Two Days

 

Two days until tryouts kick off. 

Relationships

You will forget tryouts, practices, and a lot of games. What "sticks" in life are peak experiences, end experiences, and emotional ones.

You will remember your teammates, coaches, and the memories that you craft together...even more than half a century later. 

Gregg Popovich has always been about more than basketball.

TEAM.
Trust.
Adversity.
Roles.
Unselfishness.
Doing the right thing.

10 lessons from one of the greatest coaches of all time.

A lot of GOLD in this graphic. https://t.co/N1yNCM2bBY pic.twitter.com/l1EgtTWSpi

— Greg Berge (@GregBerge) August 16, 2026

Of course, your memories will always be in color! 

 

Situational Practice

Starting fast makes your life easier. Plus there are “gotta have it” situations. Let’s imagine areas that could merit “special situations” practice. Melrose has always practiced special situations. 

Final set (Tiebreaker)

• Leading 14-13, serving
• Trailing 13-10, receiving
• Trailing 14-13, receiving

One set each

• Tied at 24, receiving
• Trailing 24-22, serving
• Leading 24-23, serving

Closing out up 2-1

• Leading 23-20, receiving
• Leading 23-22, receiving

Back to the wall, down 2-1

• Trailing 23-20, serving
• Trailing 23-22, receiving
• Tied at 23, receiving

Pressure degrades performance. The best teams and the best players have less drop off than lesser teams. What's your strategy?

Practice special situations 

Total focus including communication 

Positive body language

Dot b. (Stop and take a breath) 

Lagniappe. "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." Note how Elena Soukos encourages Autumn Whelan...then Elena's attack gets Billerica "out of system" and Gia Vlajkovic sets for the win. 

Melrose traveled to unbeaten Duxbury in the playoffs. 

PROActive - Additional Inputs for Scholar-Athlete Excellence

What more can I do? 

Lieutenant General Hal Moore's Principle #2: 

There’s always one more thing you can do to influence any situation in your favor. And after that, there’s one more thing. And after that, there’s one more thing. And after that, one more thing. The more ‘One More Things’ you do, the better your chances are for achieving success in any situation. A leader must create time to detach himself mentally and ask:

 “What am I doing that I should not be doing? And what am I not doing that I should be doing to influence the situation in my favor?”  

Extend that to volleyball. Combine Dr. Fergus Connolly's "Game Changers" with principles:

1. Skill development

• Practice serving with intent. Hit your desired shot to your desired spot. Be purposeful at practice. 
• Read the game. When you're scrimmaging daily, read the server, read the setter, read the attacker. Make it a habit. 

2. Strategy. Study the game.

• Study excellent players. 
• Study integrated play. 

This 2011 road match was a "Chekhov's Gun" illustration of what was possible. Melrose went to the Finals that season and dismantling a strong team on the road foreshadowed more.

 

If you do nothing else, study Alyssa DiRaffaele's serve, how Melrose served to spots, and how attackers used angles. Watch Alyssa's serve at 0.25 speed (wrench tool at the bottom). 

3. Physicality

• Melrose had athleticism but not elite size. Sport rewards athleticism. 
• Take advantage of "recovery principles" to take care of yourself. Sleep, nutrition, hydration, post game muscle rehab (e.g. thermal contrast). #OneMoreThing

4. Psychology

• Maximize attention with mindfulness, which has other benefits, too.
• Develop your personal "highlight reel" - a half dozen memorable plays that reinforce positivity and capability. You could think about it as a mental video 'scrapbook'. The highlight reel can be "imagined" (in your head) or you can compile it using YouTube video and programs like YouTubeTrimmer.

Lagniappe. Senior Night 2010...many of the key players were sophomores that season. Note that they used precision far more than power to score. 

•  

Why You Love Volleyball

This was "experimental" footage from 2010 (note Athena Ziavras) and the Super Sophs. They had not 'reached full power' at this point, although you can see the instincts and athleticism.

Note how Rachel Johnson (5), only a sophomore, understands to "press the block" over the net. 

Separating Good from Great

Dan Campbell on the difference between good vs. great vs. elite players in the NFL.

“It's mindset. It's willpower...They really believe that the little things add up to the big things and nothing is too small. Everything matters.”

Talent can give you an opportunity, but an… pic.twitter.com/Smj1QEuFOP

— Zach Brandon (@MVP_Mindset) August 20, 2026

NFL coach Dan Campbell revealed the not-so "secret sauce" of exceptional play. 

