Finding Solutions: By the Numbers

Middlesex League standings from Maxpreps.com as of this morning.

Like Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, Coaches Scott Celli and Steve Wall consider what's best for the program. Coaching decisions aren't always popular, especially when they involve players, not just strategy. 

Melrose passed the halfway mark of the regular season, traveling to Belmont to take home a 3-0 victory.  But for Coach Scott Celli, a mathematics teacher, each passing game become a challenging problem - to identify the solutions needed for ultimate victory 1) to neutralize elite hitters and 2) to increase Melrose's offensive potential.  If there's anything that has characterized the Celli coaching tenure, it has been flexibility, the willingness to tinker with success in order to pursue greater success.

Volleyball terminology brings a certain arrogance, attacks and kills, but they emphasize the aggressive obligation for offensive players. 

Melrose's youth movement continued with the 'field promotion' today of sophomore Kayla Wyland.

Game one saw Melrose accumulate twelve kills en route to a 25-8 win. Senior Athena Ziavras led with seven, followed by a trio from Jill Slabacheski. Melrose led 5-1 and13-3, and finished with a six point flourish including a five point service run from sophomore setter Brooke Bell. Melrose was free of service errors in the set.

Jill goes up for a block against Central.

Games two and three saw liberal substitution with the attendant result a 25-20 win. Athena added another three kills and Jill four. Melrose had nine kills and a pair of service errors.

Game three saw Melrose off to a 10-nil run to start and the debut of Kayla Wyland. As expected, the efficiency of play varied, along with four Melrose service errors. Unofficially, Melrose had only six kills in the game, including the game winner by Sydney Doherty.

Aces! Don Norris captures a celebratory moment.

In any highly competitive endeavor, participants need regular self-analysis to improve. This week (bye week) for the Patriots, they have already effected a major personnel move (trading future Hall of Famer Randy Moss) and traditionally "self-scout" to assess weaknesses and tendencies. Coaches Celli and Wall lack the luxury of a week off, but continue their effective process to make adjustments to maximize outcome.

Melrose-Central Catholic Photoessay

Melrose's Don Norris keeps the snaps coming. Enjoy and remember to click the shots where parts of the picture appear cut off.

The floor captains meet with an official.
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Central Catholic is one of the top teams in the Commonwealth, year in and year out.
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Melrose's reserves were fully in the game.
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Sophomore Rachel Johnson brought her blocking strength to the middle as usual.
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Jill smashes into the teeth of a Central double block.
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Referee Doug Beech explains why a point had to be replayed.
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The Melrose coaches, Scott Celli and Steve Wall are always exhorting the team to attack, offensively and defensively. Even brief lapses of concentration or intensity can lead to critical momentum swings. Never underestimate the mental part of the game.
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Alyssa swings away over the Central blockers.
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Athena goes up for the block.
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In the shadow of the 2005 state finals banner, Jen Cain hits past the block.
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The Lady Raiders are on the distributing end of congratulations.  Central goes home for the chicken dinner.

Net Cam

From Jeff Mate'

Central Stops Melrose Streak in 5

Melrose came in with a 51 game home winning streak, and Central Catholic came in determined to remain unbeaten, coming away with a 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 25-16, 15-12 victory.

This morning's keys to victories included great defense, unrelenting offense, and preparation for an extended contest. In large part, Melrose held up its end of the bargain, but fell just short because of the excellence of Central, and a few costly breakdowns. Central was led by its big middle hitter, senior co-captain Corrine Gosselin and sidekick junior Hunter Tuck.

Central got out fast to a 5-0 lead, with Melrose gradually chipping away, until they finally tied the game at 22-22. There were a couple of inexplicable plays, which remain unexplained. Gosselin and Tuck dominated early, and Melrose trailed 9-5, 12-8, 15-12, 19-16, and 22-19. Four costly service errors made the difference, and Melrose also played more defense than offense in the first game. Unofficially Jen Cain and Rachel Johnson both led with a pair of kills.

Game 2 saw the Athena Ziavras show with a variety of smashes, tips, dinks, and dunks. Athena's seven kills went a long way to even the match. Melrose led 5-0, and after 11-8, never allowed the visitors to come within four points.

Melrose carried the momentum into Game 3, going up 6-2, and 10-3, before Central struck back, But Melrose extended the lead to 15-7 and 21-12 before coasting to victory. Unofficially, Melrose added another 10 kills, including another six from Athena and three from Alyssa DiRaffaele.

