An empty court...to remind everyone that results this season don't guarantee anyone their position next season.
Players who never started a varsity game will start next season and perform at a high level.
"It's always showtime." We are all being judged.
"The magic is in the work." UNREQUIRED work separates players.
"Toughness is a skill."
"Repetitions make reputations."
"The best yardstick for our progress is not other people, but ourselves. Am I better than I was yesterday?" - Chris Matakas, My Master, Continued Education Through Jiu Jitsu
Winning a championship is hard. Repeating is harder. #ThirdDynasty
Melrose had a lot of great players in the past twenty-plus years. Few have outperformed their Unicorn, Gia Vlajkovic.
She wouldn't say she does it alone; it takes a team.
Here's an argument (Devil's Advocate) for Gia as having the greatest all-around single season ever for Melrose. This is a mouthful in consideration of the multiple past D2 Players of the Year from Melrose.
The "winning" test - Helped lead her teams to two sectional championships...at DIFFERENT positions...setter in 2021 and attacker in 2022
Values winning over numbers in team sports
The "numbers" test - In the top two All-Time in Melrose single season kills.
Plays all-around without a break. She can't conserve energy for attacking.
Defends from the back at a high level...
Attacks from both the front and the back row.
Has come up big in the postseason.
Magnificent in defeat to King Philip in state semifinals...greatest losing performance I've seen in twenty years
No 'weakness' in any volleyball primary skill - attack/block/serve/dig/set/receive-pass
Elite athlete by any measure (strength/power/skill)
Hyper-competitive athlete who hates to lose...
Deserving of the Triple Crown - All-State/All-Scholastic at Herald and Globe
All opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author. They do not represent any official commentary from the City of Melrose, Melrose High School, or the Melrose Athletic Department.
Sometimes the story doesn't end how you want. Melrose made its tenth appearance in the Division 2 State Semifinals since 2003 and came up short, losing 18-25, 20-25, 22-25.
The volleyball season is painfully short, starting in late August; the end always arrives suddenly.
When you face a team as tall, athletic, and skilled as King Philip, you need your "A" game and Melrose played hard but not its best. Certainly some of that followed the relentless pressure of the King Philip attack.
KP dominated the first set with the principal positive Gia Vlajkovic moving into second place on the Melrose All-Time single season kill list.
Melrose sped to a quick lead in the second set at 6-1 only to see the Warriors gradually whittle it away until taking control late.
Melrose mostly played "uphill" in the third set, having chances but unable to capitalize. When crunch time came, KP continually made the big play and Melrose couldn't.
Commentary: Melrose didn't have a good season. It had a great season.
It played tough against a merciless non-league schedule.
The team went undefeated in the ever-improving Middlesex League.
It got excellent contributions from all six seniors.
Melrose beat an excellent Billerica club to get to the sectional finals and an undefeated Duxbury club on the road to win sectionals.
In the twenty plus years I've watched, broadcast, and written about Melrose volleyball, this team likely overachieved the most.
Coach Scott Celli did a magnificent coaching job this season and the players took the TEAM message to heart.
Gia Vlajkovic was the Freedom Division MVP and among the top few players in the league, including an Arlington player with a D1 scholarship.
Gia's otherworldly play tonight was the finest I have seen in a losing performance in a playoff game. I'll have more to say about that later.
"The Positive Dog" is one of my favorite books, about the power of positive energy. Everyone in my family (?) has read it and everyone in my office reads it.
Jon Gordon shares lots of other great concepts in his books.
"Audaces fortuna iuvat." - "Fortune favors the bold."
Too few stories celebrate examples of women defined by audacity. Learn some and carry them forward.
Wilma Rudolph, one of 21 children, suffered childhood polio at age four and had to relearn to walk and later run. In the 1960 Rome Olympics she won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100m relay, setting three world records.
Arlene Blum led a 1978 all-woman team of climbers in an ascent of Annapurna, one of fourteen peaks in Nepal over 8000m. Annapurna was the tenth highest mountain in the world. Two women summitted and a second pair died trying. Women have the capacity to take the risks and consequences of high adventure.
Abbie Conant broke through a glass ceiling in 1980 in a blind audition for the trombonist position with the Munich Philharmonic. Women were excluded but the organizers expected "Abbie" to be a man and authorized the tryout. They spent a decade trying to remove her.
