Game 3: Delayed But not Denied, Melrose 3 Wilmington 0

Melrose volleyball rolls on. No games for over two weeks meant practice not rust. Melrose hosted Wilmington and whitewashed the Wildcats, 25-8, 25-8, 25-6. The victory brings Melrose to 3-0 in the Middlesex League. 

Melrose dominated from the opening point (video from MHS-TV).

Strong-side hitter Elena Soukos left her mark on the Cats.

All the world's a stage and every player played her role. Junior Abby Hudson seized her opportunity. 

But she wasn't the only youngster to deliver punishing attacks. 

Sophomore opposite Gia Vlajkovic with a gorgeous run-up and spike from the right side. 

Setters Eva Haralabatos and Emma Desmond fed "cheddar biscuits" to attackers and Chloe Gentile, Emily Hudson, and Grace Sanderson dominated the middle. 

The defense was seldom challenged. 

But when called, defenders like Autumn Whelan stepped up. 

Melrose plays two additional games this week, a make up against Watertown and rematch at Wilmington. 

Repost: Preventing Ankle Injuries

 Ankle injuries are common in sport. Can we reduce them? 

Melrose Hosts Wilmington Today at 5:30

After a long absence of games, Melrose gets back into action today. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise as young players improve their defensive coverage and face good practice competition.  

Follow Melrose Athletics on Twitter for the latest broadcast information and links. 

"Play the Schedule"

"Control what you can control" is a core philosophy of Stoicism and of most excellent players and teams.

You play the schedule and when games get postponed, you work hard in practice, developing the core skills of volleyball:

- Serving / Digging

- Attacking / Blocking

- Setting / Passing

Meanwhile, other clubs are playing. 

Standings from Maxpreps.com 

Updated Schedule HOT OFF THE PRESS

 UPDATED 703 AM

Next Game Postponed Again...It's Not Rocket Science

Melrose's next game (against Watertown) is postponed for the second consecutive week. It's not rocket science during a pandemic. 

The next match is scheduled for Tuesday versus Wilmington. 

COVID-19 cases are rising (7-day average) in Massachusetts and in MORE THAN HALF of US states despite knowledge about public health measures and vaccination. Attending larger gatherings, crowding, and not using masks all contribute. It's your choice. 

"But it's just old people ruining it for us." The Massachusetts COVID-19 Reporting Response data shows that OVER 40% of cases occur in people 29 and under and the single largest group of patients is 0-19 years old. 

Get Better at Getting Better

I am a huge fan of MasterClass an online educational platform. 

Professors usually teach four to six hour classes (generally in 15 minute sessions) about writing, business, wellness, cooking, the arts, sports (e.g. Serena Williams, Steph Curry, etc.), and more. I've taken over 60 classes. 

Make education a lifetime passion. 

Some of the best include:

1) Bob Woodward (Investigative Journalism)

2) Sarah Blakely (Business Development)

3) Doris Kearns Goodwin (Presidential Leadership)

4) Malcolm Gladwell (Writing)

5) Thomas Keller (3 classes) Cooking 

Currently, I'm taking a class from Joe Holder on personal fitness. 

They're sharing seven day passes. 

Updated ML Standings

 

Expect more COVID-19 postponements as cases increase. 

The game report for Game 2 is published in the Melrose Weekly News. 

Four Words

Abraham Lincoln suffered from crippling depression through much of his life. He lost family members to illness, lost elections, and controversy ensued with his Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863. 

Near the top of the Pyramid of Success, two words, "FAITH" and "PATIENCE" flank "COMPETITIVE GREATNESS." It takes belief and time for players to grow into contributing roles. 

Making the team is a start, the coach's endorsement. 

Note the cornerstones of the pyramid are INDUSTRIOUSNESS (hard work) and ENTHUSIASM (energy). 

At the center of the pyramid are CONDITION, SKILL, and TEAM SPIRIT. All three are the fuel that get you an increased role, the opportunity to contribute. 

Moving forward requires you to believe in yourself. As that happens, more and more people will share the four words you need to know, "I believe in you." 

 

Watertown Game Saturday Postponed

The game versus Watertown is postponed... not a Melrose issue... but no other details are available. 

Updated ML Standings

from Maxpreps.com 

Without interdivision regular season play, we can only assess the Freedom Division (Burlington, Melrose, Stoneham, Wakefield, Watertown, Wilmington).