Melrose hoped to achieve a signature win against a top-ranked Division I opponent, but Central came out on a mission in Game 4. Again the Raiders went up 5-0, and 8-3, with Melrose struggling to get into a rhythm because of Central's overall excellence. Brooke Bell was superb in game four with four kills and Athena added another three kills, but Central dominated.

With the crowd anxious for a comeback, Melrose opened up 5-0 and 7-2 but Central never quit. Rachel Johnson was outstanding at the net, and Athena had another couple of kills early. But the Merrimack Valley co-leaders ran off ten points in a row, largely secondary to Tuck and Gosselin, although setter Bouchard and the rest of her mates deserved plenty of credit. Melrose closed to 12-9, and 13-12, but Central was able to maintain their aggressiveness to the close and seal the victory after taking a late timeout.

Game analysis: Early on, both teams appeared to show some effects of the big game, but as the game proceeded both teams exchanged figurative blows and showed the ability to take a punch. Melrose showed the ability to stay with the Division I power, but couldn't finish them off. Several players came of age during the game, with Athena playing at a high level throughout, and Rachel Johnson went head to head against the taller Gosselin, and frequently battled her to a draw. But Brooke Bell showed terrific skills, including consistent setting, several blocks out of nowhere, and a phenomenal backset kill to a deep corner, a play I have never seen Melrose execute. She and Athena were almost the kryptonite needed to put Central down.

Coach Celli said that he learned a lot about his team tonight, that "they are fighters"...

Great credit goes to Central for their steely determination in game four and a stirring comeback in game five. They played without their other senior co-captain, Kendall Desrosiers, a terrific player in her own right.

Herald Rankings

D1:
New Bedford
Barnstable
Andover
Central Catholic

D2:
Medfield
Marlborough
Melrose
Longmeadow
North Reading

Coaches poll...

Big Test at the Middle School

The Chinese character for "crisis" represents the blend of two, "danger" and "opportunity." Tonight at the Middle School gymnasium, the Lady Raiders (9-0) host unbeaten Central Catholic, a perennially strong, very tall, and talented team that comes in as the favorite.

Melrose has had some great battles with Central through the years, with Central winning the past three seasons (including two in the Division 2 North final), and Melrose winning the epic quarterfinal five set playoff in 2005 on the way to the state finals. Despite losing uber-setter Carolyn Eddy (now at UMASS-Lowell) and Katie Zenevich (a BC hoopster), Central returns even taller and just as talented.

Here are the keys to the game for Melrose:

• Defense...the intersection of 1) communication and 2) execution
• Bombs away. Hit through the ball. The good teams don't beat themselves; you need to beat them with relentless offense.
• Stay the course. Most of the games this season have been three set affairs for both teams. If it goes how I expect, the intensity and effort will be exhausting for both teams.

6 P.M. The Middle School. Two programs come in undefeated; only one will leave the same way. 

Challenges

Melrose continued its home winning streak yesterday, extending it to 51 games against a talented Arlington Catholic team led by outside hitter Jenny Warren and setter David Amicangioli. Don Norris sends over some fresh shots for players, families, and Melrose fans.  I think that you'll agree that these are among some of Don's best shots. Always click the photos to get the full picture. 

Sophomore Jen Cain has been able at opposite all season.
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Tri-Captain Jill Slabacheski has had plenty to smile about this season.
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Sophomore setter Brooke Bell was third in Massachusetts in total assists at the last check of Maxpreps.com.
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 Jill and the rest of the defense worked overtime to dig out some hard AC kills yesterday.
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Sarah McGowan had a breakout game defensively in the back row yesterday, and packs a punch as a hitter as well. Rumor has it that Brooke and Sarah have additional offensive weapons in the bag.
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Here Sarah has just gone flat out with a 'beach dig' to keep a ball in play. Brooke (11) and Athena watch intently.
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Jill had a three ace service run yesterday.
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Part of the Melrose student section
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Maybe volleyball is a 'niche sport', but in Melrose, more fans are coming out regularly, and a Saturday afternoon contest allows them to see their team compete.
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Tricaptain Alyssa Diraffaele gets a piece of an Allison Whitney smash, while setter Amicangioli and Jen Cain (10) look on.
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Tricaptain Athena Ziavras is Melrose's leading hitter, here with an outside attack.
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Coach Scott Celli has to be pleased with the effort, process, and results from his young team, with seven of the thirteen players sophomores and freshmen, and only one senior. The defense has come on lately, and will need to play great against undefeated Central Catholic tomorrow.  Both teams enjoy the friendly rivalry, and only one will leave the building with a winning streak intact.

Come support your team tomorrow. The game is listed to start at 6 P.M. Here's the Maxpreps.com preview.

