A Volleyball Story

Chapter 26

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." 

-Vince Lombardi

Keith.

We were warming up when some of the girls started trailing in. Coach Joseph said that the girls wanted to play us for a little fun scrimmage game. I got excited thinking it was Dylan's team, but suddenly frowned when it wasn't her team. 

"Ready to kick some girls butts?" Noah smiled, elbowing me.

"Hell yes." I smirked back. 

It was a tie, 22-22 in the last game. We won the first game the score being 25-23, then the girls came back stronger and beat us 26-27. I didn't know that they were that good, let alone it hasn't been that much since we came together as a team. 

My turn was up to serve, so walking back I saw Dylan entering the gym with her team. Now I have to work even harder because I have to impress her.

Bouncing the ball a few times, I looked back up and saw Dylan smiling at me. Why does she have to be so cute? 

Focus Keith.

I took a deep breath, tossed the ball into the air, I did my approach for a jump serve and, BAM! It went over the net flawlessly.

Once I served, I rushed to my correct spot on the court and got ready for the ball to comeback over the net.

I saw a perfect set the girl made, and I know she made it perfectly for the weak side to hit it directly right at me. Getting into ready position, I angled my body so I was diagonal with the hitter and just as I suspected it, it came directly at me. 

As hard as it came down, I managed to pass it right in front of Alex as he set it to our outside hitter, Levy which he hit it just as hard as the girl did. The girl who passed it, passed it so hard it went directly at the net and right at me. 

I know the ball was going to land way out in front of me, so I dove right where it was going to land, sliding across the floor and getting a nice pancake. 

That was close. I thought. 

Looking up, I didn't expect for Jessica to tip right down at us, surprisings us all landing right on our side. They just got a point.

22-23. 

I went back to my position and got ready for the serve recieve. I took a quick peek at Dylan and she gave me another smile and a thumbs up. 

I had to keep on going strong. Not only to show off for Dylan, to win for myself, but show that our team came together, despite we were playing a hard core girls team. 

"Okay guys, sideout!" I yelled quickly to my team. 

This girl wasn't that much of a strong server, so it was easy to get a nice pass to Alex to set it up. 

"Out! Out! Out!" yelled Toby. He may be bigger than the rest of us, but he can do a mean hit. After Alex had set it up to him, Toby hit it line pretty hard which landed right on the back line. 

Our team went to Toby and gave him high fives as we now tied up again with the girls. 

23-23. 

"Time out!" coach June yelled. 

"Talk as a team." coach Joseph said motioning his hands between us all. 

"We are doing pretty good guys, we just gotta keep it up." I spoke first.