Melrose has an attractive fall schedule with competitive non-league games in addition to the usual slate of Middlesex League contests.
Melrose will play the usual pair of games with Burlington, Stoneham, Wakefield, Watertown, and Wilmington plus single games against the Liberty Division.
Non-league games feature a road tilt with the powerful Newton North Tigers and home matches with Central, Frontier, and Peabody. Frontier went undefeated last season.
Emily Hudson caps off the trifecta of All-State and All-Scholastic for both The Boston Herald and The Boston Globe. Congratulations!
The Boston Herald has an exceptional high school sports presence, led by Danny Ventura. And word is out that Emily Hudson has achieved All-Scholastic Status.
Her leadership and performance including Middlesex Freedom Divsion MVP and MGVCA All-State recognition all roll into this latest award.
Volleyball participation has increased nationwide and participation in Melrose volleyball offers players an exceptional team culture, strong coaching, and a winning experience that often leads to area and state recognition.
Melrose has added at least one player to the All-State roster each year since 2007. Melrose had a pair of selectees in 2005, 2009, and 2012. And All-Everything Hannah Brickley was a three-time honoree in 2007-2009.
Hudson showed a panoply of skills during her four-year varsity career, emerging as an impact player during a tough 3-1 loss at Winchester in 2017.
She was second in kills, fourth in service points, and was a formidable blocker in helping to lead the Lady Raiders to the Freedom Division title and a 12-1 season.
Rituals exist because they add meaning to our experiences. They create Moments, which the Heath brothers elaborate in The Power of Moments.
Factors which impact moments are EPIC - with elevation, pride, insight, and connection. The end-of-year volleyball celebration is a high point (elevation), adds pride (achievement, awards), insight (what happened and why), and connection among players, families, coaches, and supporters (e.g. our family).
Everyone will remember this season for the pandemic, the schedule, the postseason, lack of a state tournaments, and the outdoor gathering. It's memorable in other ways, too, including the multiple pairs of siblings on the team (the Hudsons, Gentiles), the strength of the offense, and limited attendance but live-streaming of games. I hope the latter continues as I especially don't like the trip to Worcester (Watertown).
Find ways to create moments for yourself, your family, and those around you. Sometimes, just a kind word suffices. And read, read, read, read, read.
“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
Melrose volleyball claimed its fourteenth consecutive league volleyball title, undefeated within the Freedom Division. The victors got the spoils with a distanced celebration at the Prince Pizza tent.
Coach Scott Celli noted the combined record of the program (Varsity, JVa, JVb) was 29-2, including 12-1 for the Varsity.
Players got a variety of certificates, varsity letters, bars, stars, and swag.
Coaches Celli, Schmitt, and Mays distributed praise and awards and Coach Celli announced Fall 2021 captains.
Middlesex League All-Stars:
Eva Haralabatos
Autumn Whelan
Elena Soukos
Middlesex League MVP Emily Hudson
Team Awards:
Top Server - Eva Haralabatos
Best Defender - Autumn Whelan
Top Attacker - Elena Soukos
Unsung Hero - Emma Desmond
Most Improved - Abby Hudson
MVP - Emily Hudson
Coaches Award - Chloe Gentile
Captains are selected through a rigorous process including an essay, team vote, coaches' discussion, and consultation with the MHS Principal (Mr. Merrill) and Athletic Director (Mr. Fogarty). Selectees for the fall 2021 season are:
Autumn Whelan
Chloe Gentile
Elena Soukos
Abby Hudson
Coach Celli noted that this was the most versatile offense since the 2012 State Championship team and the depth of the attackers was exceptional.
Everything about the 2021 season was different. Players distanced and wore masks. The schedule confined games to the Freedom Division. The ML12 had postseason interdivision playoffs instead of a state tournament.
But the one constant was excellence, an outstanding season.
The University of North Carolina Women's Soccer team has won 21 of 31 NCAA titles, with stars like Mia Hamm leading the way. They have a sign in the locker room
Excellence is our only agenda.
And they take that seriously. Exceptional teams pull in one direction, support each other, pay attention to detail, and get on the same page. When adversity arises, as it always does, they don't give up or give in. They get up and get in.
