Looking Forward by Looking Backward (Melrose - Canton 2012)

Melrose won the State Volleyball Championship in 2012 with no weaknesses. They had elite setting (Brooke Bell), three dynamite hitters in the post-season (Sarah McGowan, Rachel Johnson, Jen Cain), the Great Wall (Kayla Wyland and Johnson), back row brilliance (Jill MacInnes, Amanda Commito, Allie Nolan), a dynamite designated server (Cassidy Barbaro) and the athletic excellence of Analisa Di Bari. 

Four players (Bell, McGowan in 2012, MacInnes in 2013, Nolan in 2014) from that team eventually earned All-State recognition. And Jen Cain played high level college volleyball at Merrimack. 

McGowan along with Hannah Brickley were Melrose's best "tip attack" specialists. The Wyland-Johnson blocking was elite. Almost nothing hit the floor against the back row. There's a lot for young players to study. (Pro tip: watch highlights on slow-motion playback). 

And like Bill Belichick, Coach Scott Celli liked the southpaw servers. 

They beat Canton in straight sets and arguably Canton was the best team they faced in the postseason. It's worth studying their aggression, consistency, and integrated play. 

Bonus: Check out the pancake dig by Di Bari