First Look: Melrose - Newton North Photoessay

Images courtesy of Don Norris. Click to see enlarged/entire frame.

 Psssst...

Generations.

"Hit Me with Your Best Shot" Melrose - Belmont Photoessay

Photos courtesy of Don Norris. Click photographs to see the full frame.

Pictures Coming

Brain trust

 

 

Game 4: Welcome to the Jungle, Melrose 3 Newton North 1

Hold that tiger.  Melrose has enjoyed more than a degree of success against Division 1 teams, but had never beaten Newton North...until tonight. Hot and humid conditions worked against both teams, but the Lady Raiders prevailed 25-23, 25-15, 23-25, and 25-23.

Newton North always presents a formidable challenge, because their style is based on INTENT, the promise of delivering smashes at every possible opportunity. But Melrose succeeded for exactly that reason, four very capable hitters, senior captain Meri Lessing, juniors Hannah Mulcahy and Marissa Cataldo, and sophomore captain Victoria ("V-Rex") Crovo. Add in the capable setting of captain Allie Nolan, and Melrose's 2014 version emerged with a signature victory.

The undercard saw Melrose's JV win an exciting three set match against a very strong Newton North squad.

The first set saw tight action through 13-12, before Melrose led 17-13 only to see the Tigers come back to knot the score at 17, 18, 19, and 20 before North took the lead at 22-20. But Melrose rallied behind a North service error to make the score 22-21, followed up by a Nolan kill deadlocking the score at 22, a Cataldo winner, and Melrose opening a 24-22 advantage. North got within one but a service error, one of six for the visitors in the opening frame gave Melrose the set.

Hannah Mulcahy and Cataldo both chipped in two kills, and Nolan, Lessing, and Cat Torpey had one apiece.

Melrose dominated set two. North led 8-7 before Melrose runs opened up 12-8 and 15-11 edges. Melrose ran away from a 17-14 lead with a closing 8-1 burst to capture the set. Meri had three kills, Victoria two, Marissa two, Hannah two, and Allie one.

North exploded to a 5-0 lead in set three, with a Scott Celli timeout halting the run and getting Melrose back to an 8-7 deficit. North and Melrose traded punches before Melrose got even at 16, 18, and 19. A scoring controversy had Melrose take a 21-19 lead abetted by a rotation error, but North rallied from a 23-22 deficit to score the final three and force a four set.

Melrose caught fire to lead 10-2 in the fourth set via a trio of Mulcahy kills, but North, showing their mettle and mental toughness got back to 12-8, 14-10, and 16-12 as Melrose couldn't reestablish momentum.

The Lady Raiders opened up a 20-16 and 22-17 leads before North again fought back to 22-20 and 24-23 on a beautiful push to the corner down the line. But Allie Nolan got redemption for the 2012 North win with a brilliant near side corner shot to deliver the win.

Hannah had four fourth set kills and Meri and Victoria a pair apiece.

Overall, aggressive offense and consistent defense from Victoria and Marissa, libero Amanda Cain, and sophomore Kaitlyn MacInnes who all acquitted themselves splendidly. Stephanie Crovo performed her role as serving specialist almost flawlessly.

Game Notes: Much of Melrose's volleyball tradition was on hand, many parents from the 2012 State Championship team, the Back Row Gang, and Melrose's most renowned volleyball player, Hannah Brickley. Coaches Andrea Basteri and Athena Ziavras joined Scott Celli and Steve Wall on the bench.

Every Day You Play, Stand for Something

An ESPN video.

D2 Standings

Two win minimum. From Maxpreps.com*

*Rankings appear later in the season when more games are available.

Hold That Tiger

'

Melrose faces a formidable opportunity tonight at 6:30 when Newton North comes to town.

Early Season Challenge: Tigers Coming to Town

Melrose handled Belmont today to move to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Middlesex League.

One of the top challenges of the season arrives tomorrow as Richard Barton brings his Newton North Tigers to the Veterans Memorial gym. North comes in third rated in the Boston Globe poll and is a perennial top ten team in Massachusetts.

Barton has had a major role in the development of area volleyball, with a big role in the SMASH program that many elite area players have experienced.

Melrose seeks its first victory over North.

The varsity game is scheduled to follow the JV contest at 5:00; usually the varsity match will kick off around 6:30 P.M.

Positive Thinking

Positive thinking is no substitute for talent, effort, confidence, and grit. But it adds value by dispelling negative thinking that produces fear, anxiety, stress, and tension that degrade athletic performance.

Glory Days

Jen Gentile's preseason outlook.

