Monday, October 22, 2012
Melrose - Cambridge Imagery and One More
Photographs courtesy of Don Norris. Photographs posted as is.
Your Melrose career assist leader, Brooke Bell.
Sarah McGowan fires home a slam.
Kind of looking like a trip to the woodshed happening here.
A little late, a screen capture of a great J-Mac dig against Westborough.
Game 19: Melrose 3 Cambridge R&L 0
Melrose traveled to Cambridge and beat Rindge and Latin 25-10, 25-13, and 25-16. Melrose moves to 19-0 and hosts Stoneham Wednesday at the Middle School.
The hosts took a quick 2-0 lead before a quartet of Sarah McGowan kills put Melrose ahead for good. Melrose took a 7-3 lead and never looked back, as Cambridge never got closer than four at 10-6. An eight point run from 14-8 during a Cassidy Barbaro service run iced the set.
Sarah had six kills, abetted by three for Rachel Johnson and one apiece for Annalisa DeBari and setter Brooke Bell.
The second set saw Melrose again come out slow, trailing 3-0, but an 8-2 run saw control of the set. Cambridge got within 12-10 and 13-12 before a closing ten point run from 15-13, again on a Barbaro service run captured the set.
Seven McGowan kills paced the Lady Raiders in the set and Melrose went service error free.
Melrose controlled the action in set three with a quick 12-3 lead spearheaded by a trio of McGowan winners. Five Melrose aces also added to the rout.
Melrose remains at number five in the Maxpreps.com computer rankings. Today Westborough fell to number one Barnstable 25-21, 25-23, 25-11.
The hosts took a quick 2-0 lead before a quartet of Sarah McGowan kills put Melrose ahead for good. Melrose took a 7-3 lead and never looked back, as Cambridge never got closer than four at 10-6. An eight point run from 14-8 during a Cassidy Barbaro service run iced the set.
Sarah had six kills, abetted by three for Rachel Johnson and one apiece for Annalisa DeBari and setter Brooke Bell.
The second set saw Melrose again come out slow, trailing 3-0, but an 8-2 run saw control of the set. Cambridge got within 12-10 and 13-12 before a closing ten point run from 15-13, again on a Barbaro service run captured the set.
Seven McGowan kills paced the Lady Raiders in the set and Melrose went service error free.
Melrose controlled the action in set three with a quick 12-3 lead spearheaded by a trio of McGowan winners. Five Melrose aces also added to the rout.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Winner's Curse
In "The Winner's Curse" Richard Thaler wrote about the economic difficulties attendant with 'successful' transactions. In other words, "be careful what you wish for."
Everyone can't be the focal point of a team. Alan Williams wrote a terrific book (Teammates Matter) about his experience as a walk-on at Wake Forest, with 59 minutes of playing time in four years. His career encapsulated the highs and lows available to collegians. Although he made the team, that didn't mean he received equal treatment from everyone involved. When they handed out team travel bags, he didn't get one. Later, he found one in his locker, which he realized belonged to the star of the team who had relinquished his.
Legendary Coach Phil Jackson writes about his sport "basketball is sharing." He emphasizes the importance of finding ways to help teammates. Another coach writes, "the star of the team is the team." Because great and conflicting emotion accompanies sports, we must find ways to balance ego, confidence, and humility .
Sometimes asking the right questions points us in the right direction. "How can I be the best teammate I can be" or "what can I do to help the team?"
It's a lot easier to be a player than a parent...sometimes what is best for our youngster isn't what is best for the team. It's a lot easier to watch the games without a filial interest. THAT is the winner's curse.
Everyone can't be the focal point of a team. Alan Williams wrote a terrific book (Teammates Matter) about his experience as a walk-on at Wake Forest, with 59 minutes of playing time in four years. His career encapsulated the highs and lows available to collegians. Although he made the team, that didn't mean he received equal treatment from everyone involved. When they handed out team travel bags, he didn't get one. Later, he found one in his locker, which he realized belonged to the star of the team who had relinquished his.
Legendary Coach Phil Jackson writes about his sport "basketball is sharing." He emphasizes the importance of finding ways to help teammates. Another coach writes, "the star of the team is the team." Because great and conflicting emotion accompanies sports, we must find ways to balance ego, confidence, and humility .
Sometimes asking the right questions points us in the right direction. "How can I be the best teammate I can be" or "what can I do to help the team?"
The Boston Globe Top 20
Under-rated? First glance....Notre Dame (Hingham), Hopkinton, Westborough, Frontier, Central Catholic, and Medway. Not all inclusive, just quick thoughts.
The Leader
Coaching principles begin with leadership, preparation, and a solution-focused approached. The Red Sox' disaster this season reflects what happens without cogent, effective leadership.
How do coaches succeed? It begins with 'shun' - inspiration and preparation.
John Wooden is one of sports' legendary coaching figures...who shared much of his ideology for all of us who want to improve. The Coaching Toolbox shares his thoughts. As a part-time coach, I want players to know and love the game as I do...and someday share that knowledge with others.
An excerpt:
The leader keeps his eyes on high goals. He strives to make efforts of his followers and himself contribute to the enrichment of personality, the achievement of more abundant living for all, and the improvement of all.
How do coaches succeed? It begins with 'shun' - inspiration and preparation.
