Back Stretch

*A blog for Melrose Lady Raider players, families, and fans. Information contained within with no pretense of objectivity.

With eight games to go this season, the Lady Raiders head into the home stretch of the regular season. With a couple of off days before the next game, let's see where Melrose sits.

The most recent iteration of the Massachusetts power rankings from Maxpreps.com. The quality loss to Central Catholic resulted in Melrose moving up in the standards via strength of schedule. Barnstable makes the familiar leap into the top spot...and has some great games on the schedule, hosting Frontier and traveling to Westborough and Medfield.

Brooke Bell must have one of the highest service percentages around, getting nearly 99 percent into play.
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"If you don't set me more, I will take you out." Setters have to set, bob, and weave. Is Brooke a student of the "sweet science"?

Dance Fever

Although Central Catholic broke Melrose's 51 game home winning streak this week, Melrose qualified for the post-season 'dance' with their victory Wednesday.

The playoffs promise some tough action, with plenty of D2 teams with outstanding records. Hopkinton, for example, has lost its two games against last year's state champion Medfield. Marlborough has a long history of volleyball excellence including state championships. North Reading has a pair of games remaining with Lynnfield and finishes the season with Reading in their bid to remain undefeated.

Sophomore Rachel Johnson tips around a double block.
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Alyssa DiRaffaele prepares a middle attack.
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Sophomore Jen Cain has contributed solid defense this season from the opposite position.
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What do they say in those huddles?

Week in Review

Melrose had the week's action compressed with a late game on Monday and a pair of league games on Wednesday and Friday.

Central Catholic handed Melrose their lone defeat of the season in a very tough, five set match at the Middle School. Central had a little too much offense down the stretch and kept their winning streak alive against Melrose. Still, the protracted effort against Melrose may have taken something out of Central, which lost later in the week to strong clubs in Bishop Fenwick and Andover.

Kayla Wyland earned a promotion to the varsity based on her strong front row play for the JV. She's the tallest Lady Raider and adds some valuable length up front.  Melrose came back to win the latter pair of contests to stay atop the Middlesex League.

Don Norris shares some of his great candids.

However good Kayla is on the court, she's equally pleasant off of it. One of the joys of following the youngsters' careers is to meet some wonderful families and local sports enthusiasts.
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Two of Melrose's three captains, Jill Slabacheski in the foreground and Alyssa DiRaffaele are ready on defense.
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Sophomore Rachel Johnson gets good extension at the net. She has developed at an early age into a strong defensive front-row player.
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Optical illusion? Having three legs helps you cover more territory? Not so much. Another promising sophomore, Sarah McGowan bumps while the third Melrose Captain, Senior Athena Ziavras looks on.
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Sophomore setter Brooke Bell looks relieved to escape the "choke hold" of older sister Teagan...a former Lady Raider herself on the basketball and lacrosse teams.

Here are the latest Middlesex League standings according to Maxpreps.com.  Since 2003, Melrose and Reading have either won or shared the ML volleyball crown. That streak appears probable to continue through 2010.

Moving Day?

Statistics courtesy of Dick Collis.

Melrose traveled to Burlington to complete a long week, coming away with a three set victory. I'm told that Burlington was much improved, with rumors of a transfer student.

Certainly the first set saw a different Burlington, as the hosts led 2-0, 4-3, and 8-7. Melrose took the lead back for good at 10-9, and from a 12-11 lead, finished 13-6 to win 25-17. Athena Ziavras led the way with five, while Jill Slabacheski added a pair. Melrose's two service errors didn't prove costly.

Game two saw a quicker start, with a 9-3 Lady Raider lead. Burlington never got closer than 3 in a 25-11 victory. Unofficially, Athena added another six kills to her tally, and Melrose went service error-free.

The third game saw some back-and-forth action with the Red Devils trailing 6-1, only to go up 9-7 with a couple of runs of their own. But Melrose restored order with a 14-4 run and late substitutions closed out a 25-14 win. Jill had another three kills and the under-rated setter Brooke Bell added three kills of her own.

Brooke Bell is on pace to have the highest single season service percentage in Melrose history.

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.