Melrose Opens Season Wednesday, Hosting Peabody

Melrose hosts Peabody Wednesday to launch the 2022 campaign. Melrose has a short history of three games against the Tanners according to the MaxPreps history page. Last season Peabody showed a formidable defense and with experience it's likely to be even better. 

Melrose has a typical blend of experience and youth with six seniors and six underclassmen, three juniors and three sophomores. 

Melrose relies heavily on 'strength up the middle' with captains Chloe Gentile and Sadie Jaggers and setters Captain Gia Vlajkovic and Emma Desmond. 

With losses of All-State outside hitter Elena Soukos and All-Star libero Autumn Whelan, Melrose will reestablish both the front and back row. 

Historically, Melrose derived much of its offense via middle hitters, so this season may be more the norm than exception, although defying the trend of the dominant outside hitter. 

Coach Scott Celli provides the technical and tactical edge that puts players in position to succeed. But players own execution of the game plan. A team is more than twelve girls who wear the same uniform. 

When some teams come in to the Middle School Gym and win, it's their Super Bowl, the biggest win of their lives. Don't ever make it easy. 

Lagniappe (something extra). Years ago, as an assistant basketball coach in Middle School, the head coach asked me to address the girls after a devastating beatdown. I didn't say much. "You choose whether to stand up for yourselves or be pushed around without responding. How you play reflects how you live your lives." 

Jen Sinkler shares thoughts from legendary Cal rugby coach Jack Clark. Here's their leadership framework:

"We open up the leadership model; it’s not just the conventional model of the minority leading the majority. I just don’t happen to think that’s all that powerful. If I’m the leader, that means everyone else is a follower. I’m not happy with that...I think where people get that mixed up is they confuse rank — how you make decisions, who’s the boss — with the leadership model. On this team, the leadership model is open to everybody. For instance, even if you’re a freshman, you have the ability to make those around you better and more productive: Don’t be a distraction, be on time, know your stuff, play hard and well when you’re called on. Even if you’re not the star player, you’re contributing to that leadership model."