Nothing succeeds like success. The volleyball season flies by and we're into the final week.
10) Babies on board. The roster is young, with one senior, five juniors, seven sophomores, and two freshmen
Six of the top nine players (don't underestimate Sydney Doherty) are sophomores. This is the youngest championship team in Melrose volleyball history, by far. The sophomore class could develop into the best class ever at Melrose.
9) Two players expected to contribute heavily this season (Amanda and Brittany) missed virtually the whole season with injuries.
8) The team has 'peaked' at the right time, the post-season.
7) Never underestimate the role of Assistant Coach Steve Wall, another instructor and a tall force in practice scrimmages.
6) Infrastructure...the youth developmental program has never been better.
5) Steady as she goes. Brooke Bell has been steady, day in, day out.
4) Senior leadership counts, and Athena Ziavras has done the job.
3) Key lineup realignments produced more strength in both the front row and the back.
2) Coach Scott Celli has never done a better job. They game-planned against North Reading, and never quit against Bishop Fenwick when they could have packed their tent.
Athletes, friends and family, and fans experience unique emotion not available day-to-day with rare exception.
Sometimes the events involve your favorite professional teams...but they're not 'personal'.
No matter our means, we can't buy or store the euphoria of victory, the intersection of adrenaline and serotonin that effortlessly appear. How many non-athletic events can produce the same experience intensity? The birth of a child, a special relationship, or a unique achievement or award might do it, but how often do truly special memories happen?
Melrose volleyball has given us so many of these moments...just to name a few:
2002 Overtime comeback 5 set playoff win against Dracut
2003 D2 North title against undefeated AC that had not lost an individual game
2004 D2 North title against Dracut
2005 5 set victory against D1 state champion runner-up Andover
2005 D2 North title run and state championship appearance
2008 comeback victory against North Reading
2009 victory against undefeated Barnstable
2009 D2 North 5 set win against North Reading
2010 D2 North 5 set win against Bishop Fenwick
How many of us can quickly name the last five Presidents or governors? But if someone asks us our favorite grammar school or high school teacher or coach, would we have no answer?
I've been fortunate to be a small part of a special environment, as a volleyball parent (2002-2005) and a peripheral reporter since. I've been lucky to share the thrill of victory, the indelible memories, and am old enough not to take them for granted. Hold on to your dreams...and make some more memories.
The Melrose Patch brings you the championship point. Jill Slabacheski serves and Fenwick sends a 'free ball' back. Rachel Johnson delivers a perfect pass to Brooke Bell, who sets Athena Ziavras from the outside attack, who wipes the block and seals the victory.
Athena joinsan ever-expanding list of Melrose volleyballers who have achieved such recognition (Beginning in 2005, honors were broken down by division)
2005 Karen Sen, Paula Sen
2007 Hannah Brickley
2008 Hannah Brickley
2009 Hannah Brickley, Colleen Hanscom
2010 Athena Ziavras
If it's Melrose volleyball news, you almost always get it here first.
Some sports lend themselves to statistical analysis, milestones, and machinations. People remember 714 (Babe Ruth home runs) or 755 (Hank Aaron home runs), or 20,000 points in basketball and so forth. Still, at the end of the day, winning is the only statistic that matters.
Coach Celli has updated the statistics at Maxpreps.com and yesterday's game had some fascinating ones.
Athena Ziavras had 22 kills yesterday
Brooke Bell added an astonishing career high 44 assists yesterday, going over 500 for the season (last season Colleen Hanscom had 513)
Brooke now has 320/322 successful serves for the season, which is certainly among the leaders in the known universe
Athena is tied for tenth in total kills in Massachusetts in the Maxpreps.com rankings
Brooke is second in Massachusetts in assists and tenth in assists per game
Inquiring minds asked how Melrose could replace the 450 kills from Hannah Brickley and Laura Irwin. Athena, Rachel Johnson (138), and Jill Slabacheski have put up 489 with at least one game to go.
For the season, Melrose has successfully served 94.5 percent; by comparison, two top ranked Division I teams, Andover and Barnstable check in a 92.9 and 88 percent per Maxpreps, although with more service aces. Higher risk usually equals differential reward.
Melrose's next opponent, Fairhaven, checks in with a 19-4 record. Their losses came twice to Case (Division 3, South semifinalist) and New Bedford (lost to Division I, South semifinalist Barnstable). They also defeated Bourne, a perennially competitive team twice. Like Melrose, they have a younger team, with only two seniors.
Fairhaven's big guns are Kara Charette (333 kills) and Kay Mullen (167 kills), and they appear to use a two setter offense, as their setters have 352 and 195 assists respectively.
