Winning Plays - "Shout Out"

Little things become big things. Make winning plays. pic.twitter.com/GvUWos7jYg

— Greg Berge (@gb1121) October 11, 2025

Coach Berge points out that winning plays come in different shapes. Some coaches film the bench to watch 'engagement'. 

Winning volleyball plays that get less attention:

• On court communication
• Avoiding violations (e.g. staying out of the net)
• Alertness to rotations (no errors)
• Closing the double block with anticipation, footwork, quickness
• Defenders who keep "low probability" plays alive
• Defenders who are always ready to defend during their attacks

Shout out. I noticed during yesterday's game how vigorously Adele Akland was cheering. She was making a difference although not on the floor. 

I asked ChatGPT to generate a post on subtle actions that impact winning. I highlighted a few points.  

The Hidden Game: Subtle Plays That Win Volleyball Matches

Not everything that wins matches shows up on the stat sheet. The best teams master the quiet skills — communication, positioning, poise, and restraint — that separate good from great. In volleyball, invisible work often produces visible results.

1. Communication Before Contact

Elite teams talk early.

• Call the ball loud and clear.

• Alert teammates to the hitter’s approach or coverage gap.

• Setters announce, “I’m off,” and passers echo, “Free ball.”

That constant chatter creates mental clarity. Silent teams play cautiously; talkative teams play confidently. The conversation becomes choreography.

“When we talk, we synchronize; when we’re silent, we improvise.”

2. Coverage and Anticipation

The casual fan watches the spike. The experienced coach watches the cover.

• A well-positioned cover after a blocked attack keeps a rally alive.

• Middle blockers who land balanced can re-jump or close on tips.

• Defenders who read the setter’s eyes buy their team an extra second.

Those seconds win long rallies — the plays that swing momentum.

3. Resets and Second Chances

Good teams win first-ball points. Great teams win scramble points.

• Smart setters make playable choices out of chaos — high and deep instead of desperate.

• Liberos who know when to bump-set versus overhead-save stabilize the next contact.

• A team that can “reset” under pressure demonstrates emotional control.

You don’t practice chaos for chaos’ sake — you practice to stay calm when chaos arrives.

4. Avoiding Unforced Errors

Sometimes the best play is no play at all.

• Holding your block instead of reaching into the net.

• Checking your foot on the attack line before jumping.

• Knowing the score and situation before taking a risky serve.

Volleyball’s margins are razor-thin. Avoiding violations, overlaps, and silly net contacts keeps your team’s rhythm intact. Every unnecessary error you eliminate pressures the opponent to earn every point.

5. Supporting Teammates After Mistakes

After a shanked pass or missed serve, body language can heal or harm.

• Teammates who make immediate eye contact and clap reduce shame.

• A calm “next ball” communicates trust.

• A leader who defuses tension keeps everyone in the present.

You can’t always control outcomes, but you can control emotional recovery time. Championship teams rebound fast.

6. Intelligent Transitions

The transition between defense and offense — that split second after a dig — defines volleyball IQ.

• Middles who turn quickly to load for a fast attack give setters options.

• Pin hitters who sprint off the net open space for a “back one” or pipe.

• Defenders who transition to coverage rather than admiring the dig prevent surprise blocks.

Those movements don’t make highlights, but they make sideouts.

7. Serving Strategy and Restraint

A service ace gets applause; a smart serve earns respect.

• Knowing when to aim deep or short, float or spin.

• Serving tough without chasing aces that become service errors.

• Recognizing a struggling passer and targeting her repeatedly — the silent pressure play. (Some call that "finding the fish")

Serving is offense disguised as defense. Intelligent risk beats reckless aggression.

8. Subtle Leadership

Leadership isn’t always the huddle speech. It’s often micro-actions:

• A captain who quietly straightens a younger player’s jersey or offers the towel.

• The senior who models hustle in warm-ups.

• The setter who whispers encouragement between points.

These behaviors don’t trend on social media, but they define The Standard.

9. Playing the Score

Awareness separates good players from smart players.

• Knowing when to use a tip instead of a blast at 24–23.

• Recognizing when a timeout will ice the server.

• Managing emotional energy during long sets.

Volleyball is as much about emotional rhythm as physical rhythm.

10. The Discipline of the Small

Winning isn’t about finding one big thing; it’s about doing a thousand small things right.

• Being in ready position on every point.

• Checking rotations.

• Keeping the ball off the floor one more time.

“Championships aren’t built on miracles. They’re built on moments nobody noticed.”

Closing Thought

The box score tells a story of points. The film tells a story of people — of timing, trust, and togetherness. Coaches like Scott Celli teach the visible game and the invisible one: how to communicate, how to reset, how to be unselfish.

