Melrose - Lynnfield Photoessay

Images courtesy of Steve Karampalas. Click to enlarge. 

Season Statistics

Melrose (19-4) celebrates another successful campaign while asking "what does our team need now?" 

No one player can replace Emma Randolph's 313 kills. But a number of players are candidates to restore offensive order. And you never know which young players emerge from offseason development to assume a big role. 

 Melrose kept the service errors down all season, led by four senior starters.

Nicole Abbott anchored the veteran defense and rebuilding the back row will challenge Coach Scott Celli and his coaching staff. 

First year varsity setter Eva Haralabatos had a banner season. Young, experienced players can benefit from ramping up their ability to set each other in the front row as outstanding Melrose teams in the past have done. With a strong commitment from returnees to play offseason ball, that is a certainty...reloading not rebuilding.

Game 23: Lynnfield 3 Melrose 0

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Tears become the reward for deep playoff runs. Credit Lynnfield. The Pioneers made more plays and fewer mistakes en route to a 3-0 win over Melrose at Danvers. The nine Melrose returnees from the 2017 championship final would not be rewarded with a second trip.

Lynnfield controlled the match with spectacular back row defense and strong serving, complemented by crafty tips at the net. 

Melrose played hard but struggled with the first pass, resulting in a plethora of Pioneer attacks off "free balls."  

Lady Raider Notes: Seniors Nicole Abbott, Claire Albuja, Grace Davis, Marie Maher, Mary Kate Mahoney, Emma Randolph, and Erin Torpey finish their career with a nineteen win campaign and a Freedom Division title. 

Emma Randolph added to her school record 900 kills but didn't get as many attacks as usual because of Lynnfield's strength and rotations. 

Melrose will return a significant group of veterans next season with opportunities to win significant roles. 

Alchemy

There's one (proverb) that says, 'Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.' " - Paul Coelho, The Alchemist

Former player, Paula Sen reads The Alchemist each January. Coelho shares many truths. 

The 2003 sectional championship was an improbable one, blended from experience and youth. 



The 2009 victory over Barnstable seemed equally improbable. 

"But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time." 

"Maktub."

Semifinal Showdowns Thursday in Danvers

 Here is the Alchemy of Volleyball. Paul Coelho wrote in The Alchemist, "Because I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man." 

Melrose earned a rematch Thursday against Lynnfield and Bedford faces Danvers at the Falcons' nest in Danvers. 

The Maxpreps.com power rankings (as of 11/5/19) correlate well with the results so far. 

Melrose and Tewksbury have the highest strength of schedule among the leaders. "Iron sharpens iron." 

Quick Look - Ten Top Shots from Melrose - Classical

Images courtesy Steve Karampalas. Click to enlarge. 

Yoda's Advice, A Tank, and Five Friends

"Always with you it cannot be done." - Yoda 

Eliminate negative words. Try and cannot are failure words. We can and we do. 

"History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes." 

Andover's Dunn Gym, 2003, Division 2 North Finals. Arlington Catholic rolled in, undefeated, 22-0, having not lost a set. Melrose had never won a volleyball sectional championship, but came in with a blend of veterans and promising youth, the alphas Marianne Foley, Erin Hudd, and Amanda Labella. Down went AC, 3-0. 

Winning became addictive. "Since 2003, Melrose is 105-12 with four Middlesex League titles and two Division 2 North titles." Belief begets success. 



The Army Rangers recommend, "Don't bring a knife to a gunfight. Bring a tank and four friends." Thursday night against Lynnfield, "bring a tank and five friends."  

Game 22: Melrose 3 Lynn Classical 0, Randolph Sets Record

Melrose (19-3) parlayed size, skill, and playoff experience to a 25-11, 25-18, 25-14 win over Lynn Classical (19-3). The win advances the Lady Raiders to a Thursday semifinal showdown against the winner of Tewksbury-Lynnfield. Emma Randolph notched kill 895 to eclipse the all-time record of Melrose Hall of Famer Hannah Brickley. 

After a slow start, Melrose built momentum with steady play across the board. Seniors Emma Randolph , Erin Torpey, Nicole Abbott, Mary Kate Mahoney, and Grace Davis got plenty of help from underclassmen. Juniors Emily Hudson and Eva Haralabatos both had solid nights. And youth was served with strong net play from Elena Soukos and freshman Chloe Gentile. Sophomore defender Autumn Whelan had arguably the best game of her young career. 

Melrose continued the dominance through the final two sets with winning contributions from seniors Marie Maher and Claire Albuja. 

On with the Show

The best cartoons reveal truths to adults and make children laugh. 

Tonight Melrose travels to Lynn Classical (6 PM) for a quarterfinal match. Remember Coach Don Meyer's epic quote, "It doesn't matter who you play. It matters how you play." 

Danvers punched their ticket into the sectional semifinals last night. 

Here is a brief story about persistence, the value of making one play at a time. 

Competitive Stamina

Find competitive stamina. 

"What makes it even harder to develop "competitive stamina" is the world around us, which continually asks, how much is enough? Aren't you satisfied yet? Enjoy the winning, take time off, and relax. Folks asking these questions or making those suggestions, don't understand what drives people that hold the competitive stamina gene in the first place. They don't understand, the thrill is never in winning, but the chance to win again."

What's in a Name?

Sports have their own ecosystem. And every coach works to maintain their team culture, energy, and positive flow. 

When reporters ask Bill Belichick about a decision, he uniformly answers, "I made a decision in the best interest of the New England Patriots." While not pleasing reporters, he answers to the Patriots hierarchy not the media. Maybe the timing isn't good today...

BILL BELICHICK - and Coach CELLI has made a lot of good decisions in the best interest of Melrose volleyball. Believe. 

Bracketology: Quarterfinals Set

The D2N quarterfinals are set. 

All look like competitive matchups. 

Bracketology Updated

So far the "expected winners" have advanced. 

In D1 North action, three of four ML teams remain as Winchester, Reading, and Woburn are in the quarterfinals and Lexington fell in the first round. Belmont hasn't yet played in the D1 Central-East bracket. 

Melrose Playoff Snaps

Thanks to Steve Karampalas for his images. Click to enlarge. 

"Someone old, something new..."