Fairhaven is excited to go to the semifinals and face Bishop Fenwick...oops...like Melrose, they lost game one in their sectional, won the next two, lost the fourth, and won the final. Charette had 29 kills in the win, and Melrose will need to control her, just as they kept All-State middle hitter Kirsten Morrison somewhat limited against North Reading.
Winning a sectional title never comes easily. Winning after graduating a senior core including a pair of All-State players (Hannah Brickley and Colleen Hanscom) makes it harder still. Winning with a new core of six sophomores, a pair of juniors, and one senior requires great chemistry. But special players and championship teams rise up in the big moments, and Melrose did so today, staving off one match point and defeating Bishop Fenwick 3-2. Coaches Scott Celli, Steve Wall, and Amanda Basteri transformed a young team into champions.
After processing to the "Olympic Theme", Melrose and Bishop Fenwick went toe-to-toe in Andover's Dunn Gymnasium, a facility with great sight lines, but an unacceptably low ceiling that altered far too many balls overall.
The Crusaders came out strong in set one, scoring the first two points. Melrose seemed intimidated by the low overhead, and never got closer than 2-1 and 9-7. Fenwick remained in control for the entire game, stretching the lead to 18-10. Melrose rallied to within 18-15, but couldn't generate much offense as Fenwick blocked effectively and Melrose played a lot of "free balls". Melrose could generate only six kills for the entire game, and struggled with very low attack percentages as its big hitters couldn't get untracked, with attacks soaring long. Fenwick took the set 25-19, and no Lady Raider had more than one kill.
Melrose emerged in the second set energized and scored the first five points including a pair of kills from Senior Athena Ziavras and one from Rachel Johnson. Melrose extended the lead to 14-7 and 19-14, but Fenwick kept coming back evening the set at 22. But Melrose responded with a Sarah McGowan winner and a crafty hit by Sophomore All-league setter Brooke Bell to even the match, winning 25-23. Melrose added eleven kills in the frame, including five from Athena, and a pair from Sarah and Jill Slabacheski.
The Lady Raiders played even better in the third stanza, although the set was even at 1,3,4,5, and 7 before Melrose started to pull away. The hitters had their mojo in tow, as Melrose delivered fifteen kills, most on Bell assists. Athena had six more scores, Sarah three, and Rachel and Jill each delivered two. Melrose had leads of 17-11 and 20-14, but the Crusaders kept hanging around with effective digging and blocking. Melrose went up 22-19 and inexplicably got a rotation error called by the floor official. I don't recall seeing a Melrose rotation error in years. But after a pair of monstrous Athena kills, everyone in the gym expected Brooke to set her on the outside, and she crossed up the defense with a dink to win 25-22.
As successful was set three, set four proved an unmitigated disaster. After Melrose led early 3-2, Fenwick climbed on top 6-3 and 11-6. After a Melrose rally to 13-12, Fenwick ran off a dozen of the last thirteen points to kick the Lady Raiders to the curb and threaten their championship dreams. Athena had three kills and Brooke two among Melrose's seven. The large contingent of Melrose fans exhorted the Lady Raiders to come back.
During the break, Coach Steve Wall was seen giving the players about the most animated pep talk imaginable, maybe in the Good Cop/Bad Cop tradition.
But whatever the coaches said, the ladies came out playing their hearts out. Fenwick still took the first two, before Melrose went up 5-2, then got derailed by a service error. From a 6-3 advantage, Melrose surrendered four consecutive points, then tied it at 7 on a Kayla Wyland winner at the net. Fenwick scored the next point leading at the change of ends.
Melrose benefited from a BF service error at eight, leading to a mini-run including another K(ayla)-Kill to go up 11-8, and after Fenwick got a winner at nine, they committed yet another service error to trail 12-9 in the game to 15. From a 13-9 lead, Melrose yielded five consecutive points to face elimination at 13-14. In the ensuing rally, a Bell soft ball was mishandled and Melrose stayed alive. Rachel Johnson had a monster point at 15 with a deep push down the sidelines to give Melrose its own match point, but BF found the range and tied the score. In extra points, Fenwick committed the ultimate mortal sin with its fourth service error of the set, and Melrose had match point again. Melrose handled the return of service, and Bell set Ziavras outside, who wiped the block for the 17-15 win and the celebration began. The steady senior, Athena had three huge kills in the set, ably assisted by sophomores Wyland and Johnson who each delivered a pair.
Game Analysis: Melrose survived and advanced by regrouping to reverse the catastrophic fourth game, just as they had overcome flat play in the first game. Fenwick deserved lots of credit for innovative defensive strategy, excellent blocking, and strong digging in the back row.