Because in volleyball, as in life, the unseen effort makes the seen excellence possible.

Selected Highlights Newburyport at Melrose

Coaches have various approaches to sharing video highlights. Doc Rivers believes that players don't focus beyond 13 clips. UNC Women's Soccer Coach Anson Dorrance believes that women do better viewing positive highlights. 

Today, I'll share some positive highlights, "cherry picking" to reinforce the important of doing more of what worked. Coach Scott Celli will share his observations about where attention to detail can make difference-making improvements. 

Sadie Smith makes more than her share of instinctive plays that cause problems for opponents. She had 40 assists yesterday...and this kill. 

Craft is as important in power in volleyball. Newburyport had excellent blocking, yet Sabine Wenzel uses touch to close out the first frame.

 

Anna Burns served with intent going Zone 1 to Zone 1. Emme Boyer finishes the point with a block-kill. 

Again, a well-placed attack has advantages over a "smash." Adriana Santoriello uses a "cut shot" across court to close out the second set. 

Bill Belichick called them, "Got to have it" plays. Trailing 19-20 in the third set, Adriana delivers. 

"Second time's a charm..." as Adriana scores. 

Elise Marchais had her best game at Melrose in her young career. She scores here on a short attack. 

Here Elise scores down the line. 

Ella Friedlaender is a powerful athlete who can deliver a kill shot falling away and away from the net. 

"The Standard Is the Standard"

Coaches balance "competitive character" with common sense - intensity with perspective. Here's a great quote from Clint Hurdle, "don't hide from The Standard you helped to create." 

I like the saying, "Learn to love your losses." That's how humans grow - by making better decisions. Our parents teach us, "Don't play in the traffic" and "If you play with fire, you get burned." Seek growth as individuals and teams within "The Standard." 

Coach Scott Celli and his assistants teach The Standard. It’s never been “We win every game.” Slogans don’t win games. Standards do. Teamwork makes teams more. Play consistent, aggressive volleyball and — as Bill Walsh said — “the score takes care of itself.”

Coach Clint Hurdle also says in "Hurdle-isms":

"A slogan that's not posted in a clubhouse or on a whiteboard: “Let's be OK.” I understand there are days that OK is the best you've got. However, when you can look around the room into each other's eyes and see your teammate coming up short, you can raise him up. That's what good teams do. That's what good teammates do. There are no weak links."

Empathy matters. Years ago we had lost a Middle School basketball game. Our best player said, "I played terrible. We lost because of me. I'm sorry." Her teammate, Bella Federico, went up to her, put her arm around her and said, "We win as a team and we lose as a team." Bella didn't allow the team or her teammate to stay "not OK." 

The Standard isn’t perfection - it’s connection. It’s how teams hold each other accountable without tearing each other down. When everyone owns it, nobody hides from it.

"This Is Why We Play"

pic.twitter.com/hJflBGCwF0

— Mindset Machine  (@Mindset_Machine) October 10, 2025

Have you ever told your parents, your coaches, your peers, "You don't understand. You don't know what it's like?"

Former professional golfer Lee Trevino said, "Pressure is playing a five dollar Nassau with two dollars in your pocket."

Here's another version via AI: The phrase "to whom much is given, much will be required" emphasizes that those who have received significant blessings or resources have a responsibility to use them wisely and to help others. This concept is rooted in Luke 12:48, which states that from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.

Here's match point from the 2010 Sectional Final. You can't hear the opponent commentary as they play an "out of system" ball. Someone says, "Just get it over." That was a death sentence.

Against strong competition, just getting it over is often an invitation to get it smashed back in your face. The 2010 team was in the midst of a "fourpeat" of sectional titles. Rachel Johnson (middle) was a sophomore as was Brooke Bell (setter). 

In "Ted Lasso," one of the players comes out to the team. Ted Lasso says, "we don't care" and revises that to "we don't not care." We understand that ten MVB players are freshmen and sophomores. We don't not care...

Here's the deal. You're on floor for MVB. Embrace the moment. It says, "Melrose" on your uniform not "freshman" or "sophomore" or "senior." When you get the opportunity to attack, attack with the "best available attack." That could be a smash, tip, push off the outside blocker. If you give your best effort and it doesn't work out, so be it. "This is why we play." 

What Is the Essence? Distill Long Lists into Your Core Values

Kirby Smart doesn’t talk about winning - he talks about his non-negotiables.

A masterclass on standards, toughness, and relentless effort.

(📌Bookmark for later) pic.twitter.com/3r3lSdsfDl

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) October 8, 2025

There's a lot to digest here. Too much. 

