- 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."
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
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.
— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) June 18, 2026
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
Monday, August 17, 2026
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
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 16, 2026
"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
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:
— Greg Berge (@GregBerge) August 17, 2026
“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
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
Sunday, August 16, 2026
The Job of Captaincy
Most coaches pick captains based on who is the most vocal.
— Greg Berge (@GregBerge) August 14, 2026
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
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.
Add This Tool to Your Toolbox
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.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Why? What? How? Now (Save and Print)
Nobody taught you how to actually speak. But a kindergarten teacher cracked the code on how to explain anything to anyone.
— Sharran Srivatsaa (@sharran) August 12, 2026
And it’s the same framework I use in every pitch deck, keynote, and presentation: pic.twitter.com/2HqU2cLRtB
Why are you here?
What do you hope to learn?
How will you learn?
Do this NOW.
Some of you visit at the suggestion of your coaches. The best reason is to extract value daily.
The introductory video shares a framework for your presentations. Use it along with the SUCCESS story acronym to present better;
S - Simple
U - Unexpected
C - Concrete (specific)
C - Credible (believable)
E - Emotional
Ss- Stories
Why?
You want to be seen, heard, and valued. Show out at tryouts. Every day is your opportunity to make an impression.
What?
Be a difference maker at tryouts. Have the "it" factor and the "wow" factor. Defenders read plays and get to balls. Hitters find ways to put the ball down. A few "ball strikers" cause the ball to make a different sound when they hit it...long-time fans know their names.
How?
Bring energy, a positive attitude, teamwork, and hard work. Focus, listen, and be coachable. A young player said that her biggest improvement is defense. There's an expression, "I'm from Missouri. Show me." (Missouri has the nickname of the Show Me state)
Now
Be yourself. Every one of you is special. Bring that to the court.
Lagniappe. The Italian national team used this as their walk-off music after a win.
Volleyball "Via Negativa" (Edit Our Lives)*
All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization.
*Adapted from my basketball blog with a major AI assist
With The Power of Negative Thinking, Bobby Knight went back to something older than any playbook, "via negativa," the negative way.
The Greeks and Romans had it right.
Define something by what it is not.
Strip away the unnecessary.
What remains is closer to the truth.
Classic example: Michelangelo was asked about sculpture and he said that his job was to take a block of marble and find the sculpture within.
Applied to volleyball:
Winning volleyball isn’t always about adding more.
It’s about removing what loses points - bad decisions, bad swings, bad platform skills.
Simple is hard.
Practice Subtraction
Every rep should redirect toward winning.
- No wasted movement
- No empty reps
- No filler
Borrow Brian McCormick's line, “No lines, no laps, no lectures.”
What to remove:
- Long lines replaced with high-contact, small-sided reps
- Static drills gone, instead game-speed decision making
- Cognitive overload, use one point, one correction
Tighten the system:
- Shrink the drill book
- Shrink the playbook
- Shrink the language (terminology)
Limit film:
- 10–12 clips max
- No video fatigue
Offensive Subtraction
Points are lost before they’re won. Remove low-value decisions:
- Out-of-system hero swings
- High-error serves without intent
- Blind setting (no read of block/defense)
- “Me too” swings on bad sets
Recall Jay Bilas's "Toughness" advice:
“It’s not your shot, it’s our shot.”
Translate it: It’s not your swing, it’s our swing.
Tighten core decision-making:
- In-system = terminate or stress
- Out-of-system = live to fight the next ball
Eliminate:
- free balls into the net
- predictable high balls with no plan
- wasted transition opportunities
Decision clarity:
- Good pass leads to full offensive array
- Medium pass decide on controlled aggression
- Bad pass equals make a disciplined choice.
Defensive Subtraction
Defense improves faster by removing mistakes than adding schemes.
Eliminate breakdowns:
- No more seams in the block
- No hands drifting backward
- No flat-footed base defense that reduces defensive range/reaction
Communication is non-negotiable:
- No silence
- Early, loud, often (ELO)
Stoicism in action - Control the controllables:
- Put downballs in play
- No free balls landing untouched
- No missed coverage assignments
Discipline:
- No reckless net touches
- No out-of-control pursuits
- No “almost” effort
- There are no 50-50 balls. Jousts are yours.
Block and floor connection:
- No “ghost blocks” (jumping without purpose)
- No disconnected defense
Teaching Via Negativa
Use questions, not just answers.
Ask:
- What should we do?
- What must we stop doing?
The System
When you remove:
- bad swings
- bad decisions
- bad communication
- no intentionality
What’s left? Clean volleyball. Simple. MVB 12 style play that overwhelms with aggression and consistency.
Bottom Line
Think about it. What should be stripped from our lives and our volleyball? Excellence is often subtraction, not addition. Do less and do it better.
Lagniappe. Every day is “prove it” day.
Lagniappe 2. "Arms lead hips."
Give Yourself Grace
Give yourself grace. While working to improve your skills, strategy, physicality, and psychology, understand it won't be perfect.
"Chase perfection and catch excellence."
Here's a personal saying that works, "Don't beat yourself up; there will always be someone to do that for you."
Stay positive and "always do your best." That's all you can ask of yourself or anyone can ask of you. You cannot shape a positive life with a negative attitude.
Lagniappe. Practice activities (process) should impact performance. Warmup laps have a rationale - to transition muscles to a ready state. Running stadia (steps) increases aerobid fitness (endurance). Weight training and plyometrics increase power, quickness, and vertical jump.
When Ralph Labella and I watched the UCONN Women practice, the goal was to 'up our game'. It wasn't just about watching great players like Breanna Stewart. UCONN practice was carefully scripted, ran at a high tempo, and was always competitive - whether scrimmaging against men or free throw shooting (recorded percentages).
"Winners are trackers." - Darren Hardy in The Compound Effect
Be able to say, "We're doing this because ________ .
“If it doesn’t impact winning, I don’t want to talk about it,” Geno Auriemma
— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) August 13, 2026
Your standards guide your choices.
Your choices shape your habits.
Your habits reveal your priorities. pic.twitter.com/b5OWwNXFa6
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