Updated Power Rankings and You See What You Look For

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely mine. The blog is not an official publication of MVB or any City of Melrose institution. 

Look for what you have, not for what you're afraid you don't.
Comparison isn't unflattering—it’s revealing.

"Experience is the best teacher, but sometimes the tuition is high." 

Melrose checks in at 20 with one game remaining. Nine teams below #32 have .500 or better records meaning nine play-in games (from number 24 to 32). 

My previous calculations were wrong with flawed assumptions. The MOV category calculation should go to 0.80 (+16 sets/20) + OPP rating of 1.184 which sums to 1.984. MVB is in a close cluster of teams from 2.04 to 1.967 (18 to 22). Dartmouth plays always tough Westborough and will have problems moving up. Mansfield has completed it's schedule.  So, it's anybody's guess. If I had to wager, I'd wager Melrose in the 12-21 game. 

What does MVB 25 have? 

• A record setting, Division 1 signed, middle in Sabine Wenzel
• A sophomore setter who ranks among Melrose's best at her age...in 2010, sophomore Brooke Bell had 532 assists including the playoffs. Sadie Smith has 497, among the leaders in the Commonwealth.
• Experienced upperclassmen like Emme Boyer and Maggie Shoemaker can be difference makers. 
• Junior libero Anna Burns has emerged as a defensive anchor and team leader.  
• Up and coming sophomore rotation regulars Ella Friedlaender, Elise Marchais, and Gen Overlan and defenders have bright futures. 
• MVB 25 has what some have described as "its best freshman class ever." 
• Freshman Dani DiGiorgio has 225. In 2024, Maggie Turner led MVB with 218 service points. Arguably, Dani is the best freshman DS in MVB history. 
• Freshman Adriana Santoriello owns the record for the second most kills for an MVB freshman, trailing only the great Victoria "V-Rex" Crovo. She has even more than Hannah Brickley, whom I consider the Queen of Melrose Volleyball - All-State three times. 
• Freshman Alisa Dautovic has the second most serve receptions on the team and third most service points. 
• Others wait in the wings. 

It takes time for a team to exceed the sum of its parts. At the top of Coach John Wooden's "Pyramid of Success," the words "Faith" and "Patience" flank the pinnacle, "Competitive Greatness." Belief and time are powerful.