One of Jocko Willink's SEAL Team members told the team leader that he could only remember three things. Don't memorize long lists. Commit to simplicity and execution. 

Keep it simple. Simplicity wins. Before Melrose won States, coaches said that Melrose's simplicity could be limiting. Ball control with excellent passing is the core competence. 

Take care of the details. Attention to detail separates excellence from something less. Defense leads to offense. Be consistent and aggressive. 

Compete. Be relentless. Be mentally tough. Communicate. Bring energy and energize your teammates. 

Lagniappe. "Keeping score will wear you out, and you'll wear out everyone in your circle of friends." - Clint Hurdle in "Hurdle-Isms"

Don't keep score of compliments, criticism, and recognition. There's no value in "Mom always like you best." What you will remember most years from now is the shared experiences with your teammates. 

Lagniappe. "I ask myself if I am putting myself in a good position to succeed: Did I eliminate distractions? Did I prepare? Did I practice? Did I produce? Did I honestly self‐evaluate my performance and see where there was room for improvement? Did I see the challenge correctly? Did I do my research before I shared my response? Did I reach out to others that might have gone through this situation to share their experiences?" - Clint Hurdle in "Hurdle-isms"

Game 14: Newburyport 3 Melrose 2

Melrose ran into a relentless Newburyport Clipper team, coming up short 25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 24-26, and 12-15. The home loss drops Melrose to 10-4. 

An excellent crowd witnessed high energy volleyball with Newburyport simply making more plays down the stretch of the last three sets.

There was no 'general breakdown' or error-fest. Melrose didn't make enough plays when they had the chance.

I'll save further breakdown for a subsequent post.

I will add that if there were a "Mademoiselle of the Match," that would belong to Elise Marchais, who played the best volleyball of her young MVB career. 

Melrose Notes: Melrose stands at 19 in the MIAA power rankings. Newburyport was #12 in Division 3 and entered with a power ranking of 2.54.

The big crowd and intense competition conjured up a playoff atmosphere. 

In the crowd was Melrose alum and Wakefield coach Kayla Wyland whose team is at eight and hosts Melrose next Tuesday. 

If there was any area that Melrose didn't benefit from, MVB scored very few service aces, an important element in close matches. Conversely, they committed few service errors. 

What Book(s) Are You Reading Today?

"Always remember, there are two types of people in this world: those who are humble, and those who are about to be. You've been both. Remain the first one.”" - "Hurdle-isms: Wit and Wisdom from a Lifetime in Baseball" by Clint Hurdle

In The Undoing Project, Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball, Liar's Poker) discusses how we make decisions through the profiling lens of Nobel Laureate Danny Kahneman and his research partner Amos Tversky (predeceased Nobel award). Kahneman says Tversky was "the smartest guy in the room" in every room.

At a dinner party, Tversky overhead another Nobel laureate, Murray Gell-Mann pontificating...about everything. Tversky delivered a "sick burn," saying, "Murray, there is nobody in the world as smart as you think you are."

"Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, but about thinking less about yourself."

Reading promotes humility. Read Walter Isaacson biographies of Leonardo da Vinci or Ben Franklin to be astonished by their accomplishments. Read Hemingway for simple, powerful emotional prose. Read Stephen King's On Writing for insights into his career and for tips on writing better. Read Anne Lamont's Bird by Bird to learn her approach. 

Read to learn. Read for pleasure. Read to expand your world. Read. Read. Read. Read. Read. 

Tip: If you have a Melrose library card, you can sign up to borrow (online) from the Boston Public Library at BPL.org. 

Lagniappe. Build your volleyball IQ. We can always learn more. "Stay humble, stay hungry." 

Clippers Sail into Melrose Today, Stats Are In

Make history today. The Maxpreps.com "History" tab shows no previous official matches between Newburyport and Melrose.

Videos on the Maxpreps.com preview page show a tall and athletic team. The Clippers feature six seniors and seven juniors, bringing an experienced team. 

It will take full engagement in a team effort to succeed today. 

Stats from Melrose-Arlington

Attacking: 

Sabine led with 21 kills, Emme had 8, Ella 6, and Adriana 5

Setting:

Sadie added another 32

Serving: 

Melrose had a serve percentage of 90, with Danni leading with 17 service points 

Defense:

Anna Burns led in both digs (9) and receptions (27)

Massachusetts Stat Leaders:

Sophomore Sadie Smith continues to be in the top twenty, checking in at 13th.

Senior Sabine Wenzel has a narrow lead in kills. With a career total of 743, she sets her sights on fourth on the Melrose All-Time list with Sarah McGowan (749) nearby. 

Fresh Face for MVB

Freshman Amelie Johnson was promoted to Varsity this week. Congratulations. 