The postseason celebration gathering (Tuesday) is different this season, too, outdoors under a socially-distanced tent. But it provides an opportunity to recognize the commitment, sacrifice, and achievements of the volleyball family.
Years ago, someone asked legendary football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, "what do you think about your team?" He answered, "ask me in twenty years." He meant that time and relationships would decide.
You say, 'volleyball family.' What do you mean? Network the relationships available to move ahead. Former MHS Volleyball captain Victoria Crovo graduates from UMASS Amherst this spring and begins Veterinary Medicine school later this year. The V-Rex will become Dr. V-Rex.
It wasn't so many years ago that Victoria (right) came with sister Stephanie (left) to watch the volleyball girls like Liz Sheerin compete.
Images courtesy of Jen Gentile. Click images to enlarge.
The best images speak for themselves.
Coaches like Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma film the bench. "Sports don't build character; they reveal character." You can tell a lot about a team by watching the sidelines.
"You own your paycheck." And your paycheck in high school sports is role, court time, and recognition. That's reality.
When you meet with Coach Scott Celli again, I guarantee you he reminds you that returning doesn't guarantee you anything.
Sports is a meritocracy and coaches put the players on the court or field whom they believe give them the best chance to succeed. It's not rec ball; winning matters.
How do you maintain your motivation? You own it. You say, "I want to improve." What's your plan to raise your game, your athleticism, your skill, your game knowledge and decision-making?
There is no "muscle memory." Your muscles respond to nerve input from your brain and peripheral nervous system. Practice lays down myelin, which coats nerve fibers and increases the speed and reproduction of given actions. Skills degrade without repetition.
Miami Heat basketball coach Erik Spoelstra informs us, "every team has a pecking order." A few players are the stars and the majority of us are role players. Excel in your role. Each season players ascend and seize opportunity. I won't name names because you all know which players became rotation players.
Injury, illness, eligibility, distraction, and positional need all factor into the equation. Melrose has reserve players each year who would start for at least three-quarters of the rest of Middlesex League teams. Sometimes it's just a numbers game.
The "Fourth Agreement" of Ruiz's The Four Agreements is "always do your best." Your best won't be the same every day. But your best effort, your best focus can be. And you never regret giving your best.
I've watched Melrose volleyball for about twenty years and seen the top teams, top players, thrills, and disappointments. Winning is hard, which is why winning matters. The proliferation of offseason play constantly improves the overall quality of play. As limiting as the pandemic was, it expanded the use of live-stream video, a welcome addition for many sports fans and families.
Each season coach Scott Celli and his staff hand out post-season awards. Some are statistically based, others use the eyeball test. Today's awards won't necessarily be those of the coaches and won't add to your resume or go on your "permanent record." Bill Murray sums it up in Caddyshack (video above).
First, here's a statistical review of attacking.
Attacking is critical because excellent teams win points and need more than defense to come from behind.
Most improved. "Player development is the Holy Grail." Everyone improves during the season, but offseason gains often translate to high impact. Recipient: Abby Hudson, who became an impact outside hitter.
Rookie of the Year. ROY doesn't necessarily go to a freshman but to the first year player with potential and production. Recipient: Gia Vlajkovic. She has the best approach to the ball that I've seen in years and potential to become a dynamite outside hitter.
Unsung hero. UH goes to the player with an essential contribution yet not a headline grabber. She was in the top five of the state in assists/set. Maybe it should be Unsung Hara... Eva Haralabatos.
Backstopper. The Backstopper is the top back row player. Back row players don't have to be tall, just athletic, great decision makers, strong passers, and dirt dogs. Autumn Whelan gets the nod.
MVP. The MVP often is a jack-of-all-trades with skills as an attacker, blocker, passer, server and defender. Sometimes there is a clear choice, sometimes not. Co-winners: Emily Hudson and Elena Soukos.
Hard losses fuel championship dreams. Winchester (13-0) brought back four players from the State Championship finals and had the juice to capture the Middlesex League title with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 sweep at Winchester.
Melrose (12-1) played well but Winchester's "A Game," replete with robust hitting and stingy defense, especially blocking, stymied Melrose's title hopes.
Melrose lost the Division 2 state championship final in 2011, serving as fuel for a return in 2012 with championship results.
