Scouting Report

"Never show children and fools things half done." - Proverb

Melrose completed a pair of scrimmages against Andover and North Andover on Thursday and Friday. Both teams are perennially strong within the North.

Scrimmages encourage competition and improve teams' coordination, communication, positioning, and timing. The Veterans Memorial Middle School Gym looked in pristine condition on tape.

Within that context and reviewing the game tapes in depth, certain preliminary observations emerge. Comments will be generic rather than directed at individuals.

We can divide skills among offensive (serving, attacking, setting) and defensive (passing, digging, and blocking). Serve-receive is a 'transition' skill from defense to offense. Teams excelling at platform skills (serve-receive, digging, passing) are on their way to success.

Melrose appeared improved in every facet of the game, but especially so at serving and the platform skills. Serves had more pace and deception and accuracy was good considering the point in the preseason. Defensively, the front line blocking remains a strength despite Melrose's undersized squad. It is very premature to evaluate the attacking which requires more timing for development.

With the graduation of Jill Slabacheski and Alyssa DiRaffaele, there's plenty of competition for the open rotation in the back row and at the second outside hitter spot. The forthcoming scrimmage at the Medway play date tomorrow should help sort that out. Six games against quality teams from around the Commonwealth will provide the coaches with a lot of information. Coach Scott Celli has both the time and the luxury of a number of skilled players to fill those spots.

Wicked Local gives a preseason report on a primary Middlesex League competitor, Reading.