John Wooden is one of sports' legendary coaching figures...who shared much of his ideology for all of us who want to improve. The Coaching Toolbox shares his thoughts. As a part-time coach, I want players to know and love the game as I do...and someday share that knowledge with others.
An excerpt:
The leader keeps his eyes on high goals. He strives to make efforts of his followers and himself contribute to the enrichment of personality, the achievement of more abundant living for all, and the improvement of all.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
JV and Frosh Photographs
Courtesy of Jeff Mate'.
It's important to remember that today's JV players will be on the front (and back) lines before you know it.
Anatomy of a Kill and More
Fans watch volleyball, but there's more to the "inside game". A review of player technique illustrates volleyball principles. I have done frame-by-frame analysis and chosen illustrative shots. Click to enlarge shots.
Here's a sequence leading to Jen Cain's kill at the end of set one. Note how she starts her run up near the ten foot line. She takes a right-left step and launches into attack position with the arm swing prepared for impact.
Note how Westborough's big hitter Samantha Kehoe starts even farther back, behind the ten-foot line. The setter has just released the ball and the hitter is gathering momentum. She goes with a right-left-right sequence and launches into the attack, which was blocked.
Here's Sarah McGowan with a middle attack. Note how Sarah is at the ten-foot line...she makes a classic back arm thrust to prepare to launch (second and third photo)...in the fifth shot you can see her back arched and arm cocked prepared to attack...this attack also was double blocked.
Now for something different. In set three, Westborough attacks...
The ball is tipped at the net and deflects off a Melrose player. Note Amanda Commito to the right of Jen Cain (10).
With remarkable quickness, she dives to the floor, palm down.
You can see that she makes the "pancake dig" and keeps the ball in play, as it bounces up to about waist high.
Jen Cain is there to clean up and you see the ball (rising blur) as she hits it over the net. You also see the official having already called the point for Westborough. Sometimes the hand is quicker than the eye on the tough calls.
A truly remarkable sequence from Amanda and Jen as neither gave up on the play.
Now for something different. In set three, Westborough attacks...
A truly remarkable sequence from Amanda and Jen as neither gave up on the play.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Game 18: Melrose 3 Wilmington 0
Melrose (18-0) continued its roadwork with a 3-0 victory at Wilmington winning 25-8, 25-6, and 25-12.
I finished watching the video of Wednesday's victory at Westborough where the combination of platform skills, blocking, and offensive versatility overcame a strong, athletic and tall team on the road. It would be easy for Melrose to have a psychological letdown on short rest. That didn't happen.
In set one, Wilmington led briefly, but after a tie at 4, it was all Melrose. The Lady Raiders went out 8-5, 14-6, and from 14-8 captured the last eleven points.
The first set saw no service errors, and a plethora of kills, including seven for Sarah McGowan, three apiece for Jen Cain and Kayla Wyland, and one for Rachel Johnson.
In the second set, Melrose raced to a 12-2 lead and coasted in. Sarah piled on another five kills, Jen and Kayla added a pair each, and Sydney Doherty had one. Again Melrose went service error free.
The third set had Melrose substituting liberally and leveraging 6-0 and 11-3 leads into a lopsided win. Jill MacInnes and Stephanie Crovo each had long service runs along the way.
Sarah had two early kills, sophomore Ashley Harding added a pair along with Rachel Johnson, and Stephanie Crovo, Jen Cain, and Sydney Doherty each had one. Melrose did have two service errors in the set.
Game Analysis: Coming off an important win at Westborough two days ago, the team continues to build momentum heading into the stretch run.
If you find the game on MMTV of Melrose-Westborough think about taping it as one of the best efforts of any Melrose teams in any sport.
I finished watching the video of Wednesday's victory at Westborough where the combination of platform skills, blocking, and offensive versatility overcame a strong, athletic and tall team on the road. It would be easy for Melrose to have a psychological letdown on short rest. That didn't happen.
In set one, Wilmington led briefly, but after a tie at 4, it was all Melrose. The Lady Raiders went out 8-5, 14-6, and from 14-8 captured the last eleven points.
The first set saw no service errors, and a plethora of kills, including seven for Sarah McGowan, three apiece for Jen Cain and Kayla Wyland, and one for Rachel Johnson.
In the second set, Melrose raced to a 12-2 lead and coasted in. Sarah piled on another five kills, Jen and Kayla added a pair each, and Sydney Doherty had one. Again Melrose went service error free.
The third set had Melrose substituting liberally and leveraging 6-0 and 11-3 leads into a lopsided win. Jill MacInnes and Stephanie Crovo each had long service runs along the way.
Sarah had two early kills, sophomore Ashley Harding added a pair along with Rachel Johnson, and Stephanie Crovo, Jen Cain, and Sydney Doherty each had one. Melrose did have two service errors in the set.
Game Analysis: Coming off an important win at Westborough two days ago, the team continues to build momentum heading into the stretch run.
If you find the game on MMTV of Melrose-Westborough think about taping it as one of the best efforts of any Melrose teams in any sport.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
4 O'clock Varsity Start Tomorrow at Wilmington
Early start tomorrow for the varsity at 4:00.
Melrose creeps up to five in the Maxpreps.com poll.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
