Beware the Narrative Fallacy. It's About TLC.

Stories help us organize the world. They help us 'order' the world into cause-and-effect. The problem is that they often aren't true.

Someone gets a job and we attribute it to politics or nepotism or a favor, when they simply were deemed more qualified.

Regardless of the 'narrative' surrounding teams, high performance usually follows TLC - talent, leadership, competitiveness.

Talent. "It's not the X's and O's, its the Jimmies and Joes." The Roman philosopher Seneca gets credited with "luck is when preparation meets opportunity." Few wins or seasons are decided by luck. 

Talent derives from blends of size, athleticism, and skill. Experience helps and Melrose has mostly cheese and few holes. Like the past three seasons, MVB has opportunity at the primary outside hitter with the graduation of Sadie Jaggers. Someone has to step up and assume that role. 

Leadership. Leadership arises from both coaches and players. Melrose has an experienced staff with MVCA Hall of Fame Coach Scott Celli at the helm. And player-driven leadership matters as players on the court have the immediate opportunity to drive and interrupt runs. 

Competitiveness. What does that mean? 

• Play harder for longer.
• Create advantages. 
• Close out games. 
• "Win anyway." Find a way to get it done.
• Concede nothing. Do not quit. 

Lagniappe. Push through. Melrose has fared well in jousts as a lot of dual sport (volleyball-basketball) players had strength, size, and jump to compete. Today's video makes technique suggestions. 

Lagniappe 2. Setting tweaks.