History and film suggest that Burlington, Melrose, and Wakefield will fight it out for the top spots. Burlington and Wakefield collide on Tuesday 3/30/21 which should be a tell. 

Coverage Is Lean

Coverage is hard to come by with one game a week. 

There's a reason. In Massachusetts, the highest number of COVID-19 cases is in patients nineteen years and younger, followed by age 20-29. 

Wakefield (2-0) should also be in the Maxpreps.com top 5. 

Wakefield Coach Kayla Wyland Shares Her Perspective

 Coach Kayla Wyland gives props to her roots. 

Next Up: Watertown

The Golden Age of Video affords coaches, players, and teams to study opponents. What are their strengths, weaknesses, and coverages? 

What can we learn about ourselves from studying video? Know where points arise and where they are surrendered. 

Next up is Watertown. 

Melrose Free Press: Volleyball Profile

 The Melrose Free Press covers the opening of volleyball season. 

Wakefield also shutout Watertown to go to 2-0. Woburn avenged its five set opening day loss to Arlington. 

Senior Eva Haralabatos and sophomore Emma Desmond both recorded double digit assists, an unusual achievement for most teams. 

Young guns. Sophomore Gia Vlajkovic had a career high three kills in her second varsity game and freshman Sadie Jaggers got her first varsity kills. 

Game 2: Melrose 3 Stoneham 0

Melrose quickly dispatched Stoneham 3-0 in their rematch at Stoneham HS, 25-7, 25-12, 25-6.

The victory moves Melrose to 2-0 in the Middlesex League. 

"Stars shine" with the customary top performances from Elena Soukos, Chloe Gentile, and Autumn Whelan. With senior attacker Emily Hudson out, Melrose got excellent production from senior Grace Sanderson and freshman Sadie Jaggers. 

It's hard to single out others because once again everyone contributed. Abby Hudson also attacked consistently outside. 

Lady Raider Notes: Years ago, a rival coach described Melrose as a "legacy program" because of their longstanding consistency. That hasn't changed as the program continues to progress youngsters through the system to perform at a high level. 

The six major volleyball skills are serving, passing, attacking, blocking, digging, and setting. Melrose has veteran Eva Haralabatos as a top ten (in the state) setter and is developing Emma Desmond as one possible successor. 

Thus far, the strengths of the team include solid digging/serve receive, passing, and excellent attack. Championship contenders need three dynamite hitters in the mold of Elena, Chloe, and Emily and they have a panoply of pummelers pounding the metaphorical door of playing time including Grace, Abby, Sadie and others. 

Blocking and serving consistency often require more time for optimal timing and development. 

In addition to former Melrose star Kayla Wyland running the Wakefield program, she has former teammates Jill MacInnes (MGVCA All-State 2013) and Cassidy Barbaro on her staff (hat tip: Coach Scott Celli).

Thoughts on Comparison; Melrose Travels to Stoneham Today

 

Sometimes we twist ourselves in knots during comparison. Golf professional Rory McIlroy acknowledged as much discussing his swing. Seeking more length against Bryson DeChambeau, McIlroy said that seeking club speed had cost him consistency and results. 

What does that have to do with volleyball? It's natural for people to compare players and teams from other years. Everyone is guilty of doing it, particularly long-time observers of sport. That will prove especially frustrating in 2021, with regular-season competition solely against the ML12 Freedom Division, no non-league opponents, and no state tournament. 

The best advice for players remains to "control what you can control." You control your attitude, choices, and effort. That includes your academics, approach to practice (full effort on every repetition), and intangibles like sleep and nutrition. 

Melrose reprises its opening day match today, traveling to Stoneham. 

Melrose Star Kayla Wyland Runs the Ship at Wakefield

Kayla Wyland takes over at Wakefield as volleyball coach. 

A few points about Kayla. She was an accomplished athlete at Melrose. She is the best "freshman team" athlete to become a varsity volleyball player. 

She was a key member of the state title team and played two sports in college.  

But above all, she is as nice a person as you could ever meet. And her parents told me that she was as genuinely helpful and pleasant at home as she was elsewhere. 

Article source: hat tip Jen Gentile

Up Next: At Stoneham, Saturday at Noon

Melrose concludes its home and home series with Stoneham Saturday. 

Photos courtesy of Jen Gentile

Different and Unique

Every season is different. The players and the player leadership are always different. The schedule is different and the competition is different. 

But this season is unique by virtue of its calendar, protective equipment, and rules modifications. All are likely to be unique for a volleyball season. 