An excerpt: When asked what he looks for in a varsity player coach Celli explains the criteria. “The questions I ask … can you play the game? Is the player smart on the court and able to handle both offense and defense? Are they able to work the system?”

All of which explains the commitment, consistency, and results of the volleyball program for over a decade...the ability to translate athleticism, practice, and time into results by experienced coaches capable of recognizing and developing talent and team play.

Updated Standings and More

Standings from Maxpreps.com

Standings are likely incomplete, but Maxpreps is the best source available. Reporting of scores to Maxpreps varies.

The Boston Globe volleyball poll

The sample size is so prohibitive as to be meaningless, but since Newton North comes to town this week, it should give Melrose an early yardstick.

Current link for the Globe High School Sports. It moves around...

Game 2: Melrose 3 Winchester 0, Young Guns Prevail

Melrose opened its Middlesex League schedule with a not-so-pedestrian contest against a senior-laden, battle-tested Winchester squad said to have been pointing for this tilt since last year.

Melrose emerged with a straight set 25-14, 25-21, 25-16 home victory over a Winchester team likely to be among the top four in the Middlesex League.

Melrose never trailed in set one, and put up a 13-3 run from 12-11 to capture the first stanza. Melrose benefited from solid defense from the back line of libero Amanda Cain, defender Kaitlyn MacInnes, setter Allie Nolan, and all-around players Victoria Crovo and Marissa Cataldo. But Melrose's calling card this season is a versatile attack with four big hitters - Meri Lessing and Hannah Mulcahy in the middle, and Crovo and Cataldo from the outside, with sophomore Cat Torpey developing quickly.

Melrose had thirteen first set kills, including four from Hannah Mulcahy, and a pair apiece from Cataldo, Lessing, and Torpey.

The second set was a battle of runs, with Winchester running off six in a row after trailing 5-1, only to see Melrose answer with half a dozen of its own (to lead 11-7) and Winchester then take five straight points. From the tie at 12, it was a seesaw battle with the teams reaching a tie at 21. But Melrose used a Cain service run after a Cataldo winner to close out the set.

Meri Lessing had a trio of kills in the second while the V-Rex, Victoria Crovo added a pair.

The final set was very competitive up to a 12-11 Melrose lead near the mid point. Melrose then pounded away from all angles, delivering thirteen winners, including six kills from Victoria, and a pair from Hannah and Marissa to complete the 25-16 rout.

Game Notes: Winchester appeared much improved overall, but Melrose appeared unusually capable considering both the youth of the season and the point in the season. Melrose carried the action with aggressive play, which is the key to regular season, but especially post-season success. This might be the best 'young' team that Melrose has developed in the past decade.

Boston Globe Volleyball Preview

Volleyball preview.

Stat Line

Here are some statistics imported from Maxpreps.com.

Kills are a function of a number of factors, including errors by opposition. Usually kills increase when teams are playing well against better teams that can keep the ball in play.

Back row players usually get the lion's share of the digs.

High serving percentage intersects with value added when some servers force errors or create aces with harder serves. There's a tradeoff between obtaining aces and service errors, but high serve percentage is always desired.

Opening Day Photoessay

Photographs courtesy of Don Norris. Click images to see the entire frame.

It's always easier to be a player than a parent.

A good crowd of fans supports the Lady Raiders.

Pregame conference with Captains Allie Nolan, Meri Lessing, and Victoria Crovo.

Ups

Amanda Cain digs one out.

Cat and Meri with the double block.

 



K-Mac (Kaitlyn MacInnes), Allie, and Hannah Mulcahy

Freshman "Tiger" Lily Fitzgerald , Vic, and Amanda

 

 

Game 1: Home Opener Straight Set Win Over Ursuline

Melrose (1-0) opened the 2014 with a 3-0 victory over Ursuline Academy at the MVMMS gymnasium. As an aside, "the Ursuline Sisters were the first Catholic nuns to land in the new world."

Melrose emerged with a potent 25-18, 25-7, 25-17 victory. Additional details as available...

Here is the link to yesterday's Free Press article.

Melrose kicks off its home Middlesex League schedule Monday at 5:30 (following JV game at 4:00), against Winchester, the most successful of the ML volleyball expansion teams.

Opening Day

Melrose kicks off the 2014 campaign tonight at 630 at the Veterans Memorial Middle School gymnasium.

The Melrose Free Press has a preview article today from Chris Hurley (no link available). Coach Scott Celli discusses the strengths and needs of the team, Middlesex League competition, and the experience, leadership, and energy of tri-captains Allie Nolan, Meri Lessing, and Victoria Crovo.

