Consistency

Consistency rules. Excellent teams need consistency in the macro (general approach) and the micro (details):

• Attitude 
• Decision-making
• Habits 
• Work ethic 
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Aggressiveness
• Anticipation
• Footwork
• Platform skills (e.g. serve receive, digging, and passing)
• Serving
• Setting
• Hitting and blocking 

It sounds like a lot because it is. For example, blocking requires reading the opposition, anticipation and decision-making, footwork to get to the block, and the hand position and timing to make the block. It can be hard for the middles to get to the outside. Get past hard. Make the play. 

Excellent teams won't beat themselves. You have to take it from them to define "signature wins." The first "signature win" I remember was beating 22-0 AC in the sectional final in 2003. AC had a pair of 6'2" middles and had not lost a set coming into the match. Melrose disposed of them 3-0 and left them in shock. 

There have been many since. Every sectional title is one. In 2009 beating Barnstable, the "it" program of Massachusetts was certainly one. The State Title game in 2012 was anticlimactic in a way because Melrose had beaten tougher (e.g. Canton) teams along the way. 

You must earn your legacy through 'sweat equity' and develop the mental toughness to compete at the highest level every day. That means consistency in all things. 

Lagniappe. Westborough versus Barnstable, two of the elite teams in the state. Varsity game starts around 1 hour and 50 minutes.