What doesn't change? The way that teams come together, practice, work hard, and meet challenges defines the experience. Process defines us more than results, because of uncontrollable factors, like luck, and randomness. 

Cross Post - Leave Your Comfort Zone. Failure is a Stop on the Destination.

Look at failure differently. Love your losses. An Olympic figure skating champion endures 20,000 falls to succeed. 

Cross-posted from my basketball site. 

Boston Herald Volleyball Preview: The Usual Suspects

Danny Ventura presents the area volleyball preview for The Boston Herald. 

More Pictures from Game 1, Melrose - Stoneham

Images courtesy of Jen Gentile. Click to enlarge. 

First, the best thing you'll see today. 

On the right, Melrose winning the State Volleyball Championship with the arrow pointing to the little pumpkin, Grace Gentile. On the left, Grace is a back row player for Melrose with big sister, Captain Chloe Gentile. 

Another "Sister Act" with Abby and Emily Hudson (left, center)

Game 1 Snaps

Images courtesy of Jen Gentile. Click to enlarge.  

Senior setter Eva Haralabatos started the season with 21 consecutive service points. 

"Come home with your shield or on it" was a Spartan mother's admonition to a warrior. The block takes care of that. 

The Lady Raider defense stood at the ready. 

Sophomore opposite Gia Vlajkovic spikes into the Stoneham defense. 

Looking Around

Yesterday's Middlesex League action produced at least one upset. 

Here's a link to the Melrose-Stoneham box score. 

Maxpreps.com has a little scoreboard catchup to do. 

From BostonGlobe.com

In a minor upset, the Arlington Spy Ponders upset the Woburn Tanners 3-2. 

Former Melrose standout Kayla Wyland earned her first win at Wakefield with a 3-0 win over Watertown. For those JVb players wondering about opportunity and future, Kayla played on the Freshman Volleyball squad and became the most accomplished freshman to varsity player in Melrose history. She played volleyball and basketball in college and was part of the "Great Wall" of block with Rachel Johnson during Melrose's State Championship run. She is also the nicest person you would ever get to know. 

Game 1: Melrose 3 Stoneham 0

Melrose hosted Stoneham at the MVMMS Gym, handling the Spartans 25-3, 25-13, 25-12. Everyone had a hand in the victory. 

Senior setter Eva Haralabatos started strong with 21 consecutive service points. Because of 25 point games, nobody will ever eclipse Marianne Foley's record 28 achieved during 30 point scoring. 

Melrose dominated and controlled the action throughout. Big hitters Emily Hudson, Elena Soukos, and Chloe Gentile owned the net and the defense did a workmanlike job. 

Numerous players made solid varsity debuts. 

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose earned a sweep with JVa and JVb also sweeping the Spartans. 

There are no "ball retrievers" and the same ball is used throughout each set. 

As usual, few balls "hit the floor" as the Melrose defense communicated well. The front row did an excellent job staying out of the net. 

Overachievers? Everyone performed well. Locals expect the "stars" to be stars. Junior captain Autumn Whelan vacuumed everything in the back and Abby Hudson attacked well from the outside. 

Volleyball Preview

It's opening day. 

Jen Gentile previews the 2021 Fall 2 season at Melrose Weekly. 

"Control what you can control." Bring your best selves to the court every day. On with the show this is it. 

"It's Always Showtime"

 

"You cannot lean a ladder against the clouds." - Japanese Proverb

Learning, growing, being happen in the present, not the past or the future. You live the most important volleyball day today. 

Want a bigger role? Perform at a high level during practice. 

Change is the constant of sports. Players seize opportunity through the daily grind, the competition, attention to detail. 

"Technique beats tactics." Skill development - setting, passing, serve receiving, digging, blocking, attacking - is magic. Your PROCESS to translate fundamental growth into consistent play defines your RESULTS. Process > results.  

Successful teams excel through their 1) consistency and 2) aggressiveness. The best Melrose teams never won through trickery of diversified offense but through being their best selves in the moment of execution. 

"The magic is in the work." Today. 

Countdown to the Regular Season, 4 Days to Go

Melrose opens its season Saturday, March 6th, high noon hosting Stoneham. 

The Lady Raiders come off a 19-4 season with starters returning at setter (Eva Haralabatos), defensive specialist (Autumn Whelan), and attackers (Emily Hudson, Chloe Gentile, Elena Soukos). That core, by itself would be expected to compete for a deep playoff run. 

