Flashback no Jutsu
During our final match with our rival team, we lose the first set and won the second set. So, we need to win the third set in order for us to win the competition. All of us were so tired and run out our stamina after hours of playing to reach where we are now.
The beginning of the set started with a fast ball serve from the opponent team. Luckily my teammate can handle that shot and successfully redirected the ball to the air. And next was my moment to shine. In volleyball, they have setter and spiker, quite similar to Sepak Takraw. My teammate set the ball to me and I jumped as high as I can and backflipped and hit the ball like a bicycle kick in football. The ball went fast to the opposite court, but unfortunately it was blocked by their player and bounced back to our side. We cannot do anything to save the ball as we see it dropped inside. There went a first point to our opponent, the feeling was too heartbroken to see your shot got blocked and quickly bounce back to your side. I felt like it was all my fault. The game continued and we cannot catch up to opponent’s point at all, there were seven points difference. The atmosphere was not helpful at all when our side started to lose hope.
At their match point, we still far behind 4 points. They serve the ball and we saved it, the free ball entered their area and ready for finishing move. Their killer (position) jumped and hit the ball hard and it travelled fast to my knee. No, the ball is not even hit yet, but why I see the ball will hit my knee? But at that short span of time, I only need to believe in my instinct over months of intense training. So, I change my posture to receive the ball at my knee and fortunately the ball was kicked directly to my shoe after I change to my receiving posture. The rattan ball flew high to the air. The bystanders and teammates were so shocked over my nice receive because it’s not my specialty.
My teammate run to the ball and set me a nice toss. I stayed near the net and wanted to jump, but suddenly the image of me kick the ball too hard and it flew outside the court came to my mind. My movement pause for a moment and I decide to do a dummy shot. And the view came again, it showed the ball went straight to the edge of the court. At that moment, I felt so confuse and tired, but I wanted to win so I chose to follow my ‘instinct’. I did a dummy shot and the players cant do anything to save the ball and it hit the edge of the opponent’s court. So, its an INSIDE ball! We got a point!
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My teammates hugged me from behind and hit my head, even the coach looked so joyful. We were so happy over the point we just received. Even it was just a point, but for us, its like compass to still guide us in a game, if we lose it we will be lost. The game continued, but the lucky star was on our side. We catched up to them as our score was 14-14. We needed two points more to be the winner.
The atmosphere was so intense. Everyone can feel the heat and suspense all over stadium. Other teams and parents came to watch the final match between the two teams.
Its time for our team to take the serve. My friend set the ball to me and I hit it and make it curve a bit for the opponent to loss control over it. And I also noticed that the ‘image’ only came to my mind when I was so focus on the ball and during tight time, so I don’t have the full control over it yet. The served ball flew into opponent’s area and it the player received it pretty well. When their killer wanted to hit the ball, I forced myself to focus only the ball, and I can ‘see’ the ball will hit the net. And the vision comes true. I went to the net to tried to block the ball, but it hit the net instead and fall to their side. So, only one more point.
I served the ball, but I took a risk. I did a screw serve directly to their body. Screw serve is a best move I learnt during the training. The ball will move really fast and also it has high spin that will injured the other player when received it and it will bounce to the unexpected direction because of its high spin movement. The ball flew to their striker, and he seemed quite shocked but still offer his chest to receive the high-speed spinning ball. Rattan is a solid and hard object, when it hit the striker, surely it will leave a scar to his body for sure. The ball is still connected when his teammates saved it before it fell outside the court and he kicked it into our area. The ball was still high in the air, I saw their formation already collapse with only one player available on the court. So, I decided to directly hit the ball while they still have many uncovered areas and chances. So, I jumped and backflipped and kicked the ball as hard as I can. It went straight to that one player and it hit his hip and bounced outside.
SCREAM. SHOUT
That’s what I heard before my friends jump over me and celebrated our victory. We won this competition after all our struggle and hardship. I felt so relieved and proud of myself.