Takeaways from Saturday's Action

Melrosians experienced a magnificent fall day, whether outside or taking in the Melrose - Duxbury match.

Although I've watched MVB since 2002, that doesn't make me a savant or volleyball whisperer. Here are impressions of team without personnel  breakdown. 

1) The match was one of the best road wins (not neutral sites) lately, not on par with sectional titles at Billerica or Duxbury, but satisfying. Performing on the road matters in 2024 because it's likely Melrose gets one lone home playoff game.

2) Every strong team is going to excel at most things and need improvement at others. You can't have many 'misplays' on defense because they usually lead to opponent points. There weren't many yesterday. Mediocre teams do a lot of bad things. Watch the Patriots at 9:30 from across the pond. 

3) Teams have to apply pressure on serve and have skill and will to withstand serve receive pressure. Melrose has improved both relative to earlier this season. 

4) There's a culture of excellence that teams have or don't. That's 'transferrable' to a degree to freshmen and sophomores, even when they're not in for crunch time now. It's about identity (this is who we are) and performance (this is how we play). Watching players like Leah, Maggie, Gg and others helps the next group learn what success takes. 

5) Superior athleticism matters. Strength and conditioning matters. Grace and power and skill require training - the "time and temperature" recently discussed. Many Melrose players are quicker and more athletic because they did the work. 

6) Some fans may not see the nuances of coaching, subtle strategic and personnel decisions that change outcomes. There's a there, there. 

7) Excellence can go unnoticed. You watch a shortstop field twenty grounders flawlessly and think "nothing to see here." The absence of errors and absence of 'bad decisions' define excellence. 

8) Aggressiveness (intent) and consistency usually win. The team is playing more aggressively, trusting themselves and each other. 

9) The officiating seldom decides matches. The officiating yesterday was the best I've seen this year. Neither team had grievances. 

10)Melrose continues to travel well. Considering the distance and the traffic, local fans made a good showing.