Volleyball fans will be curious to see how Coach Celli and his staff restock the back row defense and opposite hitter. Next, we'll see how the depth emerges. 

(Click photographs to enlarge. Images courtesy Jen Gentile)

Girls can jump. 

2020-2021 Melrose Volleyball, Fall 2 Images

Hat tip: Jen Gentile

Top row (L-R) Ava Burns, Gia Vlajkovic, Chloe Gentile (C), Emily Hudson (C), Grace Sanderson, Elena Soukos, Abby Hudson, Sadie Jaggers, Ava McSorley

Bottom row (L-R) Emma Desmond, Autumn Whelan (C), Ava Haralabatos, Sofia Centrella, Chloe Gentile

Seniors

Captains

 

A Great Teammate (Reposted)

Everyone can't be the star, but everyone can be a great teammate. Alan Williams addresses this in his book Teammates Matter. Williams was a walk-on for Wake Forest basketball and played 59 minutes in four years, earning respect as a player and great teammate. 

Melrose volleyball earned its reputation as a "legacy program," one of the most consistent teams in Massachusetts. The Lady Raiders won the State Championship in 2012 and earned eight Division 2 North sectional championships. They reached the state finals four times. The team earned the MIAA Coaches’ Sportsmanship Award in 2004.

Making a competitive team is hard. Local girls learn volleyball skills earlier each year, and scrap for the chance to enter the program. The competition doesn’t end with team selection. Girls sacrifice free time and are held accountable to a different standard of behavior than some peers. 

Coaches Celli and Schmitt set expectations and review school rules. Participation fees make their job more difficult, as fees help to defray expenses, but don't assure playing time.

The coaches explain how to contribute through practice, positive attitude, and  improving both themselves and teammates. Many reserve players would have big roles on other Middlesex League teams. The coaches inform the players that they earn playing time according to their progress. The rotation is dynamic according to performance. Not everyone plays as much as they would like. The shared goal is having a championship team, playing at its full potential. Understandably, players and parents can find this difficult.

“The race doesn’t always go to the swiftest or the battle to the strongest, but it pays to bet that way.”

Although many players have earned recognition locally and some statewide, few accomplished more than a girl who played more than a decade ago - being a great teammate. She wasn’t the star; she often played late in games after the outcome had been decided. She worked hard to become her best. She knew she wouldn’t play during the big moments, watching younger, less experienced but talented teammates. 

She accepted this, valued being part of the team and contributed however she could. Her best friend, Marianne Foley, became an All-Scholastic, while she cheered and supported the team. Both shared the moment of becoming Melrose's first Division II North volleyball champions, a team that went 22-2 and came within a point of going to the state championship, losing to the ultimate champions, Marlboro. And everyone knew that Danielle Burke was a great teammate, a memorable part of Melrose volleyball history. 

Recent MIAA Volleyball Meeting

Here's the link to the 2-23-21 MIAA Volleyball meeting highlights. 

No statewide tournaments for 2021 season (Fall 2)

COVID line disappears. 

Volleyballs must be sanitized after each game. 

Entering players must use hand sanitizer. 

Fast Forward to the Fall 2 Schedule

COVID-19 left Melrose girls in volleyball limbo last fall. The Fall season yielded to Fall 2 which offers the advantage of more normal rules. 

Melrose traditionally prepares with several scrimmages culminating with the Medway Play Date. With so many changes forced upon schools by the pandemic, I'd expect a most focus on volleyball fundamentals, skill development and intra-squad games. 

Hat tip to Jen Gentile for providing the schedule link. 

There will be an additional game at Wakefield. 

Alumnae Profiles

When information becomes available, I share what I know about former Melrose Lady Raider volleyballers.

Emma Randolph rows for the Clemson University Tigers. 

Victoria Crovo, a senior at UMASS Amherst, will attend veterinary medicine school as her next adventure. 

Kayla Wyland assumes the head volleyball coaching position at Wakefield High School.  

Melrose Girls Volleyball Roster, Fall 2 (2021) Season

Coach Celli announces the 14 player Lady Raiders roster for the (Fall 2) 2021 season. Note the balance among the classes. 