Afternoon Delight, Melrose 3, AC 0

Melrose played a rare Saturday afternoon contest before a large (estimated 300) crowd at the Middle School Veterans Memorial Gym, defeating the Arlington Catholic Cougars 3-0. AC had only a single loss coming in, and Melrose remained undefeated at 9-0.

Melrose has a long history with AC, dating back to a postseason division semifinal loss in 2002 to the Cougars, and its first Division II North title in 2003 defeating AC's 22-0 team.

Melrose came out with solid play with an Athena Ziavras bomb opening the game.  The Lady Raiders scored the first five points of the game before AC struck back. During the early going Athena dominated with a trio of kills, abetted by strong blocking from Rachel Johnson.  Melrose then assumed control, going service-error free, and gradually extending the lead to 15-8. AC clawed back to 17-14, and then Melrose went 8-4 to capture the set 25-18.  Unofficially Melrose had eleven kills and a pair of aces.

Athena had four kills, and Alyssa DiRaffaele had three, aided by a pair from Rachel.

Game 2 started much like the first with a quick 7-0 advantage, followed by leads of 10-1 and 19-5. They coasted to a 25-10 victory. Again the team had no service errors and Athena had another four kills. Five other players had one kill apiece and Sarah McGowan, the player of the match was brilliant defensively, and also had some powerful attacks.

Game 3 had an anticlimactic feel to it, as after a seesaw start, leading 6-5, Melrose took hold at 9-5, 14-8, and 17-11. Melrose went up 23-13 and AC hung around with a mix 'n match substitution and Melrose won 25-19.

Game analysis: Although Athena Ziavras had her usual dominant game, the flash and dash came from Sarah McGowan who was simply everywhere, playing with reckless abandon. As usual, unsung setter Brooke Bell defensed and distributed to the hitters, and the trio of Jill, Rachel, and Alyssa were more than competent. . Melrose had only a pair of service errors, neither critical, and they played their best overall defense of the year, with numerous athletic plays.

Melrose faces Division I powerhouse Central on Monday.

First Blood

Competitors find motivation internally and externally. Sometimes it spills over.

A few years ago a Middlesex League basketball opponent put on a closing rally with two of Melrose's starters injured and the reserves on the floor in the final four minutes. Word came back that the team and their fans felt THEY were the better team in defeat.

Melrose players asked the coach for permission to play all out regardless of the score in the rematch. After about 12 minutes, Melrose led 44-12 and called off the dogs.

Another Middlesex League coach had some off-handed taunts for the volleyballers after being beaten 3-0 in an early season volleyball match. The players seethed, and used motivation from the slight to win the opening game of the rematch against a playoff-bound team 25-3.

And still another incident occurred where the players responded to a challenge to rise up in the post-season
with an outstanding performance in response to a direct challenge.

In other words, the Lady Raiders have shown the capacity to play their best against the best teams, not always in victory. But, contrary to some opinion, they have not drawn the "first blood".

Today, the team will have to play their best volleyball against Arlington Catholic to remain unbeaten. Come and support your team (JV game at 2, varsity to follow).

Hungry for More Pictures? Norris-ment for You

Always click photos to enlarge. 

Don Norris sends over some more photographs, as Melrose fans await some major challenges between Arlington Catholic (Saturday) and Central Catholic (Monday). Melrose has enjoyed rivalries with both through the years, win or lose.  Melrose fans will remember some spectacular matches against these schools.

Here are the current Maxpreps.com Massachusetts volleyball rankings. First, the records are not always accurate. For example, Barnstable is undefeated...Central Catholic is scheduled to play Chelmsford today in a big Merrimack Valley contest. Maxpreps lists Melrose as having the lowest schedule strength among the leaders, so playing higher rated teams will give the team a major test.

Sydney Doherty tips over the block. Sydney is yet another Lady Raider volleyball-basketball player.
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Need fun? Volleyball players look like they're having plenty.
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 Rachael Wolley fills an important role as the reserve setter.
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Athena Ziavras slams as Jen Cain and Rachel Johnson look on. Not everyone likes the banners the girls have earned for winning sectional championships, but the players and their families do. Isn't that enough?
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Sophomore Rachel Johnson has earned a spot with good defense at the net and has been productive offensively as well.

Senior Athena Ziavras looks pensive here, but has provided plenty of action as Melrose's leading hitter.

Melrose 3 Watertown 0

Melrose traveled to Watertown and defeated their hosts 25-7, 25-5, and 25-10.

Coach Scott Celli utilized the opportunity to give his reserves experience as they played the final two games.