Leverage: Turning What You Have Into What You Want

Clint Hurdle wrote, “According to Wikipedia, leverage is defined as using something you already have to achieve something new or better.”

Archimedes went further: “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”

The best teams understand that leverage isn’t luck. It’s awareness—knowing your strengths and applying them.

People have said it many ways:

• “Make hay while the sun shines.”

• “The best time to fix the roof is while the sun is shining.” – John F. Kennedy

• “Utilize strengths, attack weaknesses.” – Sun Tzu

In volleyball, leverage lives everywhere.

Where MVB Finds Leverage

Use what you’ve got.
As Dr. Fergus Connolly said, “Never bring a gun to a gunfight; bring a tank.” When you have one of the top offensive forces in the state, feed her. When you have skill and size, use it to own the net.

Leverage your leadership.
You have a MAVCA Hall of Fame coach. Listen. Learn. Absorb. Every word is a lever that can move your game forward.

Leverage your youth.
Youth means energy, resilience, and time. The success equation applies:
Achievement = Performance × Time.

Time compounds if you invest it wisely—rep by rep, practice by practice.

Leverage your gifts.
Sadie Smith makes an abundance of special plays through concentration and coordination. That’s no accident. Hand-eye coordination is a lever, sharpened by focus and repetition.

Leverage communication.
Talk is oxygen. Great teams breathe through sound—calling, warning, celebrating. Superior communication turns chaos into control.

Leverage the chip on your shoulder.
“They’re too young.” “Too inexperienced.” “Their time will come.”
Perfect. Let doubt be the lever that drives effort.

The Edge

Leverage multiplies effort through awareness. It’s the small hinge that swings a big door—the right serve, the perfect read, the well-timed block.

Leverage what you have. Build what you don’t. And as Roy Kent told Rebecca Welton:

“Don’t you dare settle for fine.”

via GIPHY

Word for the Day: Ostentatious (meaning "showy")

Origin: The word “ostentatious” comes from Latin roots through Old French and Middle English pathways.

• Latin: ostentāre — meaning “to show, display, exhibit,” which is a frequentative form of ostendere (“to show”).

  • os- = “in front of” or “toward”

  • tendere = “to stretch”
    → literally, “to stretch out before” or “to put forward for display.”

• Old French: ostentacion — “vain display, showiness.”

Milestone Victory for Coach Scott Celli

Winning is hard. Never take it for granted.

Massachusetts Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Scott Celli recorded his 500th Melrose win tonight at Arlington. 

Congratuations on a spectacular milestone. 

Image created with ChatGPT Plus

Game 13: Melrose 3 Arlington 1

Melrose traveled to Arlington's luxurious $291 million dollar high school and survived "Malice in the Palace," with a 25-18, 11-25, 25-15, and 25-21 win. The victory boosted Melrose's record to 10-3 and qualified them for the State Tournament. 

Bill Parcells has a saying, "If they don't bite when they're puppies, they won't bite when they're grown." Today there was less bite than usual. 

Melrose was erratic in the first set, but Arlington's play hinted at resilience.  Sabine Wenzel was on point with (unofficially) eight first set kills and there was good dispersion with six Melrosians notching kills. 

A controversial rotation error by the Spy Ponders late put Melrose up 23-17 and they closed out the set in pedestrian fashion. 

The second set was largely all bad. Arlington forced a Melrose timeout at 6-10 as Melrose scuffled with serve-receive. It got worse from there as MVB trailed 9-17 and 10-21 before succumbing 11-25. Coach Scott Celli chose "time in" versus a second timeout, looking for the team to "figure it out." 

The third stanza changed momentum back to Melrose as they opened up with an 8-2 lead forcing a Spy Ponder timeout. Melrose played better but Arlington also hit a wall with inconsistent play of their own. Melrose emerged with a 25-15 win more from Arlington struggles over Melrose excellence.

Melrose approached something closer to usual form in the fourth set, led by Sabine owning the net and Ella Friedlaender powering in kills from the right side. Freshman Amelie Johnson got in with multiple chances to notch her first kill but the magic didn't happen.

Melrose notes: Nailing down a playoff spot isn't nothing. Melrose will have to play a lot more efficient volleyball if they aspire to even a medium playoff run. Recency bias is a well-known mental model where we hang on excessively to recent events. 

There were positives. Sabine probably had about 20 kills, Emme Boyer was stout at middle, Ella was productive, and Sadie Smith had her usual solid performance at setter. Danni DiGiorgio had a lengthy service run in the first set. 

Melrose hosts Newburyport with its double digit wins tomorrow. 

Melrose at Arlington Today

Melrose gets a final tuneup at the new Arlington HS today. Arlington has played competitively against numerous opponents recently.

