of great coaches belong to great players. Learn from them.

We don't have to know a person for them to be a mentor. Jack Clark, Cal Rugby coach, is a mentor. How? Clark shares extraordinary understanding of sport and coaching. 

Here are notes from the first half of a podcast (the meat starts at about five minutes):

Clark began rugby coaching in 1982. "I felt like an apprentice."  

He brought in more experienced coaches, "you don't know what you don't know." Many coaches are not ready. Playing is not the same as coaching. 

As a young boy, he wanted to learn more about players and coaches. George Plympton was a model, "a look behind the curtain." 

Mike White was his football coach at Cal. Clark felt that rugby blended football and basketball. "Rugby was a more free-flowing sport" 

"You've got to be able to make decisions with the ball in your hands." Everyone has the ball sometime. 

"Make informed decisions." 

"Everyone has to do their share of the dirty work." 

"All skills, all players..." a correlation to life.

Sport is not family, which is supposed to be unconditional love. You should care about one another, empathy and kindness...high performance teams are highly conditional. "Those conditions help this organization operate and succeed."

"Everyone is putting everything they have into it."

"I've had the most wonderful coaches...qualities worth emulating"

Coaching priorities, "willingness to tell you when your best could be better." Ask yourself, "am I at my peak performance?" 

"Happy to be coached..."

"They understood my strengths."

"Learn...the mentality of an individual...build playing the game based on their strengths...building a blueprint...based on what they do well." Make lists of what the player does well. 

"70-30 percent" maintaining strengths, working on weaknesses

"I shouldn't draw a paycheck unless I can develop players..."

Too much emphasis on weaknesses results in less confident players...

"Program and train optimism." (the host, Dr. Michael Gervais)

Identity - "I don't want to put people in boxes...influence people to be their best self...help people get from where they are to where they want to be..."

"We're always chasing...a level of play...that's going to be difficult." 

"What did we do well? I want that collaborative discussion...what do we have to work on?" 

"Identify what we can do well..." team buys into that deeply. The team understands performance...

(Gervais questionaire): 1) What went well? 2) What do we have to work on?"

Lagniappe. Control. 

A Champions mindset! pic.twitter.com/lXj3mdv3Nw

— Jim Shapiro (@jimshapiro) October 6, 2024

Lagniappe 2. Great teammates. 

The most important contribution a player can make in their career is being a great teammate. Through the good, the bad, and the ugly…. The wins and the losses. The ultimate respect is earned by those who continually put what’s best for team first. Look at championship winning… pic.twitter.com/OgxF8JeLfN

— Trent Mongero (@CoachMongero) October 6, 2024

 

MIAA Power Rankings Upate

 More of the same...still at ten although within whispers of nine. 

Experimental Writing: Moments and Memories

Children filled the stands, overseeing the sea of red and white. Melrose prepared to battle its neighbor Wakefield in volleyball combat. The wind whips at the top of the mountain.

Banners decorate the wall with Melrose displaying 22 league titles, 10 sectional titles and one state championship in the past 24 seasons.

Wakefield fans filled their section with dreams of banners in the future. The Wakefield players didn’t disappoint, showing athleticism, enthusiasm, and toughness.

The event showed the continuum of MVB - state champions from 2012 (Rachel Johnson, Wakefield coach Kayla Wyland, Sydney Doherty), MVB 24’ and youngsters whose future is the future of Melrose volleyball. 

Before the game, players celebrate tradition as they emerge through a tunnel of humanity to warm up. Wakefield warmups resemble those of Melrose as Coach Wyland is the fruit of the Coach Scott Celli coaching tree. 

I dismiss warmups because hitting against air differs from hitting live against the trees in the forest. That reminds me about ‘dueling’. “How do you shoot with a pistol aimed at your heart?” 

Some call Melrose, “vanilla.” MVB rarely uses ‘pipe attacks’, shoots, and backsets to opposites. Not a problem. “Do well what you do a lot” and “do more of what you do well and less of what you do not.”  

*This piece was experimental, in response to a MasterClass challenge from author Salman Rushdie to write a piece of 200-300 words, painting a picture without adjectives. Stress active verbs and nouns. Not saying it is a success. It's tough.