Stars Align

Two Points, Two Kills

Dani~

High-fiving the girls as I run out to the court, "Let's go ladies! Ball is ours!"

I clap a few times, "Let's go Mik! Start us right!" She serves the ball over the net, pretty deep onto the other side of the court.

"Tip!" I yell as Italy's setter pushes the ball over to our side. Lauren digs it to our setter, Megan, and I head back to the ten-foot line. She sets it perfectly over to me and I jump, hitting the ball with my palm, sending it straight down on their side, where they're unable to cover the spot. What a great way to start the season.

We gather in the middle, "Watch out, this girl's gonna lead the world in kills this season," Lauren says, hyping me up. 

"Keep it going, Mik."

She serves it again, right to their libero. They send the ball over as Tonya and I missed the block. Megan sets it to Carolyn over on the right side. They dig it back up and soon send it back over to our side. We got a rally going on and it's the second point of the match. Welcome back Team USA.

"One, one, one, one," I yell, signaling that I want the ball. Jumping once again, I send the ball down the line, just inside the lines. Two points, two kills.

"Dani!" I look over at Coach Sheffield, "Hey, save your energy. But great plays. You're doing great things and playing well. Keep it up."

I guess I can take it down a notch. Not as fun if I do though. I give him the thumbs-up before Mik serves it over again.

This time Lauren is unable to cover the ground and get to the ball. It's part of the game. 

They serve the ball over and Lauren is there. Megan tips it over and Italy didn't suspect it, earning us another point. We rotate around, Megan now serving. I hold two fingers behind my back, as I notice there's no one over in that area of their side.

I push my braid over onto my back as I head over to the left side after she serves it. The ball drops on our side from some bad communication. We huddle in the middle, "We got this. Pull it together," Mik says.

We went back and forth for the next two points. 5-3, us. A young girl throws me a ball from the sidelines as I head back to the service line. The ref blows the whistle and I look over to Sheffield. He holds a five against his clipboard. I send it spinning into the air and take a couple of steps before jumping and sending it over the net, just grazing the top fabric. I watch it fall as their libero and defensive specialists look at each other. That's more like it. I love it when I do that.

They throw me another ball. I look to Sheffield again but he doesn't give me another number. Same spot? Bet.

I serve it over the net and they put the ball in play, this time hitting it over to us. They hit the ball right to me. Defense is not my specialty. But, I get it up enough for Megan to backset it over to Tonya. Tonya lets them have it. "Keep it up. Go six this time, deep," Tonya tells me as we meet in the middle.

Serving it back over, just in the lines. Maybe a little too far. This is more like us. Up 8-3. This is the team I know. I serve the ball back over, them playing it out and sending it over the net. Nobody is there to cover it. It's okay. It's the game. Claire comes in and tags me out.

I high-fived the girls on the sidelines before coming back to one of the seats and taking a drink of my water bottle. Coach Sheffield comes and squats down in front of me. "Notice anything?"

"Their setter is very aware. She's watching our hands more than we think."

He flips the papers he has on his clipboard and takes his marker out. He turns around to watch the play and quickly calls timeout.