Finishing Touches

Melrose put the finishing touches on the pre-season with a scrimmage today against the North Andover Knights at the sweltering Veterans Memorial Middle School Gymnasium.

Both teams had a solid showing as Melrose outpointed the North Andover '1's' and the Knights had a small edge over the '2's'.

Melrose looked in midseason form serving and got some solid hitting as well. Allie Nolan looked strong at setter, and Coach Scott Celli used a lot of different combinations in both the front and back row. Senior Amanda Cain saw most of the duty at libero.

Lady Raider Notes: Former Lady Raider and All-State hitter Athena Ziavras was on the bench assisting. Melrose opens up the regular season Thursday, hosting a solid squad from Ursuline, with the match scheduled for 630. Sometimes varsity games start earlier if the JV contest is abbreviated. The hardwood maple looked to be in outstanding condition after summer reconditioning.

Tale of the Tape.

Per Maxpreps, Ursuline has an excellent seven year record of 95-43.

It's a bit of a blur as Melrose seeks its twelfth consecutive trip to the Division 2 North championship, with seven D2N titles, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. 

Come support the team at the MVMMS gym. 

Connect, Collaborate, Change

David Logan wrote an important book "Tribal Leadership." He's given a number of TED talks and written several books.

Is it that easy?

Stage 1 : Despair and hopelessness of life in general.
Stage 2 : My life is miserable.
Stage 3 : It's about me. "I'm great."
Stage 4: "We're great." Shared values reign.
Stage 5: Life is great.

Growth happens through 'triangular' connections (triads), as unrelated 'tribes' collaborate. This is the "linked in" approach where unrelated tribes intersect and change. Who are the people with both relationships and meaningful support? What are the impediments to growth?

The Greeks believed "that you had to forget" before you could define and reach your destiny. What is your choice to identify and achieve greatness? You create your narrative. You are not bound by your current limitations. What will you write?

Volleyball Update

Melrose scrimmaged six teams at the Medway Play date Saturday, gaining valuable experience. The Lady Raiders faced some stiff competition including Westboro, Newton North, Medway, Concord Carlyle, Acton Boxboro, and Bishop Feehan. Sophomore Bella Federico filled in for another injured player and played her way onto the varsity with a strong showing. 

Melrose hosts North Andover Tuesday at the Middle School gym at 4:30 for a scrimmage. 

Here is the 2014 schedule with some great competition, especially in the non-league slate, which will see Newton North, Ursuline, Central, and Westboro come to Melrose and Melrose travel to defending state champion Notre Dame Academy. Home games feature the varsity second. 

Lady Raider Varsity and Junior Varsity Volleyball 2014

Don Norris kindly sends over a couple of photos of this year's varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams.

Varsity. What stands out immediately is more height up front.

Junior varsity.

Branded

Developing a personal brand greatly influences both your perception and results.

Jayson Demers writes, "personal branding requires you to find a signature image, a unique voice, and a recognizable standard that your readers, fans, and customers can grow to recognize."

He outlines a five step process to branding:

Step 1: Determine Your Area of Expertise

Step 2: Start Writing and Publishing

Step 3: Flesh Out Your Social Media Profiles

Step 4: Speak at Events and Develop Case Studies

Step 5: Network, Network, Network

Melrose has had a number of successful players who played all-around (front and back row), but increasingly developed players with specialized expertise. For example, Sarah McGowan achieved All-State honors as a devastating hitter (although she had excellent back row skills), while Jen Cain may not have been as well-recognized but made great contributions both in the back and at the net, both at Melrose and at Merrimack College. 

Developing your brand involves promotion in a variety of areas, such as blogging, social media sites, LinkedIn, and other publications. Whatever your accomplishments, credit your mentors and teammates, and never criticize a teammate. 

Never write anything on social media that would disqualify you from consideration on a future position because of an indictment of your character or values. Major colleges often have social media consultants who monitor their athletes. Inc.com suggested that you never write while angry and consider writing on another source (e.g. Notepad or Notes rather than composing on the fly on social media). 

Become a storyteller. The power of stories has historical roots in Gary Klein's "Sources of Power" and is exceptionally well-developed in the Heath Brothers' "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die." This is a book about giving presentations deserving a read by every secondary school student. People remember great stories that have personal, credible, emotional, and often unexpected twists. 

Your brand grows in concert with your leadership and communication skills. Influence doesn't happen automatically; you must nurture your skills Voltaire wrote in Candide, we must take care of our garden.” “You are in the right,” said Pangloss; “for when man was put into the garden of Eden, it was with an intent to dress it: and this proves that man was not born to be idle.” Consider reading leadership authors such as John C. Maxwell, Jeffrey Gitomer, Stephen Covey, or Tony Robbins. 

