Varsity starts about 32:48
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Game 15: Melrose 3 Duxbury 2
Stat Leaders
"There are three kinds of lies - lies, damned lies, and statistics." - popularized by Mark Twain
Massachusetts Leaders
Kills
#36 Elise Marchais
Assists
#9 Sadie Smith
Digs
#71 Anna Burns
Team Leaders
Great Speeches Series
All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization.
Every day offers an opportunity to "prove it."
Empower yourselves. Show up. Show out. Bring the receipts.
The words “woman” and “women” do not appear in either the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution. Do you believe that is either an accident or an oversight?
In 1851, the former enslaved person, Sojourner Truth, spoke truth to power with this brief speech. Kerry Washington shares a dramatic reading of "Ain't I a Woman?"
Friday, October 16, 2026
One Word Changed Everything for This Coach
Coaches lead, teach, and organize. Most of all they model excellence.
Just as we want our teams to be worthy, set standards for ourselves.
The Celtics' Joe Mazzulla said the word that got his attention was "Dad," as Deuce called for Jayson Tatum.
Positivity. No one shapes a positive life from a negative attitude.
Enthusiasm. Nothing great is ever accomplished without enthusiasm.
Values. Teams' play should reflect shared values - competitiveness, preparation, unselfishness, unity, resilience, gratitude, sportsmanship, humility.
Excellence. Bring the best version of ourselves at home, school, work, and play.
Consistency. Bring the same attitude, quality decisions, and effort daily. Dad had a saying, "Street angels, house devils." Don't.
What do these share? They mirror The Fourth Agreement, "Always do your best." Fans respect a team that reveals the character of their community.
The Training Environment*
*Adapted from my basketball blog
"In life and in sports, I have always believed that one of the most important decisions you can make is: Choosing your surroundings in terms of people and environment." - "Habits That Make A Champion" by Allistair McCaw
Our environments shape us. In Freakonomics, readers learned that one of the prime educational factors was the number of books in the home. Exposure to books impacts childhood learning.
Our training environment matters...the culture and the people who surround us.
LeBron James invests over a million dollars annually in his training environment - nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, basketball.
- Surround ourselves with good people and listen.
- Find a mentor.
- Invest in yourself. Excellence extracts a price.
- Train without distractions.
- Recognize people and things holding us back.
- Involves people of high character
- Drives high standards and values
- There is psychological safety
- Has competent coaches and support personnel
- Is growth minded
- There is consistent feedback provided
- Includes other high performing athletes
- Provides the appropriate facilities and equipment
- Motivates the athlete to work harder
- Teaches life skills, not only athletic skills
Updated Power Rankings
Melrose holds onto the fourth spot in D2. Burlington and Woburn slip in ML12 power rankings.
Melrose travels to number seven Duxbury tomorrow.
"Own It"
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Chase perfection and find excellence.
No game, player, coach, or analysis inhabits perfection. Everyone wants decisions, plays, and sentences redone.
In Good Writing, Allen and Lamott prioritize writing good sentences. Then shape them into paragraphs, chapters, and compete works.
In volleyball, make each play the "production unit." Sometimes a directed, quality serve ends the play. Move on. Next play. Stream that 'sentence' into a paragraph.
In the fifth set against Belmont, at 11-7, Sabrina read the attack and prey becomes predator. That happened because Gen and Sadie made adjustments and kept the play alive off the rafters.
That sequence sets up "The Kid" to serve out the match.
Statistics Versus Belmont
The stat sheet is marked up today:
Attacking:
Three players with a dozen or more kills, led by Alisa with a career best 13.
Serving:
Elise and Anna both with 19 service points.
Ball handling:
Sadie with 33 assists
Digs:
An astonishing six players with double digit digs. Probably the first time that has ever happened. Coach can comment on that.
Receptions:
Four players with double digit receptions
Set Three Highlights (vs Belmont)
The "toolbox" allows for different answers. The fastball gets defenders on their heels. That sets up offspeed pitches. And the tips bring defenders in, limiting their reaction time.
Aggression. Force. Toughness. Call it what you like. Remember CAR-T - consistency, aggression, resilience, and toughness.
Sometimes, the correct decision is "keeping a play alive." Or fall in love with easy. Other times, bring the rain.
More Highlights - Belmont at Melrose
"Show, then tell." Words paint pictures but pictures impact us directly, viscerally.
How many times did fans say, "Wow?"