In game one Melrose gradually extended the lead and scored the final five points. Alyssa DiRaffaele and  Rachel Johnson each had three kills and Melrose has one service error.

Game two saw four kills from Jen Cain, and one apiece for Rachael Wolley, Sydney Doherty, and Rachel.

Game three saw a closer beginning with Melrose leading 9-8 before a nine point run removed any doubt. Rachel Johnson had another four kills, and Sarah McGowan chipped in with a pair.

Melrose hosts once-beaten AC Saturday following the JV game that goes off at 2 PM...so the Varsity game will probably start somewhere between 3:15 and 3:30.

Lake Wobegon Days

"The race is not always to the swiftest, or the battle to the strongest, but it pays to bet that way."
A third of the way through the volleyball season and what do we know?

• Volleyball coverage through the major local sports media is limited. It's a niche sport in a big sport market. 
• There have been two uber-powers in Massachusetts volleyball within the past five years, Medfield and Barnstable, although New Bedford caught up last season and may again this. Even among the other stronger programs (like Central Catholic, Marlborough, Melrose, North Reading, Case) they're playing catch up. 
• Volleyball is not so different than most sports...there is a sharp distinction between the haves and the have-nots. This is not a change or recent observation, this is a decade of history. All the teams' players and coaches are working hard to be the best they can be, but we have the Lake Wobegon effect at work. "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average"
• Sustained success depends on coaching, players, infrastructure, and community involvement. 
• We will always view our teams through attribution bias and endowment bias, because that is how we are wired. 

Most of the communities in the Middlesex League have areas of 'specialization', although some, like Reading have shown more general excellence than others on both the boys and girls side. For example (but not limited to)

Belmont: soccer

Burlington: hockey, football, cheerleading

Lexington: boys basketball, softball 

Melrose: volleyball, girls basketball

Reading: track, football, almost everything

Stoneham: soccer (boys and girls), softball, baseball

Wakefield: football, girls hockey

Watertown: field hockey, boys basketball

Winchester: soccer, hockey

Woburn: football, basketball, hockey (boys and girls)

It is the exception to the rule that teams from schools with small enrollments can dominate. Watertown achieves this with tremendous infrastructure (youth programs) and tradition that attracts attention. For example, their basketball program led by Steve Harrington is a model of excellence, a consistent winner with two state championships. Reading track won over 250 consecutive meets. That's not luck; that's hard work. You need some luck to avoid injury, stay healthy, and sometimes win close contests, but you can't rely on luck for sustained results. 

This doesn't mean that a team without a historically strong program won't excel, with cyclical effects or a couple of star players, but the strong teams usually continue to dominate and the weaker teams usually keep struggling. Watertown has a trophy case full of field hockey state championships and Winchester has produced some of the best soccer teams in New England. Once upon a time, Lexington (Ron Lee) and Winchester (Bob Bigelow) birthed NBA first round draft choices. That's probably about a once in a lifetime experience. I played on a team that lost to Lexington by 45 points because they (three time State Champions) were that much better than we were that day. No excuses, no complaints; that's sports...their job is to beat you and sometimes what goes around comes around. 

For most, volleyball isn't a year round sport, and we're nowhere near the excellence of many states. I know a player from California who couldn't make her high school team and received a Division I volleyball scholarship in the East. That's not perception; that's reality. 

In watching Middlesex League volleyball for a decade, I can recall one volleyball match during that time that we lost that perhaps we should have won (2006). A strong argument can be made that North Reading had Melrose on the ropes last year, outplaying Melrose for much of the game before falling short. When Melrose has lost, it has almost always been because the team was outplayed. That happens less often now because the team has simply improved and played better non-league competition trying to get better. The ML is getting better (Stoneham and Winchester in particular) and the impact of expansion (Arlington, Wilmington) remains to be seen. 

Occasionally, behind the scenes conversations and history color the discussion. That's in house and maybe that's not fair to outside readers. You want an example? A ML team posted a poster of several Melrose players with a bull's eye on it, with the caption "Get 'em".  The team knows who it is...and in retrospect it's pretty funny.

The ML has some quality coaches, and I love coach Viselli's enthusiasm, as he can give as good as he can take. Melrose has two potential starters injured but that's not an excuse. The team doesn't have anyone with mono or visa problems, or anything else, and the current enrollment can't be expected to change for the better or worse.

Beliefs are not facts, yet far more stubborn. 

This blog is not affiliated with Melrose High School in any way. 

Around the Net

Melrose Patch with a game report and photos.

Tomorrow at Watertown...'nuf said.