I am not in the prediction business. Let's examine the King Philip versus Melrose matchup with some help from Maxpreps.com.
When I think of Wrentham (home of King Philip), I think first of the Wrentham Village mall (haven't been there) and former Senator Scott Brown, a former resident. I need to get out more.
King Philip isn't a new arrival on the volleyball scene, having lost in the D2 semis last year to ultimate winner Hopkinton.
Both teams won their league titles, KP tied with Attleboro and Franklin (who lost to Barnstable in the D1 quarterfinals) in the Hockomock League. Melrose won the Middlesex League.
Both KP and Melrose have six seniors on the roster.
KP had a pair of losses, one to Franklin with whom they split and once to Attleboro, another top ten D1 team. Melrose lost to three number one seeds in their divisions, Newton North, Westborough, and Frontier, and its opening match with Peabody.
KP lost only 8 sets in their league during the season. Melrose lost 6 sets in the ML12.
Both teams play on a neutral court for the first time this season.
Both teams defeated their common opponent, Stoughton.
KP has three attackers with 200 or more kills. It's top two hitters have an impressive attack efficiency of at least forty percent. That usually reflects skill, height, and quality of sets. Melrose doesn't publish attack efficiency statistics.
On paper it's an attractive matchup, two proven teams returning to the Divisional semifinals in consecutive seasons with senior leadership and quality schedules.
If our job is about winning, have strong beliefs about why teams win. What do we have to do to win?
1. Talent. If we can't acquire the talent, make more. "Every day is player development day." As Don Meyer said, "do you want two better players or two better plays?"
1b.Ability to handle pressure. Strong teams share the ability to handle and apply pressure, both physical and mental.
Core - "Get more and better shots than opponents" - Pete Newell
Be present. Play the game possession by possession. "Win this possession."
Defense - "No easy baskets/one bad shot"
Offense - Share the ball, cut and pass, take good shots.
Conversion - O to D and D to O
Add value and get a buy-in to play "harder for longer."
Be "performance-focused and feedback-rich."
3. Culture (including attitude). "Basketball is sharing." Follow your dreams. Develop of culture of hard work, improvement, and belief. It's impossible to have a positive life with a negative attitude. Winning is a culture of expectation.
4. Unity (Teamwork/Trust). Put the team first. "It's the scoreboard over the scorebook." Be happy for the success of the team and the success of teammates.
5. Sacrifice. Defense shows caring about the team more than you care about yourself.
6. Conditioning. Pledge to be the best conditioned team in your league. Condition within drills and scrimmaging. Condition for excellence not punishment. Better conditioning adds resilience.
7. Effort. Effort has to be the norm and rewarded. "I'm not here to coach effort." - Dean Smith
8. Game understanding. Pete Newell said a coach's primary job is "helping players see the game." It's a teaching profession but you don' have to be a school teacher to teach.
9. Resilience. Winning is hard which makes it valuable. Playing hard is a skill. Confidence is a skill.
10.Strategy. "Technique beats tactics." Playing fundamentally well defines success.
"A dance card is typically a booklet with a decorative cover, listing dance titles, composers, and the person with whom the woman intended to dance." - Wikipedia
Metaphorically, there's but one dance unfilled on the card. How do you get there?
Basketball Coach Don Meyer emphasized these qualities for players - passion, unity, servant leadership, humility, and gratitude. When things go well, it's easy to forget to be thankful.
I want to focus on three players who need mention.
Senior Chloe Gentile, the senior middle, anchors one frontline defense, is on the brink of 200 kills, a Melrose measure of excellence, and served for the win against Duxbury. She's well known as a multi-year captain and Middlesex League All-Star, but she's a key cog. She had the tough assignment to work at two positions, outside and middle, and has been productive down the stretch. She averaged 10.7 kills/match during the postseason.
Senior Ava McSorley has vital roles as a server and defensive specialist. She is fourth in service points on the team and third in both digs and service receptions. As a defensive specialist, you are at your best toiling in obscurity, but she's been especially solid during Melrose's eleven game winning streak. And on the 'excitement' scale at the end of Duxbury, she earned a ten.
Sophomore Leah Fowke is the third key contributor to notice. As the designated server, she comes in 'cold' and throws strikes. She serves a "heavy ball" that can dip or hook and is hard to pass against. She's likely to have a big role in the future, although she can be as quiet as a mouse walking on cotton, as the coaches look for her to find her court voice.