Melrose constantly looked for solutions and ways to get its attack untracked, but the Sachems' consistent aggression thwarted efforts to score winners. And teams with title ambitions have to win points as champions seldom give them away.
Autumn Whelan had a big afternoon at libero, seldom a good sign when your defense leads the headlines. In their senior swan songs, Emily Hudson (11 kills) and Eva Haralabatos (25 assists) had solid good-byes.
Hudson and Elena Soukos had eleven kills apiece and Abby Hudson added a hard-earned six.
Lady Raider Notes: It was not a dispiriting loss as overall Melrose demonstrated many high caliber skills, particularly on the defensive end as Winchester kept punching.
Melrose graduates four seniors, Hudson and Haralabatos, Grace Sanderson, and Sofia Centrella. They return ten of the fourteen member squad and six top of the rotation players including sophomores Chloe Gentile, Emma Desmond, and Gia Vlajkovic. The cupboard remains stocked.
Player development is the holy grail of sustained competitive advantage. Growing the triad of athleticism, skill, and decision-making separates the top teams. Coach Scott Celli remarked, "this group made tremendous progress as the season went on...fun team to coach."
Melrose will be back in September with more than a puncher's chance.
The Melrose Weekly shares a volleyball update about fourteen consecutive league titles.
Parenthetically, we broadcast the game which separated Melrose from winning the league title in 2006, positioned perfectly in the back corner of the gym, on the sideline.
During the fifth set, two balls went wide of the antenna (on the side of the lead official) and curved back to land in the court. Both were called in or Melrose might have won or not.
Tony La Russa approached Red Sox manager Alex Cora saying, "I got two things for you," ideas on how to better the club. What advice would you share with a successful club, a struggling team, a veteran team, a young team, any team?
Successful team.
"Don't become complacent. Stick with what made you successful."
"Player development is the cornerstone of success." It's our job to improve player "hardware" (athleticism) and "software" (skill and decision-making). Overinvest in development.
Struggling team.
"Earn the right to believe in yourself." Outwork leads to outperformance.
"Focus on doing well the few things that you do most."
Veteran team.
"Never leave the fundamentals." We don't return to basics.
"Put winning ahead of personal agendas."
Young team.
"Be detail-oriented." Give and get feedback to assure everyone is closer to being on the same page. It's asymptotic (above). We never get to 100%. Departure from detail is costly. Not knowing your assignment, not covering your player, not blocking out, not communicating on defense are critical errors.
"Good teams learn to apply and withstand pressure."
Any team.
Two or three possessions separate winners from losers. "Be here now."
Pressure degrades performance. Be excited about what you do. Excitement leads to greatness. Anxiety degrades performance.
Lagniappe (something extra).
"Do you believe in what you do? Every day? It turns out that belief happens to be a brilliant strategy.” - Seth Godin, in Tribes
Melrose (12-0) proved inhospitable for talented Lexington delivering a 25-17, 25-13, 25-15 knockout. The Lady Raiders informed as relentless an offensive attack as witnessed in twenty years of watching Melrose volleyball. Melrose should ice those right arms tonight in preparation for the Middlesex League finals Saturday at noon in Winchester (12-0).
Melrose showcased legions of attackers - outside, inside, and from the back row. Lexington was no weak sister as they didn't wilt despite the ferocity of the Melrose attack. I thought Lexington was the best team they had faced this season.
It's hard to single out individuals among such a display but Elena Soukos was immense from the outside and back row hitting, Emily Hudson and Chloe Gentile owned the net, and Abby Hudson maintained her vicious season-long outside hitting. That understates big hitting from Gia Vlajkovic, great setting from Eva Haralabatos and extreme ownership of the defense of Autumn Whelan and Emma Desmond. Only two of the whole are seniors, Emily and Eva.
But you can't win until you're not afraid to lose" - Bon Jovi, "Just Older"
Make every season a banner year. A former Lady Raider who played in thirty post-season games for Melrose described the post-season as her "favorite time of the year."
This "old" banner needs updating.
Success follows aggressiveness, consistency, and playing to win.
"Playing to win" informs a consistent theme. Trailing Burlington 20-11 in the first set on Monday, Melrose fought back to win fourteen of the next sixteen points to win the set.
Tonight Melrose plays a one game season hosting Lexington.