Dreams

"Muhammad Ali who said, "If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough."" - Clint Hurdle in "Hurdle-isms: Wit and Wisdom from a Lifetime in Baseball"

When surveying people about their lives, most regrets aren't about what they did, but what they didn't do. 

Robert Browning wrote, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?" 

Athletes all have dreams. Sometimes it's making the team. Other times it's becoming a professional 'star'. When thinking about dreams, you might think about these: 

• “Some people dream of success, while others wake up and work hard at it.”
  — Vince Lombardi 
• “A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”
  — John Barrymore
• Match your work to your dreams. Big dreams, big work.
• “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.”
  — James Dean
• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
  — Eleanor Roosevelt
• “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.”
  — Colin Powell
• “The vision of a champion is someone bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion — when no one else is watching.”
  — Anson Dorrance, UNC women’s soccer coach
• “I am living proof that dreams do come true. Work hard. Pray. Believe.” — LeBron James
• “Dreams are free. Hustle sold separately.”
  — Anonymous locker room sign

Dreams are like ordering off the Indian food menu... 

hat tip: daughter Julia

Lagniappe. 

Top Qualities Of High School Coaches I Respect:

- Focus on their team first
- Talk to refs, but don't badger
- Challenge players to step up
- High standards on and off the court
- Consistently competitive year after year
- Players come up thru their program
- Always willing to…

— Coach Matt Dennis (@CoachMattDennis) July 18, 2025

Coaching Is Challenging*

*Shared from my basketball blog 

"Good artists borrow, great artists steal." - Picasso 

I stole my father’s model for how to live. I never heard a bad word said about him. He worked hard, didn’t criticize others, and never pressured anyone.

I can’t meet that standard.

Coaching ensures criticism. Somewhere, a parent has said, “He doesn’t know what he’s doing,” or “He didn’t respect my kid’s ability.” Maybe they were wrong. Maybe not. But that’s part of the job.

They say perception is reality. And while that isn’t always true, it feels true to those who believe it. A more accurate mental model might be Korzybski’s: “The map is not the territory.” What others see isn’t always the full landscape.

Coaching asks us to live in both worlds — how things are, and how they seem. That tension is the craft.

1. Demand More

We ask players to leave their comfort zones — to sweat, to listen, to take criticism. Growth isn’t comfortable.

Every practice tests how much discomfort we’re willing to endure to become better. The players who learn to seek that discomfort instead of avoiding it become special.

2. Adopt Truth as a Value

Kevin Eastman says, “Live the truth, tell the truth, take the truth.”

Truth is rarely convenient. It exposes weaknesses. But without truth, teams build on sand. When we tell players the truth — and they learn to take it — everyone gets stronger.

3. Sacrifice

Winning requires doing what we don’t want to do when we don’t want to do it, to achieve what we want when we want it.

Shared vision. Shared mission. Shared sacrifice. These aren’t slogans; they’re survival codes. Teams that avoid sacrifice choose mediocrity.

4. Embrace Hard Conversations

No coach enjoys telling a player she won’t start, or won’t play as much as she hopes. But we owe players honesty wrapped in empathy.

“We value you as a player. You’re improving, but you’re not at a starting level yet. We believe you can get there.”

The “sandwich technique” matters: honesty between two layers of care. Truth without cruelty. Clarity without ego.

5. Hard Work Doesn’t Always Equal Glory

Effort is necessary, not sufficient. The hardest-working player may not be the most talented. Coaches recognize the worker — the kid who wins every sprint — even if the box score doesn’t.

That doesn’t make the effort meaningless. It makes it noble.

6. Positivity Plays

Some players and coaches light up the gym. Pete Carril called them lightbulbs. Others bring quieter value — less personality, more substance.

Players notice both style and substance. So do teams. As coaches, we can shape both — turning "bland toast" into warmth, teaching that enthusiasm and excellence are not opposites.

7. Model Excellence

Players hear everything, see everything, and imitate what they believe we value.

Former baseball manager Clint Hurdle said:

“Lower the bar and you lose the winners; raise the bar and you lose the losers.”

The best programs raise the bar and help everyone reach for it. Standards define culture more than slogans do.

8. Look for the Helpers

Mister Rogers advised children to “look for the helpers.” Every great team has them. They may not lead in stats, but they lead in spirit.

If we only value talent, we’ll miss the glue — the character, empathy, and quiet generosity that make teams endure.

9. Find the Hardest Worker

Sometimes the best player isn’t the hardest worker. When that happens, the coach’s challenge is clear: raise the standard.

Talent sets the ceiling. Work ethic raises the floor. A program’s culture depends on how those two connect.

