Grey Matter

First, congratulations to Bishop Fenwick and Coach Adam DeBaggis on a hard-fought victory, a Division 2 North title, and advancing to the state semifinals Thursday.

Coming off of a state championship, most teams have a hangover, losing talent, and rebuilding. Melrose didn't achieve its end outcome goal (a state championship), but learned a lot about itself during a 21 win season.

Attribution bias is a psychological defense where one blames external forces - weather, health, fatigue, playing conditions, officiating, the media, or other factors. In the end of the day, sports peak performance is about making plays not excuses.

Melrose played hard throughout, but at times couldn't maintain aggressive offense, in large part due to the paucity of Fenwick serious mistakes like service errors, defensive mistakes, and attack inefficiency.

Melrose jumped out to a 5-1 lead, which Fenwick narrowed to 5-4. At that point, Fenwick put two points on the board with one play, without any explanation from the official scorekeeper. Melrose and Fenwick had a to-and-fro outcome from there, with ties at 8, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, and 20. Melrose went up 22-20, 23-21, and 24-22, and had a chance to take the set at 24-23 but couldn't deliver the kill, and Fenwick closed them out behind the superior play of Kate Lipka.

Victoria Crovo dominated as a freshman with six kills, and Meri Lessing added four, with three for Marissa Cataldo.

Melrose fell behind 6-4 in the second set, with a phantom pancake dig not helping the locals. Melrose got as close as 7-6, but the wheels came off the wagon, and Fenwick opened up a 19-10 lead en route to a 25-11 tally.

Victoria Crovo was immense with three spectacular kills, and steady Meri Lessing had four in the frame.

In the final set, Melrose came out fast again, up 4-1, but Fenwick responded to go up 8-5. Melrose got as close as 8-7, but Fenwick extended their edge with 11-7 and 16-10 leads. Melrose got within three at 17-14, but the Crusaders opened it back up to 20-15, and Melrose could only get within 21-17 as Fenwick cruised to a 25-18 championship berth.

Meri Lessing fired in another four kills, Annalisa DeBari added two, and Cat Torpey and Marissa Cataldo had one apiece.

Game Summary: Bishop Fenwick used senior experience and strong play to defeat Melrose by playing more aggressive and more consistent volleyball. The Crusader attack limited Melrose from generating enough offense and making enough aggressive choices to get the winners necessary for championship play. Melrose has a bright future, with strong play from Meri Lessing overall and exceptional, at times, dominant play from freshman Victoria Crovo.

Success follows the '3 C's', the melange of concentration, composure, and confidence, and Fenwick brought more to the court today than Melrose.