Great players outthink and outcompete good players. Exceptional teams have the capacity to play "harder for longer." 

Great players exert both skill and will.

Great players understand that no "small detail" gets overlooked. 

When Coach Scott Celli and staff explain how they want attacks covered, it has to be done on time and done well every time. 

When you practice serving, focus on getting the ball where you want it, how you want to deliver it. 

Sometimes the difference between a championship and not is a finger touching the net. 

Everything matters. 

The Pre-Game Talk

Let's look at what AI can deliver, after the human touch. From this perspective:

"Every match makes a statement of who MVB is and how you play. What matters is not whom you play, but how you play. 

The volleyball season is short - a sprint not a marathon. Every season is unique, filled with challenges, opportunities, and surprises.

Competition against good teams like Reading - the quality that we expect to see in the postseason - is what makes the match fun.

Don't play for a coach, for the school, or the community. Play for the girls standing next to you, who know the shared vision, the sacrifice, and what it means to wear the Melrose jersey.

Be excited, not anxious, regardless of whether you're a four-year veteran or this is your first varsity game. Everyone here has played a lot of volleyball and now is your first chance to show whom you've become."

First, from Google Gemini:

"They call Reading the favorite. Good. Let them carry the weight of expectations while we go play volleyball. At its core, this game is beautifully simple: score points, prevent points. We do that today by executing our roles and aggressively hunting their weaknesses from the service line to the net. Everyone on this roster has a role to play and a contribution to make—let's seize that opportunity right now. Trust your teammates, play with genuine joy for one another, and let's quiet this gym. Ball out, Melrose on three!"

Second, from ChatGPT Plus: 

Girls, tonight is not a test of whether we're good enough. It's an opportunity to show who we are.

Reading is a strong opponent. They're supposed to be one of the favorites. Good. The best way to learn about a team is to put it under pressure against another good team. We don't have to be perfect tonight. We don't have to win every rally. We don't have to make spectacular plays. We need to be Melrose Volleyball. We need to communicate early, loud, and often. We need to trust our training. We need to make the simple play, the next play, and then the next one after that.

Remember this: the first few points do not determine the match. If we win them, stay humble. If we lose them, stay confident. Great teams are not built on emotion. They are built on standards. Your body language is a billboard for your confidence and self-belief. Let Reading see a team that competes for every ball, supports every teammate, and never gets smaller when the moment gets bigger.

Play free. Play together. Play with courage. Trust your preparation. Trust each other. The scoreboard will take care of itself. Tonight is about proving that our habits travel, our standards travel, and our toughness travels. Let's go show them who Melrose Volleyball is.

Third, from Microsoft Copilot:

Melrose walks into Reading tonight with a simple truth: opening night doesn’t define a season, but it absolutely announces one. Reading is talented, disciplined, and one of the Middlesex League favorites — good. That’s exactly the kind of opponent you want when you’re ready to show who you are. You don’t match their reputation; you challenge it. You don’t worry about their strengths; you force them to worry about yours. Every serve, every transition, every long rally is a chance to say, “We’re here, and we’re not easing into anything.” Melrose volleyball has never been built on comfort. It’s been built on pressure, toughness, and the willingness to compete when the gym gets loud and the moment gets big.

So step onto that floor with purpose. Trust your training, trust each other, and trust the identity you’ve built point by point. Reading expects to dictate the match — don’t let them. Set the tone early, communicate relentlessly, and play with the kind of edge that makes opponents rethink their scouting report. Opening night is not about perfection; it’s about presence. It’s about showing that Melrose doesn’t wait to grow into a season. You start it. You own it. And you make sure the rest of the league knows that the road to the top still runs through you.

Three days until tryouts. Image created by ChatGPT Plus

Study Excellence

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

Study and apply your craft. 

Do. Not. Quit. 

Melrose trails 17-18 in the fourth set, leading the match 2-1. The longest point of the match highlighted set-saving plays by Gia Vlajkovic and multiple from Sadie Jaggers and libero Emma Desmond. 

 

Sometimes you need power and at others precision. 

Elena Soukos separated herself with both athleticism and technique. She had elite extension with a high "contact point." 

What does elite athleticism help?

• Vertical jump (helps attack/block/net play)
• Hand-eye coordination (setting, digging, receiving, attack)
• Change of direction 
• Power for attack 
• Adjustment to the ball 

Exceptional players bring the fight every match, every play. 