10. Learn Every Day

Coach Don Meyer kept three notebooks:

• One for basketball

• One for general knowledge

• One for appreciation, which he gave to his wife each year

Learning keeps us humble. Gratitude keeps us grounded. Together, they keep us growing.

Closing Thoughts

My father never coached, but he lived the principles coaches aspire to — humility, service, and integrity.

Coaching exposes us to criticism because it exposes our judgment, our priorities, and our hearts. But it also gives us the privilege to shape others — to demand, to tell truth, to sacrifice, to teach, to model, to learn.

It’s not supposed to be easy.

It’s supposed to be worth it.

Lagniappe. Culture makes our team better, our players better, and ourselves better. 

📚 Best Nuggets From Coaching Books

This one comes from Win Forever by Pete Carroll.

Before I read it, I thought of “culture” as slogans and standards. But Carroll’s book showed me it’s something much deeper — a system.

Carroll didn’t just talk about culture — he installed it.… pic.twitter.com/MsOwj5xVBY

— Mike Jagacki (@Mike_Jagacki) October 5, 2025

Roster Reset

Roster realignments happen from variably with MVB. Three that come time mind:

2002 - Paula Sen was promoted from JV and got the RS position as a blocker.

2010 - Alyssa DiRaffaele relocated from attacker to libero. Alyssa played an important role on a D2 North Sectional champion. The following season she helped the team to the Finals.

2025 - Gen Overlan has earned a role as a DS including a serving role. Players always earn promotion, sometimes to fill roles immediately and sometimes to accelerate development with long-term roles anticipated. 

Players (16)

Seniors (4)

• Sabine Wenzel (MH)
• Emme Boyer (MH)
• Adele Akland (DS)
• Juliet Chevalier (RS)

Juniors (2)

• Anna Burns (DS/L)
• Maggie Shoemaker (MH/OH)

Sophomores (5)

• Sadie Smith (S)
• Elise Marchais (OH)
• Ella Friedlaender (RS)
• Sabrina McArt (MH)
• Gen Overlan (DS)

Freshmen (5)

• Adriana Santoriello (OH)
• Alisa Dautovic (OH)
• Daniella DiGiorgio (DS)
• Leila Kiggundu (S/DS)
• Amelie Johnson (RS)

Anatomy of the Kill - Adriana Santoriello

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely mine. The blog is not an official publication of Melrose Volleyball or any Melrose organization. 

Study tape. A heuristic (rule of thumb) truth is that teams need three dynamic hitters for a playoff run. Sabine Wenzel is one of the top hitters in the state and checks one box. Freshman Adriana Santoriello has averaged ten kills per match for the past three contests. That's not a large sample size but an uptrend is encouraging.

"Form begets function." Let's analyze Adriana's recent form. She attacks from to left top of the screen (video from MHS-TV, Pixellot system). I advise watching replay at 0.50 speed using the "settings" at the bottom right of your screen. 

1. Reading the play. She sees that a "free ball" return is coming. 

2. That triggers her backpedalling to prepare the attack. She is calling for the set, something that confident hitters do. She has a long "runway" starting about five feet behind the ten foot line. 

3. Using the classic "three-step approach," as a right-handed hitter she starts with the right foot forward

4. She starts her attack just as Sadie Smith delivers the set. That allows for "real-time" adjustment to the speed, height, and width of the set. 

5. Note the vital back armswing to almost parallel to the floor as she launches the attack getting good height

6. She attacks well over the net and the smash goes over the double block

Solid attackers "repeat" their delivery. Some will start their approach wider if they play to hit crosscourt or "cut shots." Here the attack against the double block is lower, but she "gets the roll" and another kill. 

Mechanics of tape study. I often will "fast forward" using 1.75 or 2.0 speed to find a play for analysis. Then I'll watch it normal speed and slow motion looking for details. 

Becoming a better player necessitates studying tape. It's not optional. Exceptional players always study tape, are in their notebooks, and make corrections to up their game.  

How Can I Become More Invested to Earn More Playing Time?

Ask your coaches and yourself this question, "How can I become more invested to earn more playing time?" Restate it as, "What do I have to become to earn more trust?" I don't know enough about volleyball to answer fully but there is overlap among sports. 

Here's an article about new Celtic Anfernee Simons and what they've asked him to do (play more and better defense).