"If you get a job in the industry running errands or making coffee, you better make the best coffee they've ever had." - Shonda Rhimes, writer
Success is not a given. "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." Just making the volleyball team is an achievement. But it's not enough. And most players, having experienced success, want more.
Star in your role. That doesn't mean to accept being a reserve player. It means practicing hard to challenge teammates, to cheer teammates on, and to work to increase your role. "Do more to become more; become more to do more."
Make the big time where you are. My daughter's roommate in college was the volleyball captain at Dartmouth. Her younger sister in California wasn't a strong enough player to make her high school team. She played on the Club Circuit and earned a D1 scholarship to an East Coast team. Enjoy the ride.
"Always do your best." Our best won't be the same every day. And our best will almost never be 'the best'. But doing our best leaves no regrets.
Make everyone around you better. How can you know? Sometimes it means unconditional love "she's my teammate" and sometimes it means conditional love, "Susie, we need more from you. You're capable of being more, doing more. I believe in you."
Everyone leads. Sometimes you might see something that makes a difference. Never be a distraction. Be on time. Be engaged. Be coachable. Listen and follow directions. When your time comes, be ready.
Words are part of us. They elevate; they cause despair. They leave scars. Try these on as part of your volleyball spirit.
Serendipity - accidentally finding something delightful. Those unfamiliar with volleyball often feel serendipity when they see the spirit, athleticism, and competitiveness.
Schadenfreude - to take delight in another person’s misery. This volleyball season has been the opposite, a chance to take joy in the team's success.
Sawubona - a greeting from the Zulu, literally, “I see you.” People need to feel seen and heard.
Ubuntu - from Swahili, “I am because we are” an expression of community. The 2008 Celtics rode "Ubuntu," shared ownership, to an NBA championship.
Mana - from the Polynesian, embodying natural or magical forces in an individual, similar to “the Force” in Star Wars. In Legacy, James Kerr shares the importance of the Maori culture to the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby dynasty. "Leave the jersey in a better place." You have done that.
Mensch - from Yiddish, usually an elder representing integrity and honor. Strive to develop a growth mindset, mentors, and an affirming culture. "Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence."
Coaches have enough headaches without adding more. Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler said it was better to lose out on a recruit who will beat you once a year, instead of getting him and have him beat you every day.
Melrose has no character issues.
Competence checklist.
Talent. Melrose has proven ability against strong competition.
Strategy. Melrose has diversified its offense over years but relies on fundamental play.
Winning? Is he a winner? Coach Dean Smith he would never recruit a player who starred but didn't help his team win.
Mentality. Excellent teams don't beat themselves with mental mistakes.
Decision-making. "Do more of what works and less of what doesn't." Melrose decision-making was exceptional against Duxbury.
Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath, or do they? Malcolm Gladwell's book retells the story from another perspective.
The giant, Goliath, might have an illness, acromegaly where a pituitary tumor releases growth hormone producing enormous size. But the tumor is just behind the eyes and presses on the optic nerve, which blocks signals from the eye to the brain's processing center. He can't see.
Meanwhile, David is mobile and armed with precision projectiles that he fires with deadly accuracy at over sixty miles per hour. Literally, it's a mismatch but not as expected.
David and Goliath is only one of the "Cinderella stories" that provide never-ending joy to readers and viewers. The lucky few live the dream, excited not nervous by the bright lights on the big stage.
How did they get there?
They outworked the competition and believed in themselves.
Hollywood sport endings are common.
"Hoosiers"
"Rocky"
"Rudy"
"The Mighty Ducks"
"Little Giants"
"The Bad News Bears"
"The Replacements"
Women's sports get short shrift in the "Underdog Story" genre. But they're out there. #16 Harvard took down #1 Stanford in the 1998 NCAA Basketball Tournament.
In 2013, Danielle Coughlin won the Massachusetts 106 pound wrestling championship. She became the fourth girl in the US to win in a boys state tournament.
1a. The players. Melrose graduated the Freedom Division MVP in Elena Soukos and other key players, but returned six seniors including the Human Pogo Stick in Gia Vlajkovic. They also had a blocking force return in Sadie Jaggers in the middle.
1b. Coaching. Coaching is especially important in high school. "Every day is player development day." In my opinion, Scott Celli did his best work this season, navigating a hard schedule, sticking with the seniors through some hard knocks, and maintaining enthusiasm and positivity.