Both teams proved "worthy" opponents. A long rally followed by an Alisa Dautovic pipe attack.
Thursday, October 15, 2026
The Socrates Tests
Philosophy literally translates to "love of wisdom." Socrates was among the leading practitioners of philosophy in ancient Greece. Follow his logic in the test of the three sieves (filters):
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Game 14: Melrose 3 Belmont 2
With the match of critical importance to both teams, Melrose held off Belmont (11-3) in five sets - 20-25, 25-13, 25-18, 22-25, and 15-7.
The win boosts the Melrose record to 11-3 headed into another "Fists of Fury" match in Duxbury Saturday.
MIAA power rankings (playoff seeding), ML12 tournament seeding, and a big crowd for "Dig Purple Night" added to the drama.
Each one point margin of victory adds 0.05 rating points and the win helps Melrose hold off Belmont for third place in the ML12.
After a slow start, Belmont took control of the first set with exceptional defense keeping play after play alive. Melrose couldn't "climb the hill" as Belmont conceded nothing.
Melrose got off fast in the second set. At 10-4 setter Sadie Smith attacks a second ball and gets a kill.
- Melrose avoided slow starts.
- MVB got exceptional performances from multiple, multiple players.
- Even when a few players struggled, they held firm with the conviction to hit and refind the "hot zone."
- Excellent communication with negligible balls hitting the floor.
The biggest "negative" was Belmont's exceptional defense. In the style of a later round playoff game, Belmont never quit.
What were the enduring lessons?
Stick to the game plan - aggression, aggression, aggression.
Melrose Notes:
Coach Scott Celli said after the match, "We knew it would be like this."
The MVMMS Gym hosted a large and enthusiastic crowd, a definite playoff atmosphere.
Former MVB stars in the house - Gia Vlajkovic (varsity assistant), Elena Soukos (another "Triple Crown Winner") and big sister Manon Marchais. Also parents of former stars including the Vlajkovic family, Rachel Johnson's parents and Leah Fowke's dad.
Reading beat Burlington 3-1 to maintain their stranglehold on the ML12 two seed.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Bite at the Apple*
All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. *Some AI assist in this piece.
You never know when, or whether, you will get another "bite at the apple."
Athletes sometimes presume another season, another tournament, another big match, another healthy year, another opportunity will come. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't.
Celebrated play assures nothing. Talent guarantees nothing. A great regular season doesn't mean a favorable ending. Favorites lose. Underdogs surprise. Opportunity has an expiration date.
Players from championship teams sometimes speak years later about believing there would be another chance. It never came.
That's reason to relish the opportunity before you. Favorite or underdog doesn't matter much. When the ball goes up, you get your bite at the apple.
Study the Game
Preparation begins with understanding. First, understand yourself. "To thine own self be true."
What do we do well? Where are we vulnerable? Which rotations score? Which struggle? Can we pass the toughest server? Do we defend tips? What happens out-of-system?
Self-scouting requires honesty. Knowing yourself eliminates surprise.
Then study the opposition. "Know your enemy."
Where do they score? Who's their "go to" option? Who struggles in serve receive? Does the setter reveal direction? Does an outside hitter tip when pushed off the net? Can their middle close the block?
Information doesn't win. Applied advantage does.
Craft Winning Plays
Do what you do best.
Good passing creates choices. Quality serving reduces theirs. Put your strongest players in positions to succeed.
Then attack weakness. Serve a vulnerable passer. Make a slow blocker move. Force an uncomfortable hitter to swing from an uncomfortable location. If the defense cheats, use the space emptied.
Sun Tzu's advice survives because it is simple:
Utilize strengths. Attack weaknesses. Fall in love with easy.
Avoid Losing Plays
Many matches aren't won. They're gifted.
Service errors. Free balls into the net. Poor communication. Overpasses. Bad decisions after good defensive plays.
Control what you can control.
Exceptional opponents will "get theirs." A great hitter will terminate balls. A great server may score an ace. Don't convert an earned point into four unearned ones.
And remember: Stops make runs.
When the other team scores three straight, somebody needs to make the ordinary play that stops four from becoming seven.
Momentum doesn't always require brilliance. It requires competence.
Maximize Focus
Reading the game begins long before match point. It begins in practice. Watch the setter. Read the hitter's approach. Recognize a bad set. Anticipate the roll shot. Hear your teammate call "short."
Concentration --> Anticipation --> Reaction --> Execution.
Mindfulness, playing present, matters. The last rally is gone. The next one lies over the horizon. Play this ball.