Free Advice - Self-control and Passion

Four days until tryouts. 

"Keep your head cool and your heart warm." 

The first reflects thinking. The second describes caring. You need both.

As volleyball tryouts approach, emotions rise. Players want to impress. They worry about making the team, earning a starting position, or proving themselves. Emotional energy isn't the enemy. Challenge yourself to direct that energy well. 

Keep your head cool

You may recall the expression from Legacy, to "keep a blue head." Play under control. A cool head makes better decisions.

• Don't let one bad play spiral into a series of mistakes. 
• Don't compare yourself to others. "Comparison is the thief of joy." 
• You cannot win tryouts with one special play. Be consistent and grounded.
• Stay present. Play the next ball.

The athletes who often stand out aren't those who never make mistakes. They're the ones whose decision-making remains steady after mistakes.

Keep your heart warm

A warm heart remembers why you're part of MVB. Compete fiercely and encourage teammates.

Celebrate someone else's great play. MUDITA. "Your joy is my joy." Thank the coaches. Respect officials and opponents.

Play with joy. A warm heart understands that volleyball is a team sport. Coaches notice players who make others better - not only through skill, but through communication, energy, and trust.

The balance

Warm heart without a cool head becomes anxiety. Cool head without a warm heart makes a player aloof. 

Top competitors find balance, competing with passion while playing under control with discipline. 

The coach's perspective

Coaches don't just evaluate volleyball skills.

They're asking themselves questions like:

• Can I trust this player when the match gets tight?
• Does she communicate?
• How does she respond to coaching?
• Does she recover after an error?
• Does she elevate the people around her?

Talent gets you noticed but it isn't enough. Character often determines who earns trust. The cool head and warm heart help you make the plays that change games. 

A tryout mindset

As you prepare for tryouts, remember control and fire. 

• Cool head: Think clearly. Stay poised. Make good volleyball decisions.
• Warm heart: Compete with enthusiasm. Encourage teammates. Love the game.

Keep those two things consistently and you'll become the kind of player every coach needs on the court.

A cool head serves accountability, owning your choices and responding intelligently. A warm heart serves teamwork, contributing to force larger than yourself. When those qualities mix, athletes not only perform better, they foster teamwork and leadership. 

Lagniappe. Character, Competence, and More 

4 Key principles of influence pic.twitter.com/XU4vkOXuo0

— Always Keep Learning (@AlwaysKeepL) August 9, 2026

Tell Yourself the Right Message

What do I respect about MVB 26? 

- They are great teammates. 

- Many have played together for many years.

- Lots of "smart kids" - Honor Roll and National Honor Society

- High commitment level 

- They compete... "How you do anything is how you do everything." 

 

Become a Starfish Thrower

"Standing along the edge of the sea, a man catches sight of a young woman who appears to be engaged in a ritual dance. She stoops down, then straightens to her full height, casting her arm out in an arc. Drawing closer, he sees that the beach around her is littered with starfish, and she is throwing them one by one into the sea. He lightly mocks her, "there are stranded starfish as far as the eye can see, for miles up the beach. What difference can saving a few of them possibly make?" Smiling she bends down and once again tosses a starfish out over the water, saying serenely, "It certainly makes a difference to this one." - Rosalind and Benjamin Zander in The Art of Possibility   

Maybe it's a warmup. Or a drill. Or film review. You have two choices - do it because it has to be done or attack it because it's there to make you and the team better. 

Practice only makes a difference if you care enough to make a difference. 

Deep End of the Pool

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

Every season is unique. Not often do young players, especially freshmen, get to wade in and test the waters. MVB 25 was unique including five frosh and five sophomores, figuratively thrown into the deep end of the pool.

Here's an overview of "the knowns." Often the "known unknowns" create positional battles. 

Each gained from the experience.

• Adriana Santoriello ('29) compiled 133 kills.
• Danni DiGiorgio ('29) had 160 digs, 201 receives, 237 service points and over 96 percent serving percentage
• Alisa Dautovic ('29) had 95 digs, 229 receives, and 191 service points
• Sadie Smith ('28) had 110 digs, 100 service points and 555 assists in earning All-Star status
• Elise Marchais ('28) had 91 kills 
• Ella Friedlaender ('28) had 66 kills 

Every year there is transition. Kills, blocks, digs, receives, service points, and leadership need to be replaced or augmented. 

The mythical depth chart is cloudy at best with only returning players listed. 