Melrose volleyball has grown in proportion to the excellence of its leadership, its winning tradition, positive culture, and the character of its most important assets, the players. Find new ways to grow the program and cultivate your personal brand. 

Good Problems

“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” -- Duke Ellington

Good problems for TEAMs include having a surfeit of good players, competition for a limited number of spots, players working to get more time on the floor.

As Melrose prepares for the 2014 season, Coach Celli will look for players to step up to rebuild the back row, with the departure of graduating All-State libero Jill MacInnes, and strong back row players like Annalisa DeBari, Maave Moriarty, and Cassidy Barbaro.

As a (basketball) coach, I appreciate players who not only want more game opportunities, but those who ask specifically how they can EARN MORE TIME. As a former volleyball parent, I recognize the frustration for some TEAM members and their families who wonder how coaching decisions are made. Again, wearing my coaching shoes, I recognize that excellent coaches make decisions based on their evaluation of what serves the TEAM best. It is both unethical and irresponsible for coaches to make decisions for political reasons.

Having observed Melrose volleyball since the 2002 season, I can unequivocally state that players get opportunity based on ability, consistency, and production not on years on the team or seniority. For example, during the State Championship run in 2012, Cassidy Barbaro, a junior, carved out an important role by becoming an offensive weapon from the service line. Prior to that time, she had practiced hard yet been unable to develop a specific niche.

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. At the volleyball banquet each season, Coach Celli clarifies that every spot on the TEAM and every role is open for competition. Some players will force their way onto the floor through their contributions in practice, preseason scrimmages, and games. Inevitably, one player's rise comes at the expense of a TEAMmate's 'minutes.'

Not everyone can be a great player, but everyone can be a great TEAMmate. As a player, whatever your role, you should work to perform that role to the best of your ability. I read a story about a player being recruited by Roy Williams at North Carolina. The player fouled out during an AAU game. He didn't sulk or pout, but immediately took the time to get cups of water for his TEAMmates when he came off the floor. He showed his commitment to the TEAM, impressing Williams, and earned a scholarship and subsequently went to the NBA.

Early Season Schedule

Melrose launches its 2014 season with several attractive early matches.

The Lady Raiders open up against Ursuline (2013 record 16-6) with an evening contest and have their Middlesex League opener on Monday September 8th. After traveling to Belmont, they return home against perennial Division I powerhouse Newton North.

When we hosted North coach Richard Barton on our "Let's Talk Sports" show, he spoke about the importance of "intent" in volleyball. He emphasized hitter development with power first and accuracy second, and when North comes to Melrose you will see uninhibited hitters at the net.

2014 Varsity Roster

via Maxpreps.com

The 2014 team returns with a customary blend of youth and experience. The roster breakdown shows five seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and one freshman.

Newcomers include junior Meagan Leyne, sophomore Kaitlyn MacInnes, and freshman Lily Fitzgerald.

Highlight Videos

Jeff Mate' has provided contract video services over the years which can help players continue their volleyball at the next level. Please be aware that most college coaches want not only a highlight video but a full game to review. Players may also find video useful for developing their mental "highlight" video for sports psychology (see Jason Selk, "Ten Minute Toughness"). Here are a couple of recent ones...

Bay State Games

Coach Scott Celli has assumed duties as the coach of the Northeast team in the Bay State Games volleyball tournament. The games will be held at the UMASS-Boston facility on July 12th and 13th, 2014.

Melrose teammates on the Northeast squad include Meri Lessing, Allie Nolan, Hannah Mulcahy, and Marissa Cataldo.

Melrose High School has generously volunteered the Middle School Gymnasium for tryouts and practices leading up to the Bay State Games.

Bring INTENT to the Floor

Cross-post from Melrosegirlsbasketball.com Bring INTENT to your game.

Schedule Preview

Dick Collis sends me a preview of the 2014 schedule, which should create a lot of competitive volleyball. The non-league schedule has only higher echelon teams as competition - some old friends and some new. Highlights: -22 games overall -Usual Middlesex League plus @Notre Dame (Hingham), Westborough, Newton North, @Cent Cath, @A/C and Ursuline -The league schedule opens with Winchester -Friendly rival Bishop Fenwick is not on the schedule this season (scrimmage?) as the coaches couldn't find a mutually available date More details as available...

"Informal Part of Sports"...Almost

Tips from Stanford coach John Dunning...on skill development

from the Art of Coaching Volleyball series