A Mask in A Mirror

Chapter 8: Making a State-Ment

I had stopped going to Volleyball games after Ann and I had our falling out. I was neither surprised nor excited to hear that Ann was performing brilliantly. She was the all-star on the team and on her shoulders, they found themselves in the final four. In Missouri the top four teams all go to the state championship to compete for the top four spots. The tournament was to be held about seventy miles north of Far Hills in Osceola, a small town near Truman Lake. The school was going to send a pep-bus to support the girls and despite my feud with Ann, I bought a ticket to the game.

Bill and Courtney were beside me in the stands as the first set of the match began. "You haven't seen her play yet have you?" Bill asked me. Courtney punched him in the arm, clearly reprimanding him for bringing up a sensitive subject.

"No, uh, well not since the first game anyway." I didn't let my discomfort show. I still felt guilty for the way I had abandoned Ann.

Bill rubbed his arm and watched Courtney cautiously as he said, "Well you're in for a treat. I don't know what kind of sex you two were having last summer; but it has really improved her volleyball game." Courtney hit him again, much harder this time.

I was impressed by Bill's observation. He had it the nail on the head. Not the sex part, but the implication of his statement was that we had been practicing over the summer. I let the observation stand alone. There was no need for me to confirm it.

He was right about her too, she was fabulous. I couldn't help but feel a little pride as I watched Ann take command of the court; really directing the flow of the game.

After Ann led the girls to a resounding victory over Winona, I waited outside the gym; intending to congratulate Ann on her dazzling performance. She stepped into the concession area outside the gym surrounded by people congratulating her on the victory and shouting encouragement about the upcoming State Championship. The team followed her out the door as they attempted to make their way to the bus which would take them to lunch in the five hours they had before the big game started.

Realizing that the last thing she needed was one more person slowing her down and taking her mind off of the game to come, I stood back, leaning against a wall as the procession left the building.

Five hours later our girls walked back onto the court to face none other than Lee's Summit Christian Academy's Lady Eagles, the same team that had defeated us in the first game of the season. It was destined to make for an emotional and invigorating match.

As she had in the last game, Ann carried her team forward, serving not just as a great athlete, but also providing energy and life for the team. She motivated her teammates; diving and sliding without hesitation. On the other end of the net the same two girls that had almost single handedly won the first game of the season desperately tried to keep up with the on slot that Far Hills poured out. Lidia Hicks in particular set the bar for her team serving four aces and smacking dangerous spikes into the ground from the net all game long.

Far Hills once again dominated the first set, but fell dramatically in the second. The third was neck in neck all the way to the finish. Lee's Summit scored the first point and Far Hills the second. The trend continued until eventually the set and game hung in the balance twenty-seven points for the Eagles, twenty-eight points for the Bulldogs. Lidia and Ann were both at the net but Lidia had the advantage with Mikayla Paige in the middle to set for her.

Lee's Summit served and Far Hills returned, Mikayla set for Lidia who leapt into the air for a finishing shot, but her spike was blocked at the net as Ann jumped into the air alone. A Lee's Summit player dropped to her knees, saving the ball just before it hit the ground. Lydia Hicks did all she could in sending a light looping hit back over the net. Jordan stepped up for Far Hills, setting the ball nicely for Ann after Stacey Haley got a dig. There was an audible pop as Ann sent a spike to the opposing team. I was sure that the game was won, but just inches above the floor, Mikayla dove somehow squeezing her hand bellow the ball, and also getting it high enough for Lidia to send another powerful shot to the net. Once again the spike was stopped at the net by Ann, but this time Jordan was beside her. Lidia had left her position in front of the net to hit the ball, leaving an opening which Ann and Jordan did a wonderful job of directing the ball too.