Build Resilience
Big matches seldom unfold predictably. Errors happen. The official will miss something. An opponent will make a spectacular play.
Now what?
Resilience accepts adversity. It shrinks the distance between adversity and effective action.
Practice that way. Practice tired. Practice behind. Practice after mistakes. Create disadvantage and solve it.
Play harder for longer.
The team that handles adversity best often looks surprisingly ordinary doing it. Calmer, not drama. Just another point.
Seize the Day
Opportunity is strange. You spend months preparing for moments that may last seconds. And when those moments arrive, no assurances come with them.
The promise is opportunity. Study. Prepare. Compete. Help each other. Endure.
Take your bite at the apple; nobody knows when the next one is coming.
Lagniappe. Make few promises; keep them. Everyone makes errors; own them. Value your teammates; help them.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Playoff Bound Thoughts
Successful teams go into the postseason playing well. Name universal advice for or truths about solid teams:
1) Do well what you do a lot.
2) Do more of what works and less of what doesn't.
3) Don't beat yourself (limit mistakes). Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla says that every game there are 10-15 possessions that you want over.
As a team, ask:
1) What are our strengths? That include people, strategy, and execution. Apply these relentlessly.
2) What realistic improvements are on the table? Where can points be saved via improved attack or better defense?
3) What weaknesses can we lessen or hide? How can we turn "C or C+ into B" or "B" into A-?
Lagniappe. Good coaches obsess over being better. They never think that they know it all or that they can't find another edge.
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Quotable Quotes
All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. This blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose institution.
First, everyone at the game was asking for Ella and how she is doing. "Shout out to Ella!"
No, it's not a JEOPARDY category. Today, examine quotes from outstanding coaches from Pat Williams' classic, "The Ultimate Coaches' Career Manual."
Williams extracts wisdom from coaches across sports, some contemporary and some historical.
DEREK DOOLEY (University of Tennessee)
"Do they respect your level of competency to put them in a position to succeed? They must think that you know what you are doing at every step, and if they listen, they will succeed."
BEAR BRYANT (University of Alabama)
You can learn from anybody. I don't hire anybody who is not brighter than I am. If they're not smarter than me, I don't need them. Little things make the difference.
JOHN STEARNS (Washington Nationals Minor League Manager)
Make sure your players clearly understand their roles. The two key rules are: play hard and be on time.
PETE ROSE (Cincinnati Reds)
Constantly emphasize winning, practicing, and having fun while practicing. You have one set of rules, but each guy is to be treated differently based on his personality.
GENE MAUCH (Philadelphia Phillies)
Focus on the fundamentals. Play the percentages. Over the long haul that will pay off.
RAY KNIGHT (Cincinnati Reds)
You are judged on your ability to evaluate talent. This is a key part of your value to an organization. We tend to evaluate young players too quickly. You've got to be patient and always lean to the players' side.
TERRY FRANCONA (Boston Red Sox)
Work hard. Put your players first. Have fun.
JOHN MACKOVIC (University of Texas)
You must dream big dreams to be something special. If you do not set the standards and values for your team, someone else will. Never trade your integrity for a quick victory.
JOHNNY MAJORS (University of Tennessee)
You are a teacher and must love to teach. Your team must be disciplined. Your players must hustle and never give up.
JIM YOUNG (Purdue University)
Get away by yourself and spend some time thinking. Devote time to meditate on your plans and new ideas.
THERESA GRENTZ (University of Illinois)
You want your players to be critical thinkers, to be able to solve problems, and express themselves. Never take advice about your team from someone who doesn't know you.
MIKE KRZYZEWSKI (Duke University)
I would allow my assistants to give their input and be able to coach. It should not be a one-man operation. The best way to gain respect is to tell the players the truth. Look them in the eye and tell them, "This is the way it is."
Lagniappe. Encourage a sense of urgency with the first ball kill drill.
Game 13: Melrose 3 Watertown 0
Melrose traveled to Watertown and emerged with a 25-17, 25-10, 25-17 win. The victory boosts the locals' record to 10-3 and automatically qualifies them for the postseason.
Watertown (ranked 19 in Division 3) was the most proficient club in their history with resilient defense, credible serving and a solid, athletic setter.
Melrose got off to a fast start in the match which forced Watertown to play uphill. Amelie Johnson had a strong first set with three or four kills as Melrose had excellent attack distribution.