Excerpts that might apply to you:

• I think the next part is coming here, understanding the standards that we have here and the expectations.
• Simons even indicated that he may not play as much as he would like if he doesn’t progress on that end, and partially blamed his struggles in Portland on effort.
• “Joe always talks about like playing fast, thinking fast and we require that at a really high level,” McMains said. “Being able to move from one coverage to the next, it’s a very high standard.”
• He saw the biggest difference in his awareness now that the team is practicing and scrimmaging together.
• Under Mazzulla, they’ve stressed thinking, communicating things they see on that end and adjusting on the fly.
• So that’s first is just learn the system and then number two is now actually develop your ability to do those things at a high level. So it’s learning the system and then it’s also, can he improve his ability to guard on the ball with different different techniques?

For example, a front row player must:

• Defend the position, especially blocking. That means being in the right position by reading, reacting, and executing against the opponent's top attacker. If you play middle you have to be able to close the double block.
• Attack with the "Total Football" analogy - conditioning, versatility, awareness, and belief. Awareness allows you to smash, tip, or sometimes hit roll shots
• Specialty attacks rotating outside or with slide attacks
• It also means getting in position to attack 

"Your paycheck (playing time) is your responsibility." Be relentless. Run to the block, use proper footwork to close blocks and to get into attack position. 

Because you want to play more, fulfill the responsibilities, both physical and mental of the position. 

Unseen Hours

We are what we cultivate when no one is watching. pic.twitter.com/1l6ecmkc1w

— Reads with Ravi (@readswithravi) October 7, 2025

Exceptional performance arises from unrequired work. Anson Dorrance saw All-American soccer star Mia Hamm running sprints one early morning, alone in a park. 

Talent isn't enough. It's the work.

Intelligence isn't enough. It's studying. 

Talking isn't enough. It's listening and communicating. 

Special is as special does. 

The First Commandment of Being a Good Teammate

Serve your teammates.

That’s the first commandment. Everything else flows from that.

Play for the girls next to you, not for the stat sheet or the crowd. Be their anchor when things go wrong and their echo when things go right. Serving is the opposite of self-promotion; it’s commitment in action.

Be a Listener, Not a Chatterbox

Everyone talks about “communication,” but few master the quiet half of it.
Listening is an art. Listening is a gift. Attention — full, undivided, no-phone, no-excuse attention — is how you show teammates they matter.

You don’t need to be the loudest voice in the gym. You need to be the clearest listener. Make eye contact. Read body language. Hear the tone behind the words.

Listening Is a Skill

Skills can be taught, trained, and refined. Listening isn’t passive — it’s active. When a teammate speaks, hear what they mean, not just what they say. On the court, it means eye contact in serve-receive, quick cues in transition, or silent trust in a teammate’s coverage.

During the game, listening alone isn’t enough. You must act on what you hear. Listening is subservient to action — if someone calls “short” or “mine,” you move. If your setter’s rhythm changes, you adjust. If a teammate’s energy dips, you help them rise.

Take Care of Business Everywhere

Good teammates don’t just show up in games. They handle things — at home, in school, in the locker room. A missed assignment or late arrival might seem small, but reliability is contagious. So is inconsistency. Take care of your responsibilities; your habits off the court show up on the scoreboard.

Listening Can’t Be a Sometime Thing

It’s easy to listen when you feel good. It’s harder when you’re tired, frustrated, or on the bench. But that’s when your teammates need you most.

Be there for them even when you don’t feel like it. Championship teams are built on the unseen acts of presence — the nod across the huddle, the quiet “you got this,” the small lift that makes a big difference.

Closing Thought

The first commandment of being a great teammate isn’t about noise, stats, or spotlight. It’s simple and sacred:

Serve your teammates.

Serve them by listening, by showing up, by doing your job, and by caring when no one’s watching. Because when you serve the people beside you, everybody rises.

Lagniappe. There is no 'give up' in MVB. 

pic.twitter.com/qZiLcl58dM

— Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11) October 4, 2025

Word for the day: sardonic (Scornfully or cynically mocking) - I usually think of it with a synonym, "sneering." The origin is ostensibly from a Greek plant, sardonius, alleged to cause facial convulsions and death. The word for the day usually isn't a mainstay of daily conversation, but worth knowing. 

Stats Are In - Melrose vs Wilmington

Stats are in. With one team dominating, stats can be dampened.

Attacking:

Adriana Santoriello led with eight kills and Sabine Wenzel had seven.

Assists:

Sadie Smith added 22. 

Serving: 

Serve percentage was better at 94 percent. Anna Burns had 20 service points and got all 23 of her serves in play 

Receives and Digs:

With a less competitive attack, Melrose had fewer digs, led by Anna Burns in both categories. 

Latest MIAA Power Rankings

It's too soon to start projecting postseason schedules based on power rankings. They're more useful to see who's making progress up and down. 

 Melrose has game remaining with Duxbury, Burlington, Wakefield, Woburn (26 in D2), and Newburyport (10 in D3). Play well and upward movement is possible. Postseason ambition means winning against whomever you draw. "It how you play over whom you play." 

