Snaps: Melrose - AC

Courtesy of Steve Karampalas. Click images to enlarge. 

"Gotcha"

Alum Katie "Katie D" Donovan

Under the Hood

All opinions expressed within are solely those of the author. This journal is not an official arm of the City of Melrose, the Melrose School Department, Melrose High School, the Athletic Department, or the Melrose Volleyball team.

There's a fascinating new book, The Captain Class, with Sam Walker examining the sixteen most dominant teams in sports history and why. He's not talking about high school or even college. You won't find Eileen Donahue (Watertown field hockey, 184 game winning streak) or Hal Croft (Reading track, 263 dual meet streak), because those don't happen in pro sports. But I digress, because we see high school sports this time of year. 

High school sports don't permit extreme continuity because most players only get four years, with rare exceptions (e.g. players starting varsity as a middle schooler, like Brianne Stepherson at Masco/BC). 

What has that got to do with Melrose volleyball? As Simon Sinek says, "what do all my failed relationships have in common? Me." And Melrose's continuous success approaching two decades has a common theme, Coach Scott Celli. 

Celli has coached over four hundred volleyball wins, a state championship, seven sectional champions, and a myriad of league championships. He's been like a Thermos, keeping hot things hot and cold things cold. How does he do it? 

First, he emphasizes leadership. The players read and discuss Jay Bilas' Toughness, a book about character and leadership. The captaincy process of application, interview, review, qualification, election, and selection informs the leadership legacy. The culture blends work and fun, Queen of the Court. Opportunity flows according to ability and development, producing a steady stream of quality. The non-league schedule challenges. Melrose will go anywhere and play anyone, as he's not afraid to lose. Melrose has lost to Barnstable, the premier girls' high school volleyball team in Massachusetts, and beaten them. 

But he's not Mr. Popularity or without critics. The program could be considered harshly Darwinian. It's hard to make the team and hard to earn playing time, because "winning is demanding." There is no 'natural progression' from freshman, to JV, to varsity. There is no seniority system. Underclassmen can earn captaincy through leadership on and off the court. There is no guaranteed playing time. The rotation shortens against quality opponents. You can get outplayed and lose your job. Senior Night hasn't always even guaranteed playing time for seniors. 

Coach Celli is more like Vince Lombardi (Packer Sweep) or Red Auerbach (six plays) than Hank Stram or Mike Martz (Greatest Show on Turf). Legendary basketball coach Don Meyer shared three types of coaching, blind enthusiasm, sophisticated complexity, and mature simplicity. Celli is the latter. In most sports, winning emerges via skill and will; you cannot trick your way to championships. Melrose has historically done fewer things (quick sets, complex sets, back row hitting) in favor of blander fundamentals. I've heard coaches comments like "they don't do so much, but what they do, they do well" or "they just control the ball." 

"The magic is in the work." Volleyball is fun. Winning is hard. 


It's hard...well, it's not THAT hard.

Game 10: Melrose 3 Arlington Catholic 0

Taxidermy. The Lady Raiders (10-0) performed surgery on the 23rd-ranked AC Cougars, stuffing the undefeated visitors 25-7, 25-19, 25-14. The win was Melrose's tenth consecutive as Maxprep's 6th ranked squad played their most complete match of the season. AC drops to 7-1 with the defeat. 

Melrose and AC have fought some historic battles, dating from 2003, when Melrose upset the 22-0 Cougars in the D2 North Championship, sweeping a team that had not lost a set all season. 

Melrose roared out to an 11-1 lead in the first set, as Emma Randolph dominated the net with kills, tips, and stuff blocks. AC literally had to retreat off the net. But their overall excellence and consistency, led by senior captains Lily Fitzgerald, Saoirse Connolly, Jill Mercer, and Lydia Lombardo, overwhelmed the Cougars. 

The second set proved competitive as AC hung around until a tie at 17-17. But Melrose's "competitive fury" resumed control and cruised to an 8-2 closing run to take the set. 

The final set saw a resumption of Melrose control at they doubled up the visitors at 10-5 and 20-10 en route to 25-14. The back row defense led by Mercer, Lombardo, Fitzgerald, Nicole Abbott, Mary Kate Mahoney, and Erin Torpey was outstanding throughout. Grace Davis continues to expand her role as the opposite. 

Game Notes: Coach Scott Celli had high praise for Melrose's serve receive and passing that launched numerous attacks. He also lauded Erin Torpey's overall play. 

Net news. Melrose continues as one of three Middlesex League teams in the Maxpreps.com rankings. The "usual suspects" Barnstable, Newton North, Westborough, and Andover are at the top. Hamilton-Wenham emerges as a threat in the North section. 

One Way

SINGLE-MINDED WAY   "Even if the sun were to rise from the west, the Bodhisvatta has only one way. - Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

How you play is how you live. Your attitude and your attention to detail inform your success.

"Whatever you do, it should be an expression of the same deep activity." Think about the transformation of practice into execution. Repetition is that transformation. 

Morse code tattoo...TTP (Trust the Process)

Focus on the process. "In the midst of noise and change, your mind will be quiet and stable." 

Be here now. Concentrate on this play, this serve, this pass. Simplify. Clarify. 

Clear the extras...worry, anticipation, distraction, hubris. 

"You do not need to feel great to play great. You can feel all kinds of ways and still play great. Some games you will feel overly excited and energized, and your challenge will be to relax and be cool. Some games you will feel fatigued and fearful, and your challenge will be to act aggressive. Some games you will feel amazing, and your challenge will be to attack relentlessly and have no mercy on the competition." - Graham Betchart, in Play Present

Regardless of the situation, focus on bringing your best, right now. One way. 

Scores of note:

Hamilton-Wenham 3   Reading 0
Hopkinton 3   Notre Dame Academy 0

(Hopkinton is the defending D2 champion, now in Division 1)

First Look: Melrose - Wakefield Images

Courtesy of Steve Karampalas...I'm in a rush, so this is part of the group. Click images to enlarge. 

JV Snaps*

*Courtesy of Bill Heafey (click to enlarge photos)

There is a lot of young talent on the JV. Some would be starting on other Middlesex League varsity teams this season.