Setter 

Sadie Smith had an exceptional sophomore season and Leila Kiggundu has recovered from a season ending injury. In addition to setting skills she has a dynamic serve to compete for "designated server" status if the middle hitters can't hold that spot. 

Middles

Elise Marchais returns with the most experience. She gets "hands on" the ball and potentially has the ability to compete for an OH slot. 

Sabrina McArt is one of the most athletic players on the team and had a solid offseason for SMASH. Will 2026 be her year?

Maggie Shoemaker has experience and length and has also functioned as the designated server. Definitely an option as a starter. 

The junior varsity had several capable middles. Will one of them rise up to challenge incumbents? 

Outside

Alisa Dautovic is a "flex" player capable of playing "all six." She is one of the top returning passers.

Adriana Santoriello had one of the best freshman seasons in MVB history. She could be in the mix as an "all six" player and is a multisport athlete who was a softball All-Star as a freshman with five homeruns. 

Defensive Specialists

This is projected as a strength of the team with libero Anna Burns having an exceptional postseason game against Hingham and senior leadership.

Danni DiGiorgio was a top defender and server as a freshman and will only be better.

Gen Overlan arrived with midseason promotion and was a solid defender and passer looking to earn a starting spot. 

Kayla Ton was promoted late in the season and will also compete for a designated server spot.

Alisa Dautovic is a strong passer and a "Flex" contender for defensive slots. 

Right Side

Ella Friedlaender is another powerful athlete who has the ability to attack from off the net. She could also be "flexed" to outside hitter depending on the needs of the team. 

Amelie Johnson brings length and blocking instincts to the game. The lanky lefty reminds me of a young Rachel Johnson and time will tell what her future is. 

Each of these young women has the character and competence to compete and earn roles on the team. It is the deepest group of players that MVB has returned. And this doesn't account for JV players who look to step up and 'kick down the door'. 

Last year youth "swam" in the deep end. This year, they'll have the opportunity to race. 

Lagniappe. Every person contends with a firehose (over 6,000) of daily thoughts. Those best able to avoid negative thoughts can emerge as winners. 

We all have negative thoughts.

They call it an ANT infestation.

The goal isn't to never have them - it's to catch them before they spread.

It starts with knowing what ANTs actually are. pic.twitter.com/uWh3gHho6h

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) June 18, 2026

Tryout Details

Be sure to meet requirements

Why We Coach

Doc Rivers HOF speech: "When I was playing for the Knicks, Coach Pat Riley & I had the biggest argument in my entire playing career

"Jeff Van Gundy told me years later he was standing outside the door…thinking he may have to come in if he heard furniture moving

"Finally during… pic.twitter.com/Q1rtnoDxRX

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 16, 2026

Regardless of whether we're coaching younger players or advanced players, the goal is the same - adding value.

Naturally, the definition of 'value' changes. Professionals want tangibles - minutes, numbers, and a paycheck.

Younger players want a chance to play, to contribute, and to be recognized as having value - to be seen, heard, and respected.

Coaches notice more than skill and athleticism. They see your attitude, commitment, decision-making, effort, leadership, teamwork, and ability to "give the game what the game needs." 

Take a moment to consider what your "MVB skill" is and how you intend to add value to the team this season, but also how you can contribute to the broader community over time. 

"Boring"

Anthony Edwards said it perfectly:

“Greatness is boring.”

It’s doing the same things over and over.

The reps.
The work.
The discipline.
The standard.

Especially on the days you don’t feel like doing it.

That’s where greatness is built.pic.twitter.com/XuGUeEtG3x

— Greg Berge (@GregBerge) August 17, 2026

Self-motivation is a skill. 

Summer reading...have you completed it? Probably some of you have...and certainly not all of you.

Few people have the will or 'constitution' to be dialed in every day. 

Years ago the University of Minnesota (top 10 US team) traveled to Japan to face 'undersized' competition. They got smoked, annihilated. The Japanese coach explained his team practiced six hours a day, 363 days a year. They had a national holiday off. What about the other day? "I sick of them," he explained. 

He encouraged Minnesota to play the top high school teams in the area. The coach was a bit offended, but took him up on the offer. They went 9-4 in sets. How you practice matters. It was different in Japan. 

When you practice, have a plan. Don't serve to get it over the net...work on seams, short, sideline (maybe), or targeting the weak defender. Don't just "defend." Read the plays. Work to be 'earlier'. 