Crowd Pleaser, Melrose 3-0

The Lady Raiders hosted Lexington, a Middlesex League team with just one league loss and came away with a lopsided 3-0 victory at the Middle School Gym.

Melrose gets enthusiastic crowds who enjoy watching good volleyball, with exciting defense, crisp passing, and power hitting. Today, that wasn't seen in abundance, amidst officiating conferences, rotation questions, and near maximal time out deployment.  Still, Melrose played more efficient and proficient volleyball in earning their seventh victory against no losses.

This week is particularly important for preparation for quality opponents Arlington Catholic (Saturday) and Central Catholic (Monday).

Game one saw some early tug of war with a 3-3 tie, which Melrose extended to a 9-4 lead highlighted by a pair of kills by Alyssa DiRaffaele. After Melrose led 15-7, Lexington could never pull closer than six points as Melrose won 25-11.  Melrose utilized 9 kills including three each for Alyssa, Jill Slabacheski, and Rachel Johnson. The only downer came from three service errors.

Game two was close early, with the visitors leading 8-6, before Melrose turned it on. Melrose then went on a 12-3 run to put the Lexington volleyballers at bay, closing them out 25-13. Athena Ziavras and Jill each chipped in with three kills, while Rachel and Brooke added a pair apiece.

Game three was pretty much more of the same, as Melrose struggled to get into a rhythm at times, because Lexington had such inefficient offense.  Melrose led 6-2, 12-7, and 18-8 en route to a 25-12 thrashing.  Athena had four kills along with Alyssa, and Rachel added a couple as well.

Jill made perhaps the defensive play of the year, diving out of bounds and swatting a 'chicken wing' return over the net into an opening in the surprised Lexington defense for a kill.

Game analysis: Melrose played a more coordinated, crisp game than they did on Friday, with the biggest problem a lack of flow, as Lexington's offensive attacks repeatedly sailed out of bounds or into the net. In particular, the defense from Alyssa and setter Brooke Bell excelled. Although Melrose dominated play, the match still took about seventy minutes as officiating questions and timeouts prolonged the play. Overall the process improved and the results corresponded.

Ratings: S.O.S. (Strength of Schedule) Drop

Melrose drops four places in the Maxpreps.com ratings because of strength of schedule effects. A loss to a powerhouse can do as much or more for you than a win against a weaker opponent. Note that Bishop Feehan (3-3) is ahead of Melrose. Of course, the rankings may not necessarily be accurate...

No Blowout But Patch Helps

The Melrose Patch gives some love to Lady Raider volleyball.

Footwork

Whether you have a training aid set-up, you can watch this to understand the footwork and arm swing.

A Promise to Adam

Take a minute to read. It could save your life.

"Billy" Club

Photos courtesy of Don Norris. 

I got a feeling that Monday a different Melrose team shows up at the Middle School Gym.



This week continues an important stretch (second quarter of the season) for Melrose volleyball. Friday's action produce a win, and valuable knowledge on 'control'.  The salient points to digest include:

• 25 percent of life is what happens and 75 percent is how you respond to it.
• What we can control on and off the court is limited.
• But what we control counts most: 1) effort and 2) concentration. The latter includes positioning and communication

Melrose has shown the ability to play its best volleyball against better competition and Lexington generally provides 'first division' play in the Middlesex League.

Middlesex League standings from Maxpreps.com. Reading played at Lexington Friday in the latter's annual Ovarian Cancer Awareness game.  Results are not available.

Sophomore Sarah McGowan is having a solid season.  Brittany Adelman continues to rehab.
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Even the officials have a good time at the Middle School Gymnasium.
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Brooke Bell had a remarkable string of serves without an error broken Friday. A new string starts Monday.
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Athena blasts a spike into the teeth of a double block.

Melrose-Stoneham Photoessay

Photos courtesy of Don Norris. Always click to enlarge and see the full photo.

Being a volleyball parent can be more stressful than being a player.
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Super sophs Rachel and Brooke go up for a block.
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Athena, Jen, and Alyssa stand aligned prior to a Melrose serve.
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Athena, the floor captain, discusses positioning with the lead official.
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Here are some of the "first ladies" of Melrose volleyball. They know who they are.
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Somehow Freshman Cassidy Barbaro ends up going for the spike in the front row among the tall trees.
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Jen and Rachel go up to block. Youth has served Melrose well.
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Alyssa skies for a tip.
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A game of centimeters?  A Tachikara perches on the net.
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Two time All-Scholastic Karen Sen drops by to say hello. Once a Lady Raider, always a Lady Raider.