The challenge for some teams and athletes becomes to defeat complacency and psychology during competition. Human nature challenges us to rise to the occasion against the best teams and avoid bringing something less during the 'average' game. The best teams "learn" on the fly with progressively higher intensity and achievement.
Melrose came out with tremendous energy and intensity in the first set, and played some of its best volleyball of the season against a good team. This showed up both on the floor and contributions from the bench on calling "out" balls.
Melrose opened up 8-0 and 21-4 leads with defensive ferocity, led by Player of the Week Amanda Commito and NKOTB Rachel Johnson, the latter with three block-kills in the first seven points. The Lady Raiders simply overwhelmed the Spartans, forcing Stoneham into error after error. Sarah McGowan and Rachel each delivered three kills and the team had a solitary service error.
Set two saw more of a set-to, with Stoneham rallying from 0-4 to take a 5-4 lead. From a 7-6 deficit, Melrose ran off a nine point run to go up 15-7. The visitors brought it back to within two at 18-16, but Melrose closed it out (25-19) with a 7-3 run, sparked by a trio of kills by Sarah, and nifty setting by Brooke Bell. Melrose had double digit kills for the set, but three service errors. Chief attackers included Jen Cain and Sarah with three kills and a pair from Brooke.
Melrose's attack simply wore down Stoneham in the third. Melrose went out 4-0, and after a counterattack, the Lady Raiders extended the lead to 9-4 and 14-8, before a Spartan rally brought it to 14-11. A Cain service run began a closing kick with Melrose winning eleven of the final thirteen points for a 25-13 margin.
Melrose had thirteen kills in the finale, including five for Kayla Wyland, three for Sarah, and a pair for Rachel and Jen.
Game Analysis: Most teams in most sports can elevate their game periodically, but few can sustain the action over the course of a contest. For example, in a basketball game against Burlington in 2005, Melrose wanted to demonstrate their superiority, and while Shey Peddy scored her 1000th point, the Lady Raiders went out to a 44-12 lead in the first twelve minutes. After that, the coaching staff literally had to call off the dogs.
Yesterday, the volleyball team played truly inspired ball in the first set. Overall, they played a superior match. Maintaining that level of intensity throughout a contest becomes a great challenge, but great teams need to be able to perform at a high level over longer periods to be recognized for excellence. The 2011 team has the capacity to achieve at a high level and will look to continue the pressure over longer stretches against quality opponents.
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