Before you play, think about your attack footwork, your block footwork, your platform. Make boring better. 

Make it exciting and worthwhile. 

 

 

Standing Out at Tryouts

Tryouts seem like they’re far off, but they’re not. Bring the best version of yourself daily and leave an impression. How?

Be the Hardest Worker 

No "false hustle." No coach tracks who wins warmup laps around the gym. Don't put pepper on your cereal. "Never cheat the drill." Don't work to work, work to improve to impact the game. 

Be a Great Teammate 

Teamwork is a choice. In a developmental setting, we gave out one award - The Teammate Award - voted on by the players. That represented their idea of who was the best teammate. 

Be Coachable

Your coaches have a wealth of volleyball knowledge, experience, and success. Be a sponge and soak up everything you can. Then go home and think about the messages and how to apply them. 

Make Plays

Volleyball is a meritocracy. You earn everything. Players make out the lineups from their performance. Everyone gets a chance and it's on you to take advantage and to make the team better.

Play purposefully 

Do everything with intent - serving location, reading plays, executing footwork. Volleyball is a thinking person's game. Out-think your opponent and then outplay them. 

Be an Athlete 

Tentative play isn't successful play. Make your decision and let 'er rip. 

Lagniappe. Leave the past in the past. Drop any baggage. Every season is new.

Lagniappe 2. Advice from a D1 libero. 

Lagniappe 3. Six days until tryouts

Tryouts a Week Away

 Tryouts for MVB 26 start in under a week. Be excited not anxious. 

The Job of Captaincy

Most coaches pick captains based on who is the most vocal.

Research says the best captains look very different.

Sam Walker studied the greatest teams in sports history for The Captain Class and found 7 traits their elite captains consistently shared.

And some of them might… pic.twitter.com/4o3olU9aGx

— Greg Berge (@GregBerge) August 14, 2026

Captains "support the mission." They do whatever it takes...in the big and the small tasks.  

Rallying from a 1-2 deficit, Mireya Luis (Cuban outside hitter) inspired her team vocally and used her 46" vertical to finish Brazil in a bitter match at the Olympics. Watch what led to the end...and what happened next?

How do you plan to "add value" as a captain? 

• What leadership opportunity happened today? 
• "The main thing is the main thing." What's yours?
• How do you support younger players? 
• How do you bring positivity, energy, and consistency?
• "Leaders make leaders." How did you do that today? 

Win-Win

Seek "win-win" situations where both sides benefit. 

What Win-Win Means

• Best interests of the team
• Best interests for you

But there's more. Unstated, non-negotiable truth:

Ethical behavior 

This isn't a novel concept. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], and loses or forfeits himself? - Luke 9:25.

Make no "Faustian bargains" of selling your soul, your integrity for short-term gain. 

Coaching - Do Not Compromise

This applies to sport. Consider these examples:

• Winning by humiliating athletes - "You're worthless."
• Winning through cheating. - "Astros pitch signaling"
• Winning while destroying team culture. - "Bronx Zoo"
• Winning while sacrificing integrity. - "Donald Sterling"
• Winning while neglecting family or health. - "Going hungry" 

MVB has succeeded for decades without compromising integrity. Coaches create a culture where you can succeed and also ask you to leave your comfort zone to become more. 

Win with Integrity

Succeed the right way. 

There's no seniority system. You earn your spots.

Politics has no place in who makes the team or plays. 

MVB can't recruit talent.  

Being Different

"The quality and the quantity of your work is different from everyone." - Deputy Manager Oh in Misaeng   The "newbie" came to the team without credentials, experience, or fanfare. All he did was to outwork and outperform all the other new employees. 

The only way to become exceptional is to be different. More positive. More focused. More committed. Relentless.

It borders on obsessive. Make a difference.                            

Lagniappe. MVB has enjoyed exceptional families. 

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Add This Tool to Your Toolbox

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Emotional self-regulation is a powerful tool. Add it to your others:

• Mindfulness including "stop and take a breath"
• Visualization
• Conventional self-talk

Don't allow yourself to be hurt by "the second arrow."

Don't take personally what others say because their comments often say more about them than they do about you. Some said, "Melrose's game is 'too simple'." Mature simplicity is powerful. 

Don't allow emotion to put you in a "bad place" where you cannot perform at your best, decide best, or bring your best version. 

In addition to your "identity statement" (this is who I am) and your "performance statement" (this is how I play), recognize and say your emotional state.