Seniors:

• Emily Hudson 
• Eva Haralabatos
• Grace Sanderson
• Sofia Centrella

Juniors:

• Elena Soukos
• Autumn Whelan
• Abby Hudson
• Ava Burns

Sophomores: 

• Chloe Gentile
• Gia Vlajkovic
• Ava McSorley
• Emma Desmond

Freshmen:

• Grace Gentile
• Sadie Jaggers

The long "Sister Act" tradition among the volleyball program continues. The Hudson sisters return as hitters, and the Gentiles bring a combination of an attacker and defensive specialist. 

The balance among classes allows young players to grow within the culture of the program with strong upperclass leadership. Tradition never graduates. 

Tryouts Continue

"The work continues." The second day of tryouts continue as Coach Celli works on roster construction.

The Lady Raiders have always had a blend of youth and experience. This season Melrose will have plenty of experienced youth like junior Elena Soukos and sophomore Chloe Gentile and junior Autumn Whelan. They complement veteran starters like setter Eva Haralabatos and Emily Hudson. 

Hudson, Soukos, and Gentile make up a formidable hitting trio. Teams need a trio of big hitters to win big. And don't sleep on senior Grace Sanderson. The battle for the back row positions remains in progress. 

The current plan is a ten game regular season with home and home matches against other Freedom Division clubs. Intraleague playoffs with crossover against the Liberty Division are planned to follow. 

Just as for basketball, games are planned to be live streamed. 

Expect the roster to be available tomorrow night. 

 

2021 Tryouts Underway

"Fall 2" volleyball tryouts began today at the MVMMS Gym. Coach Celli leads an experienced team with a strong core. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league is likely to have a truncated schedule which is not yet published. 

Melrose returns a host of capable hitters, experienced setters, and up-and-coming defenders. 

As always, the Lady Raiders are likely to blend experience from the senior class with young but experienced returners in both the front and back lines. 

The best teams feature a diversified attack with at least three big hitters, experienced setting, and a capable libero and Melrose checks all those boxes. 

Do You Have a Resume? Start Today.

Your resume shares your goals (desired position), experience, and achievements. When you seek letters of recommendation, your resume will help the writer. 

Here's a post from my basketball blog on resume writing. Haven't done enough or had extracurricular experience? Need a better GPA? Work on those, too. 

Bell, McGowan on Herald All-Decade Volleyball Team

Melrose placed a pair of stars on the Boston Herald All-Decade Team, setter Brooke Bell and hitter Sarah McGowan. Congratulations! 

McGowan and Bell helped lead the 2012 volleyball squad to a State Title. 

The Coach on the Court

Become the coach on the court. 

A cross-post from my basketball site. 

Be Amazing in Your Role

Star in your role... from my basketball blog. 

Milestones - 2019

Coach Scott Celli notched his four hundredth Melrose career win. 

Christmas DNA revealed

Paula and Karen Sen (MHS 2006) shared DNA testing as a Christmas reveal. 

Nicole in the News

Nicole Abbott heads to UMASS. 

How Are You Improving Today?

Repetitions make reputations. "I can't get better today, it's snowing." Really?

• Get stronger. Shovel some snow. 
• Jump higher. Where's your jumprope? 
• Study the game. 
• Become mentally tougher. Use mindfulness. 
• Develop your "minute clinic" of self-teaching. 
• Read, read, read, read, read. "There is no ability without eligibility."
• Write. Think and communicate more clearly. 
• Are you spending your time or investing it? 

The Meritocracy of Sport and the Reality of ROOTS

Coach Celli is my friend but he's also a genuinely good guy. No matter how hard he might try, he can only play six players at once. In the NBA, Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly said, "every player wants 48 - 48 minutes, 48 shots, 48 million." 

There's not always much difference between the top six or seven players and players 8,9, 10. It might be imperceptible differences in experience, skill, confidence, size, or potential. But it's hard to invest time, emotional energy, and money in a sport and get limited "reward." 

How would I know? I pitched one inning of varsity baseball in two years of walking on to a Division 1 baseball program and threw hundreds of hours of batting practice. In high school basketball, while waiting our 'time' (which need not come), we were the ROOTS - Royal Order of The Splinter (wooden bench). 

There's a natural belief that with experience and age, more playing time will come. That's never a given. Physically gifted and committed young athletes may surpass upperclassmen and earn rotations, roles, and responsibility. Sport is meritocracy. 

Yes, sometimes coaches are monsters, but they're relatively few. I share my thoughts on this on my basketball site. 

When not happy with your role, always address this directly with coaches...in any sport. Ask how you can contribute more to the team and where you need to improve. "Do more to become more; become more to do more."