"Gritty not Pretty"

Sport mirrors society. Respect and perspective should extend into competition and sportsmanship.

One of the key "influence" principles is liking. 

Learn from others, even if we don't "like" them. Everyone offers a lesson—sometimes an example to follow, sometimes a mistake to avoid.

If someone watched how MVB played last night, what lessons might they take away?

1. Resilience. "Adversity is our companion."

2. Persistence. Coach Gregg Popovich's "Pound the Rock" advice applied. "If it takes a hundred hits to break it, pound the rock."

3. Body language. Body language communicates lessons to teammates, opponents, and coaches. "We live in the heat."

4. Stay the course. The plan included wearing down the middles with pin hitting. "Make them move."

5. "Use the whole field." Nobody can learn to "hit line" overnight. Make the defense defend sideline to sideline, net to endline. 

Dustin Hoffman's point..."don't judge people on their appearance." Melrose volleyball, "gritty not pretty."