A player who gets little credit statistically, Jen Cain had a particularly steady game defensively. Middlesex All-League players Athena and Brooke excelled, both with dominant efforts down the stretch, and Jill and Sarah both pounded the ball offensively while Alyssa DiRaffaele held the fort in the back.
Unofficially, Athena had 18 kills. At times, Melrose's youth showed, but in the end, even the young 'uns had the heart to close it out. Four final set service errors doomed the Crusaders, with miscues leading 8-7, trailing 11-9, and tied at 15. Melrose did enough to win, and as much as anything, refused to lose, taking advantage of what was available.
Melrose faces south winner Fairhaven, which defeated Bishop Feehan (3-2), Tuesday at 7 PM at Newton South in the state semifinals.
The Lady Raiders celebrate their fifth Division 2 North title in eight years, and a repeat of last year's title with a mostly new cast of characters.
A hard-fought victory for the Lady Raiders and their superb coaching staff.
Captains courageous, Jill Slabacheski (8), Athena Ziavras (33), and Alyssa DiRaffaele savor the spoils of victory. All three were major contributors to the title last season and today.
*A web site for Melrose fans, players, and families. Our goal is to make Johnny Most seem like an impartial observer...click the photos if you're not certain you have the whole frame.
Morgan Wootten of DeMatha High School has been one of the top high school basketball coaches for decades. His philosophy is simple:
Play hard
Play smart
Play together
Have fun
An old saying that I remember goes, "it's amazing what you can accomplish when nobody cares who gets the credit." And that sums up the way Melrose volleyball has functioned during the past decade...while getting better all the time.
You might want to watch from 7 minutes on to get the lay of the land (and the low ceiling) at Dunn Gymnasium. Most of the Melrose players have been here before...
Coaches Scott Celli and Steve Wall have been through a lot of wars at Andover High School.
Just a little over two months ago, this was the scene at the Middle School.
Melrose has been to the dragon's lair and slain them in our house.
Melrose has always played best in the big games.
Melrose does a lot of its best work at the net...the symbiotic relationship between Melrose basketball and volleyball remains a dominant theme.
Communication leads to execution.
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The players on the floor are only as good as the players whom they practice against every day make them.
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Youth and inexperience are not synonymous.
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If we analyze experiences over a lifetime, the memories usually come from 'non-linear' activity. This doesn't nullify analytical, rational, logical thinking. But it celebrates creativity and extraordinary experience, often charged by emotional inputs. Athletic achievement often falls into the latter. The Yankees having the best record over a decade looks at the resource input and the expected output. At least for me, the second smallest city in Massachusetts going to eight consecutive Division 2 North Championships represents the triumph of nonlinearity.
On television, the players always say "Hi, Mom", but don't forget that dads take as much pride in the players' achievements as moms.
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Some of the first ladies of Melrose volleyball.
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Athena Ziavras makes it happen.
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Jen Cain doesn't add big statistics...just helps the team win.
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Sarah McGowan has plenty of fans and the potential to be one of the top players in Melrose history.
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Donna Larsson has made great contributions to reporting Melrose sports.
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Expect a big crowd at Andover at 3 P.M. tomorrow.
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Rachel Johnson might not be as tall as All-State middle hitter Kirsten Morrison, but she compensates with timing and 'ups'.
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Jill Slabacheski with the "golden" touch.
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How could Don Norris 'know' that Kayla Wyland would "stand out"?
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The lollipops might help bring them out, but the volleyball brings them back.
Come and support the Lady Raiders at Andover High School's Dunn Gym tomorrow at 3 PM.
Don Norris works assiduously to photograph and edit Melrose volleyball pictures. Last evening, he sent some via Email, which didn't meet his high standards. Here are some better ones, with more to follow. Click the shots to get the whole frame.
The fans showed their colors last night in helping Melrose to its 20th win of the campaign.
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Volleyball is rapidly becoming the people's choice for sports in Melrose.
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Dig it! Athena goes low for the dig while Alyssa DiRaffaele (30) and Rachel Johnson look on.
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The long arm of the law, Kayla Wyland was the new sheriff in town at the net.
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Melrose got plenty of help from the student section.
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Athena crushes a kill, with basketball banners showing the Lady Raider winning tradition.
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New kids on the block. Sophomores Sarah McGowan (13) and Kayla Wyland etch their names in Melrose volleyball lore.
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The thrill of victory. Volleyballers celebrate match point and an eighth consecutive trip to the Division 2 North finals.
Melrose faced destiny in its rematch with its Division 2 North finals opponent from last season, and sent North Reading home empty-handed, with a powerful 25-21, 25-17, 25-19 victory at the Middle School Gymnasium.