Melrose dominated the second set with a strong performance from Sabrina McArt who soared for kills and blocks.
The final set showcased the varied skills of Elise Marchais who had at least half a dozen kills, blocks, and flummoxed Watertown from every angle.
Overall, the performance classified as a team win with workmanlike performances across the board.
Melrose Notes:
Watertown showed off their new gymnasium, which included an upstairs running track.
Former Melrose middle Manon Marchais was in the crowd.
Reading whitewashed Woburn 3-0 in Reading, dropping Woburn to 8-5.
Winchester held serve blanking Belmont 3-0.
As previously noted, the MIAA Power Rankings determine the ML12 tournament seedings. The home match Thursday against Belmont carries extra juice.
The Comeback Kid
Difference Makers
“Almost” becomes dangerous when you start accepting it. You can recognize progress and still demand better. Learn from what went right. Take responsibility for what went wrong. Do the work to close the gap. Being close should fuel your preparation not become your excuse. 🎥 Kevin Sjuts
— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) October 13, 2026
"What more can I do?"
Translate:
1. Yesterday lives in the rearview mirror.
2. Reflect on "what can I do today?" to impact my teammates and success.
3. Play "harder for longer" from the opening serve. Pound the rock.
Monday, October 12, 2026
The Fly and the Bumble Bee
Misaeng informs many valuable lessons.
Whom we meet impacts our lives.
Manager Oh: "If you follow a fly, you'll probably walk into a bathroom. If you follow a bumble bee, you''ll probably walk in a flower garden."
Geu-rae: "That's why I'm walking in a flower garden."
This serves as a metaphor for your "MVB experience." Become the bumble bee - positive, hard working, mission-driven, part of the team.
And give yourself grace when your performance isn't all you want it to be. That doesn't mean effort; it means results. Doing your best won't always equate to individual or team success.
Even exceptional players like your assistant coaches had off days. What separates them is the ability to bounce back, persist, and perform well on another day.
Become a "center of gravity" regardless of title. Leadership is demonstrated daily through behavior, not proclaimed by title.
You need not be charismatic; work and communicate credibility of character and competence. Every successful team has players who may not be the leading scorer, the captain, or the most athletic player.
Yet teammates instinctively trust them. They communicate, prepare, maintain calm amidst chaos, and solve problems. Coaches call them "glue guys."
They're bumble bees.
Lagniappe. Don't accept the challenge. Embrace it.
Marcus Freeman said what most coaches won't.
— Greg Berge (@GregBerge) August 11, 2026
"I'm not here to be your friend. I'm here to push you, challenge you, help you be successful."
Friendship feels good.
Coaching builds someone who can handle it.
You can be both. Just not at the same time.pic.twitter.com/KU8q13Vzby
Bonus Recipe - Easy Tikka Masala Sauce
Add variety to your diet without breaking the bank.
For many recipes, an easy way tops the 'hard way'. Exploring other cuisines boosts your palate.
I made this "easy tikka masala sauce" in under thirty minutes:
Easy Tikka Masala Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter or oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 2 tbsp tikka masala paste or spice blend
- 1 can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
- 1 tsp salt, then adjust to taste
- Optional: pinch of sugar, cayenne, or garam masala
Method
- Sauté the onion in butter or oil over medium heat until soft, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add garlic, ginger, and tikka masala paste/spice. Cook about 1 minute.
- Add the tomato sauce and simmer 10 minutes.
- Stir in the cream or coconut milk. Simmer another 2–3 minutes.
- Taste and adjust salt. Add a little sugar if the tomatoes are sharp, cayenne for heat, or garam masala for extra warmth.
This is excellent with chickpeas, chicken, paneer, rice, naan, or roasted vegetables.
For chickpeas, just drain and rinse a can and simmer them in the finished sauce for about 5–10 minutes. We keep canned chickpeas on hand as an alternative protein source.
For the easiest possible version, use a good jarred tikka masala paste (I bought online) rather than assembling individual spices.
The recipe met our needs, served over rice.
Four Words
Every team discovers its narrative. MVB 26 is different.
No superstar, ball-dominant center of gravity carries the team. Everyone needs to carry their weight, "putting out the fire" as a team.
In the Patriots' locker room, a sign explains, "Win the identity battle."
Communicate better.
Help each other.
Excel in your role.
Maximum focus.
Next play. The last play is in the past.
Coach Ellis Lane said it this way, "Who are those guys?"
Urgency. Play with urgency.