2. Improvement. This is not the same team that opened the season against Peabody or scuffled some against Arlington. They're defending and blocking better, serving well, and generating more offense both inside and outside. During the season Ruth Breen, Emma Desmond, Anna Shoemaker, and Ava McSorley have all punched their tickets with consistent skill.
3. Scheduling. "Iron sharpens iron." The record is deceptive because of losses to elite competition. Melrose beat Duxbury because Melrose was the better team in every facet of the game. Video is the Truth Machine and I've watched the final four points twenty times via the NFHSNetwork (subscription).
4. Senior leadership. Not many Melrose teams relied upon senior contributions as much as this one.
5. Killer queens (see 'Rollercoaster' above). Only a handful of Melrose athletes have over 300 kills in a season. Gia Vlajkovic is near the top of that exclusive club at 320.
Only one team in Melrose history (2005) had three attackers with over 200 kills in the same season. There's an outside chance that happens this season.
As teams advance through the Tournament, they WIN points. Defenses are too consistent and players too experienced to give bundles of points away. Melrose had 60 kills against Duxbury, versus the usual 11-12/set.
Last year Melrose faced Westborough in the semifinals in Watertown. Where will Melrose and King Philip (Wrentham) meet?
Both of the Newton teams will play in D1 semifinals and neither can be home. Melrose faced Fairhaven in the past at Newton South in the semis, and it looks as though Newton is about halfway between Melrose and Wrentham.
Both the Newton high schools have the capacity to handle a crowd and playing in Newton would not require either school's team or fans to go through Boston.
The scoring moment as Sadie Jaggers slams the overpass into the Duxbury middle...
Long games against excellent competition fill the stat sheet. "It's the scoreboard not the scoresheet" comes first, but individual achievement fuels team results.
Deep playoff runs follow three dynamic hitters. Melrose has four. Last night three had double digits including 21 from Gia Vlajkovic, bringing her to 320 for the season. Chloe Gentile is closing in on 200. Sadie Jaggers had her career game, and Anna Shoemaker was excellent.
Excellent teams don't beat themselves. Melrose had only four service errors last night. That's despite improved quality of serves with different players bringing different types of service.
Ruth Breen had a spectacular 48 assists last night.
Ruth Breen's game by game statistics.
Unheralded as a first full-time setter coming in, Ruth closes in on single-season marks set by the top setters in Melrose history.
Emma Desmond has excelled at libero all season and is playing her best volleyball making both routine and spectacular plays. But don't sleep on Gia Vlajkovic, who plays "all around" getting no breaks and making play after play front and back.
Consider that players put up these stats not in a regular season match against usual competition, but in the sectional championship against an undefeated team on hostile turf.
"The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." - Neil DeGrasse Tyson
"Corporate memory" describes history and context. Werner von Braun had his "Monday Notes" for NASA to get and give feedback on progress on the Moon Landing program. Twenty years watching Melrose volleyball affords some perspective.
Earning Final Four status has become a touchstone for program excellence. To do so, key wins against excellent clubs qualify.
The first program-defining or "signature win" was sweeping Arlington Catholic (22-0) in the sectional championship at Andover in 2003. AC had the "Twin Towers" and hadn't lost a set for the season. It was Melrose's first bite at the apple with a mix of veterans and youth.
Beating Canton in 2012 en route to the State Championship was another pivotal milestone. Some pundits dismissed Melrose's "simple game" while acknowledging its talented ball control offense (four players from the roster earned All-State status over the years).
Last night Duxbury had to feel good about their chances, undefeated and having beaten a Dartmouth club that beat D1 power Barnstable. Melrose came in, dictated the tempo of the match and got excellent performances up and down the roster. At various points of the match, Gia Vlajkovic, Anna Shoemaker, Sadie Jaggers, and Chloe Gentile took over.
Throughout, libero Emma Desmond played under control and had an outstanding passing game. When you don't notice the setter, Ruth Breen, that means she's making passes 'on time and on target'. She and Sadie were particularly in sync on the quick sets.
What lessons resonate?
Emerson said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Consistency is everything in sports. Consistency in coaching is key because you have different clubs each season as players graduate and others ascend. Coach Scott Celli puts another pelt on his horse.