With the victory Melrose achieved another 20 win season and advances to Andover's Dunn Gymnasium for the D2 North finals for the eighth consecutive season. Melrose accomplished this with one senior (tri-captain Athena Ziavras), two juniors (tricaptains Alyssa DiRaffaele and Jill Slabacheski), and five sophomores among its top eight rotation.
Melrose senior Athena Ziavras is all smiles after the D2 North semifinal victory.
Before the large crowd, Melrose started slowly as North Reading jumped out quickly to lead 7-2 behind All-State middle hitter Kirsten Morrison and senior tricaptain Bailey Eis. But Melrose found its footing, starting to build an offensive melody, a theme that would continue from there out. Brooke Bell found a hole off the pass to close it to 7-3, and Sarah Morrison tipped in a kill. North Reading extended the lead to 11-7, but Melrose put a 9-0 run on to remove all doubt. From there, the Hornets got within three at 19-16 and 22-20, but outstanding defense forced North Reading errors, and the hosts closed it out with a beautiful two handed push to the corner from Athena.
Unofficially, Melrose had eleven kills and one service error. Athena and Brooke had a trio of kills apiece, Rachel Johnson and Sarah a pair each.
The second set saw the emergence of the player of the match, sophomore Kayla Wyland, whose insertion into the rotation after the Reading game marked a turning point in the season. The Johnson-Ziavras-Wyland front dominated, and Wyland was the kryptonite for Morrison, as she and Rachel owned the action at the net. Melrose had a record (as best as we can recall) sixteen kills in the stanza, including six for Kayla, four for Athena, three for Sarah, and two for Rachel. Kayla simply dominated with instinctive, athletic play at the net.
Melrose went out 5-2 in game two, and after the Hornets closed within one, Melrose moved into overdrive, with a 19-7 rampage feature four Wyland kills. North Reading time outs and efforts from Morrison simply proved too little and Melrose closed the frame on a visitor service error.
Melrose Weekly reported Jen Gentile with sophomore opposite Kayla Wyland.
The final set saw North Reading determined to make a stand. Melrose jumped ahead 3-1, but the Green and Gold rebounded with a 6-1 run to go up 7-4. Melrose continued to battle and tied the game at 8, 9, 12, and 13, before Melrose broke ahead 15-13 with a pair of Ziavras kills. North Reading wouldn't go away, evening the game at 16 and 17, but Melrose benefited from Hornet miscues to go up 20-17. The Hornets got a point at 18, but the final 8-2 Melrose run completed the raid and the ginger ale was on ice.
Melrose added another 11 kills, including a crippling smash by Jill at 24, three more Kayla kills, two each from Brooke, Sarah, and Athena.
Game Analysis: Coaches Scott Celli and Steve Wall decided just after mid-season that a lineup realignment could create better blocking and stabilize the defense, and get another strong hitter into the mix in Sarah McGowan. He used a similar formula in 2003 en route to Melrose's first D2 North championship. What the coaches couldn't know was that the team would develop rapidly, the communication would improve and the offense would benefit as much as the defense. Jen Cain played flawlessly on defense.
Tonight the young Lady Raiders simply grew up against an experienced, tournament-tested opponent (19-2) with an All-State middle hitter. They overwhelmed an upper echelon team and played their toughest in the big moments, earning a trip to the 'ship. The Lady Raiders play for the D2 North title Saturday at Andover at 3 P.M.
Photos courtesy of Don Norris. Always click to see the whole frame.
Expect an overflow crowd tomorrow night in the long-awaited rematch between Melrose and North Reading. These teams have played some tough battles through the years in the North Shore League and old rivals meet again in the D2 North Semifinals.
Sarah McGowan provides both power offense and good blocking technique at the net.
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Coach Scott Celli has been the architect of nine consecutive playoff teams.
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Hands up!
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Rachel Wolley and Brittany Adelman remind us that volleyball brings people together.
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A crowd of over 500 attended the Melrose-Winchester quarterfinal match.
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Sydney Doherty (24) had three kills in set two, ably assisted by (left to right) Alyssa DiRaffaele, Athena Ziavras, Jen Cain, and Sarah McGowan.
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Sophomores Rachel Johnson and Brooke Bell on the block.
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Watertown AD Mike Lahiff shares a moment with Superintendent Casey.
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Sophomore Kayla Wyland gets some coaching instruction.
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Jill Slabacheski sees everything.
Like the sprawling dig below.
Freshman Rachel Ardizzoni got her first varsity appearance in the post-season.
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As they say in Vegas, Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Melrose (19-2) hosts the North Reading Hornets (19-2) tomorrow at the Middle School Gymnasium. I think they'll need to roll out the auxiliary stands for that one. You won't want to miss a thing.