Game 12: Melrose 3 Wilmington 0

Melrose hosted Wilmington and emerged with a 25-10, 25-11, and 25-8. The win runs the Melrose win streak to seven and boosts Melrose to 9-3, one win away from postseason qualifying.

Melrose dominated throughout, the first set on the strength of attacks from Sabine Wenzel and Adriana Santoriello.

Melrose substituted liberally, especially in the second and third sets and everyone saw action. 

Particularly noteworthy performances (in addition to the usual suspects) came from:

• Ella Friedlaender with numerous strong attacks
• Danni DiGiorgio and Anna Burns serving
• Gen Overlan with consistent serving and defense

Melrose Notes: Melrose travels to Arlington Thursday looking to secure a postseason spot. Leila Kiggundu has progressed out of the boot with a lower body injury. 

Another varsity call-up of a freshman, as lanky lefty Amelie Johnson (right side attacker) becomes a record fifth freshman on varsity. She has hit the ball well recently in JV action and has blocking potential. 

A Rose by any other Name Would Smell as Sweet

Nick Saban asked his team a simple question:

“Do we have show dogs on the team, or do we have hunting dogs?” 🥇

The answer tells you everything about your culture.pic.twitter.com/RXHHjR9qK7

— Greg Berge (@gb1121) October 6, 2025

Coaches convey the same message in many different ways. 

"Team first."

"We can go faster alone but farther together." - African Proverb

"It's amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit." 

Never put the scorebook above the scoreboard. 

 

Wildcats on the Prowl Tuesday

Melrose hosts the Wilmington Wildcats Tuesday, as the locals seek to extend their winning streak to seven.

Two wins will secure a playoff spot for MVB 25 and the team seeks to build momentum down the stretch. 

 

A Letter from Abraham Lincoln to the Melrose Volleyball Team

Many historians consider Abraham Lincoln our nation's greatest President, a man with impeccable character and leadership. He had the humility to bring rivals into his cabinet and the will to preserve the Union, ultimately costing him his life. Via AI (ChatGPT Plus), he sends MVB a letter. 

My dear young ladies of Melrose Volleyball,

I write to you not as one acquainted with your sport, but as a student of human endeavor — of the toil, the trial, and the triumph that accompany all noble pursuits. You are engaged in something greater than a game. You are engaged in learning how to work together toward a common purpose.

A team, much like a nation, is held together not by chance but by choice — the choice to serve one another. You may differ in age, experience, and station, yet you share one uniform and one destiny each time you step upon that court. In my time, I learned that unity of purpose can accomplish what mere talent cannot. The strength of a people lies not in the power of one but in the commitment of all.

Leadership is not bestowed by seniority, nor discovered in a single moment. It grows quietly, like a tree taking root, through acts of integrity and perseverance. True leaders are those who lift others, who listen before speaking, and who act not for glory but for the good of the group. I have known soldiers who followed orders faithfully and citizens who gave all they had for a cause unseen. Their greatness came not from command but from character.

Remember that teamwork, like freedom, demands effort and respect. It asks that you think not of who scores the point but of who sets it up, who dives to keep it alive, who steadies her teammate after a miss. In the long view, victories fade, but the bonds you build will endure — the trust, the laughter, the silent understanding between those who strive together.

In moments of adversity, do not look around for blame; look within for courage. Do not envy the gifts of others; sharpen your own. A house divided cannot stand, and a team divided cannot win. Yet a house united in purpose can weather any storm.

Play with courage. Work with humility. Lead by example. And when the day comes that your playing days are done, may you carry these lessons into every fellowship, every classroom, every calling that awaits.

Your obedient servant,

A. Lincoln 

Lagniappe. Rankings are fun but meaningless except for the MIAA power ratings that come out on Tuesdays and Fridays.  Masshsvb.com has elevated Melrose in its rankings. 

Winchester has taken over the top spot in The Boston Globe

Here are the latest Maxpreps.com Division 2 rankings 

Consistency

Consistency and aggressiveness drive volleyball excellence. Neither by itself creates high performance. 

Be consistent and aggressive. 

Consistency is a superpower. pic.twitter.com/7iJlK7jNKR

— Reads with Ravi (@readswithravi) October 5, 2025

This Week's Schedule

"It's not who you play, it's how you play." - Don Meyer

Melrose struggled during the preseason, incorporating many young players to replace nine graduating seniors.

This week's schedule has a pair of ML12 foes and Newburyport, currently ranked 8th in MIAA Division 3. 

Coming down the back stretch, MVB looks to build momentum that can carry over into the postseason.