Perspective

Melrose has enjoyed great success as a program, but Massachusetts volleyballers toil in relative obscurity. You might ask why.

Barnstable, our perennial state champion traveled to Illinois last year ...and didn't win a game. Wickedlocal.com explained:

In Massachusetts, it is shocking if Barnstable loses a single game in a match, but in Illinois the Red Raiders did not win a single game in their first three matches.

They lost Friday to Hinsdale South (25-19, 25-18) and Wheaton-Warrenville South (25-18, 25-17) and Saturday morning to Barrington (25-20, 25-18).

“That’s why we went out there,” said Turco. “The teams out there are so far ahead of us in every facet of the game — in passing, serving, defense, training and youth development.”

We know a family from California whose daughter is being recruited as a scholarship player by a number of quality New England colleges as a defensive specialist. Check out the highlights on her professional web page, to see the difference in the caliber of play. She can't even make her high school team which is one of the top teams in California. However, a separate club structure exists so players can compete outside of high school.

As a region, we lack the infrastructure (leagues, courts, youth coaching) to approach the development in other areas of the country. It is what it is.