Friday, August 31, 2007

Dig It

The Lady Raiders have a good early season test tomorrow at Medway, with a big series of games against top area teams. They'll look to get their digs in, to complement earlier hitting and blocking video.



Digging drills




More highlights to dig

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Skilz for Today - on the Block

The Lady Raiders continue to prepare for Saturday's multipronged scrimmage at Medway. Yesterday's clip showed some attack footage, and today's features some defense.

Important facets to observe:
  • Timing the jump
  • Spreading the fingers
  • Penetrating the airspace over the net
Although you may not be able to jump any higher tomorrow than today, you can continue to improve your technique using the athleticism you have today. The Lady Raiders have had some outstanding defenders at the net through the years, and this year's team has promise to develop some new talents.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Lady Raider Volleyball Rosters Announced

The Lady Raiders continue to work on their game in preparation for the coming season.



Here are the Varsity and Junior Varsity rosters going into this weekend's play day at Medway.

Varsity
SR Gina Ciccone
SR Lauren Howe
SR Leslie Hirschfeld
SR Nicole Glavin
JR Kelly O'Neill
SO Hannah Brickley
SO Laura Irwin
SO Colleen Hanscom
SO Annmarie Wiesen
SO Jess Farr
SO Alex Harlow

Junior Varsity
Allie Walsh
Devyn O'Brien
Alex Kupchaunis
Siena Mamayek
Jenny Hinkle
Liz Dellisola
Katie Tarpey
Athena Ziavras
Kaitlyn Szekely
Haley Scofield
Mercedes Ward
Melanie DeYoung
Caylee Clarke



First, watch the approach here, with the run-up, the arms go back to launch the attacker vertical, and then the powerful armswing driving the ball down.



Some powerful volleyball hitting.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Tradition Never Graduates

Best viewed with FIREFOX. Click pics to ENLARGE.

Coaches Celli and Wall have completed tryouts and rosters will be posted as soon as they are available. Melrose has had great volleyball success the past few seasons and will look to return to the D2 North Championships and beyond in 2007. As always, they'll have plenty of competition, from defending D2 North champion AC, Reading, North Andover, and up and comer Hamilton-Wenham.

Melrose has compiled an 84-12 record the past four seasons, including three league titles, three D2 North titles,
and one appearance in the State volleyball championship.

Well, it's not going to look like this, but Melrose will work hard trying.

Volleyball Season is Here

Best viewed with FIREFOX. Click pictures to ENLARGE.

Volleyball hopefuls at tryouts.
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Coaches Scott Celli and Steve Wall first look to recapture the Middlesex League title.
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Co-Captain Gina Ciccone is the sole returner from the State Finalist team of 2005. Gina brings steadiness and experience to both the front and the back lines.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Colleen Hanscom takes over the reins at setter this season, trying to follow in the big footsteps of setters who have brought Melrose to the D2 North Championship final the past four seasons - Amanda Labella, Amanda Hallett, and Taylor Pearson.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Siena Mamayek joins the volleyball program as a Sophomore this season, after a successful season on the Lady Raiders' basketball team.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Co-Captain Leslie Hirschfeld gave Melrose a defensive presence at the net, essential for keeping the Melrose offense on the attack.
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Run and Fun
. Co-Captain Lauren Howe (above) and Laura Irwin (below) are two potent hitters looking to return Melrose to its power hitting roots.
__________________________________________________________________________________Standing out in a crowd. Hannah Brickley (center) anchored the Lady Raiders interior defense last season as a Freshman. Coaches Celli and Wall and Melrose fans know there won't be any sophomore jinx.
_________________________________________________________________________________


Volleyball techniques from You Tube.

Photos courtesy of Don Norris.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

New Gym, New Schedule, New Team

Click charts and pictures to ENLARGE.


The lines are going down, the logo has just been painted, and the new gymnasium is scheduled to come online in September, just in time for the volleyball season.

Speaking of the season. Here's the schedule. Start times subject to change.

The Lady Raiders volleyball team has worked hard this summer to try to get back to the form that has had them into the Division II North championship final the past four seasons. Many of the players attended the BC camp, and most of the team has just wrapped up the preseason night camp at Bentley College.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Countdown to 2007 Season

The countdown to the 2007 season has begun, with a new gymnasium nearing completion. Today the hardwood maple floor was sanded, in preparation for painting in the lines and finishing seal coating. The stands are expected to arrive on or around August 20th with installation to follow.

The 2007 season presents challenges, like every season does, replacing much of the back row defense, especially losing three year veteran Laura Dillon to graduation. Replacing outside hitter Rachel Towle won't be easy either.

But Coach Scott Celli return talent and depth as always. Fans and coaches look for a breakout season for Nicole Glavine up front, and solid defense from middle hitters Captain Leslie Hirschfeld and Sophomore Hannah Brickley. Captains Lauren Howe and Gina Ciccone will both provide stability and experience. Ciccone returns as the lone starter from the 2005 State Finalist, but Melrose will seek to return to the Division II North finals for the fifth consecutive season, having come up just short trying to defend their previous three titles last season.

Melrose will need to improve all aspects of their game to get back to the Championship Bracket this season, looking for even more consistent passing to setter Colleen Hanscom, who will try to set the middle and outside in the classic: bump, set, spike pattern that the best teams develop. Melrose has a number of returning players and quality junior varsity players looking to break through to get time this season.

Tryouts this year take place at the Marcoux Gym.

Here are times:

Aug 23,24,27 (V)8-10/1-3 (JV)10-12

Aug 28,29,30 (V)4-6 (JV)2-4

Aug 31 (V)8-10/1-3 (JV)10-12

The Lady Raiders travel for a "play day" at Medway HS on Sat. September 1st against some of the top teams in the state. We will play Ashland, Medway, Medfield, Lincoln Sudbury, Holliston, and Kenston HS (from Ohio).

On Wed. Sept 5, Melrose travels to Newton North for our annual 3:30 scrimmage. Newton North perennially challenges for supremacy in Division I.

The Lady Raiders open the season Fri, September 7th at home vs Lexington.