Credit the players. Melrose had major losses to graduation including Elena Soukos, Autumn Whelan, and Abby Hudson. The 2022 players stepped up and filled those roles. And the pipeline isn't dry.
Schedule matters. Melrose lost to the top team in D1, D2, and D5. The playoffs do not care about regular season losses, but about fashioning wins from experience.
Good players have good statistics. In Moneyball, Michael Lewis wrote, "if he's such a good hitter, why doesn't he hit better?" Although I don't have the final numbers, Gia Vlajkovic moved into the top five Melrose all-time in single season kill leaders, passing Paula Sen and Sarah McGowan. She also had two key kills at the end. It's a team game but individual aggression wins.
Collaboration is key. It's not always having the best six players but the six who play best together. This group didn't always 'poll' the highest but they're still standing with four teams left.
Poise is critical. After a tough no-call at 21-20, Melrose finishes on a four-point run to seal the deal. They would not be denied.
Playing well at the end of the season counts most. Melrose rides an eleven game win streak into the semis.
Only four remain, the 1, 2, 4, and 6 seeds.
Melrose notes: Melrose has four sophomores (Leah Fowke, Gigi Albuja, Caroline Higonenq, Maggie Turner) and a freshman (Sabine Wenzel) who aren't just along for the ride. They're scrimmaging and developing alongside the Sectional Champions. That gives them "Hungry Eyes" for future success.
"We're back." 6th-seeded Melrose traveled to undefeated Duxbury and rode the Dragon beating the 3rd seed 25-17, 25-17, 18-25, and 25-21. Melrose rallied from a fourth set deficit to erase the Dragons with a closing rush.
It was a total team effort with another great game for the Unicorns and great effort from the supporting cast of lionesses and tigresses.
In the midst of scuffling in the middle of the fourth set, Sadie Jaggers had three consecutive kills to re-energize the team. Chloe Gentile had key kills down the stretch as Melrose dominated the middle despite Duxbury's reputation for middle strength. And as always Gia Vlajkovic brought firepower from the outside.
Emma Desmond was nearly flawless from the libero spot and Melrose got big games from everyone.
The front line attack of Gia Vlajkovic, Chloe Gentile, Sadie Jaggers, and Anna Shoemaker were relentless.
Ruth Breen piled up another batch of assists, servers Ava McSorley and Leah Fowke were solid, and Grace Gentile and Manon Marchais made key plays in the front and the back.
The 2021-2022 clubs ignited the "Third Dynasty" after sectional champions from 2003-2005 and 2009-2012 culminating in a State Title.
The win advances Melrose to the State Semifinals for the 10th time since 2003.
Coaches want teams to represent, to be the best versions of themselves.
The Melrose player walked onto the court head up, chest up, tall. "I want everyone to know the best player in the gym is here, now." I see some players with that now; it's no accident that you're in the game today. Think of it as destiny.
Researcher Amy Cuddy studied body positioning and hormonal changes. Taking "expansive positions" by making yourself 'big' led to higher testosterone levels and lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Correlation exists between body language and neurochemical responses. #Sciencing
"Show up." To be a leader, act as a leader.
"Be a worthy opponent." Let the opposition know from the beginning it's a cat fight, that every play will be scratch and claw.
"Never quit." In the recesses of memory, think about Billerica 2021, that a comeback is available.
Sixth seed Melrose (18-4) travels to three seed Duxbury (21-0) in a state quarterfinal. Three of Melrose's losses came to the top seeds in Division 1, 2, and 5 (Newton North, Westborough, Frontier).
The two teams have never met.
Melrose arrives off a 3-1 win over eleven seed Billerica and Duxbury topped fourteen seed Amherst-Pelham.
Melrose carries a ten game win streak and Duxbury is undefeated this season. They have no common opponents.
Melrose won the Middlesex League and Duxbury won the Patriot League.
Melrose went 48-6 in league sets and Duxbury went 48-7.
From Maxpreps.com
Control what you can control.
Jay Wright on focusing on what you can control
"Your attitude is your greatest characteristic. You don't control your intelligence, your size, or your God-given talents. What you do control, though, is your attitude.”
Congrats to volleyball on their 3-1 win over Billerica! Some amazing volleyball played by both teams! With the win Melrose earns a trip to Duxbury Friday afternoon in an elite eight matchup! #MelrosePSpic.twitter.com/YIqOzPKZSt
