Culture. Nicole Trudeau called Melrose a Legacy Program. Coach Scott Celli, the players, and supportive families established a Culture of Excellence where high performance and winning are the expectation.
Participation is merit-based. No seniority system determines opportunity. Yes, the most successful teams thrived on experience. But underclassmen regularly force their way onto the court through skill and will. The players performing best will get on the court next season, regardless of their play this season. A former Patriot practice squad player remarked that players work because they know Coach Belichick only cares about performance, not draft status or salary.
Analytics reflect performance. Coaches are a lot like Santa Claus. They know who's been naughty and who's been nice. Coach Celli tracks everything. As Billy Beane said in Moneyball, "if he's such a good hitter, why doesn't he hit better?"
Leadership. Leadership is earned not bestowed. Victoria Crovo demonstrated skill, toughness, competitive fire, and leadership on the court during her four years. She received a leadership position early in her career, because her presence demanded it.
Growth. Melrose volleyball fosters competition. Reserve players have more skills than teams from the early and mid 2000s. Some players with limited playing time would have played a lot a decade ago. Maintain your growth mindset.
Coaches look for skill, size, athleticism, toughness, resilience, attitude, commitment, discipline, effort, and more. Those principles never change. Winning is supposed to be hard. That's what makes it meaningful.
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