It pumps up the players to see the fans in the stand
~ ~ ~ ~
I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ear. I looked at my clock.
4:45 AM
"Uughhh" I groan as I climb out of bed.
It's a Saturday morning and I would only be getting out of bed like this for one thing. Yep, volleyball. Today is our first tournament and I'm super excited. We've worked our butts off these past couple of weeks at practice.
I made my way to the bathroom, did my usual hygiene things and went back to my room to get dressed.
I went to my dresser, and pulled out the pair of SMACK spandex and our light blue, long sleeve jersey. I brushed my hair in a ponytail, and threw on a headband. I put on my black Chicago Jrs sweats and warmup jacket and and grabbed my volleyball bag. My knee pads and volleyball shoes were already in there, so I put my lotion, extra deodorant, wallet, charger and my short sleeve jersey in there.
I slid on my slides, grabbed my phone and car keys. and headed downstairs. I usually don't wake my parents up early with me to come to tournaments because they don't have to be at the facility as early as I do, and I can drive myself; I always call them when I'm getting ready to pull out the garage.
It's now 5:30 and I need to be at Top Flight's gym by 7:15, so I need to leave at 6. I put a bagel in the toaster and got out the cream cheese. Once the bagel was done, I spread the cream cheese on the bagel and began eating it.
I looked at the time and it was now 5:45. I shoved the rest of my bagel in my mouth and grabbed all the things to make my lunch. Yep, I said lunch. You can't bring food into the facility and I really don't want to pay for that overly priced food. I finished with my lunch and I got my two water bottles out the fridge and headed out the door.
Once I got to my car, I pulled out my phone and called my mom. She answered on the last ring.
"We're up." Was all she said, and hung up.
"Well good morning to you too." I mumble.
I then got two texts from Rodney
From: Rondo
u so damn lucky u blood cus i wouldnt even be up this damn early.
From: Rondo
but nah. good luck lil bit, hope you kill shit today.
I laughed and quickly replied so he can go back to sleep.
To: Rondo
lol thanks cuzo ! you can go back to sleep now.
I didn't get a reply back which meant he was sleep, so I plugged up my phone to the AUX cord and turned on my Game Day playlist. I put it on shuffle and Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Dog came on. I laughed then started up my car.
*
I got to Top Flight's gym around 7: 10 because of traffic. I changed into my knee pads and shoes and headed over the court with the rest of the team.
"Heyy girlie!" Kailah stood up and hugged me. I smiled and hugged back and say down with them in the circle. I think Kailah and I have gotten close these past couple of weeks. She even became my permanent pepper partner. Even Mya is fine with that because Carter is her permanent pepper partner.
"Girl, you look dead." Mya says.
"I most definitely am. I don't know how I made it here without falling asleep." I say.
"Oh, you drive?" Kailah asked me surprised.
I chuckled and furrowed my eyebrows, "Yeaa. I'm pretty sure everyone in here does. You don't?"
"Nope. Too scared." I raised my eyebrows in surprise, but I can't blame her; driving can be scary at times.
"I mean it be like that sometimes, but once you actually start driving, it's not that bad." Liana spoke up.
Kailah thought about it, "Eh, I'll probably try it again one of these days." She says.
"See, I would teach you, but I don't trust anybody with my car. " Marcey says laughing and everyone agrees.
"Ha, I don't blame you, but I don't know. I'll talk to my mom about it, I guess." Kailah says.
We sit on the bleachers watching the other teams start their games as we wait for Fred to show up. You would think that since he's the coach he would be here before us, but nope; not Fred.
He ended up coming at 7:25, so that still gave us enough time to warm up a little before the game actually starts. Yea, we get time before the game, but we like to have a little extra time just in case we don't get first serve.
We started with our light jog across the court then our stretches. We then set up the balls and our ball cart, and got to work. Kailah already grabbed our ball and we settled next to Mya and Carter. We warmed up our arms a little and she tossed me the ball. I lightly passed it back to her, she set's the ball, and I hit it back to her. We keep going until the ref showed up.
Our opponent, Midway Elite, ended up getting first serve. This is the time when we critique them on what they're good at; Do they hit corners? Does their setter tip?, Can their libero/defensive specialist pass? Do they serve short or deep? etc. From the looks of it, this team looks pretty easy to beat, but I won't know until we actually play them.
Our warm ups went by pretty smoothly, considering some of us are playing different positions. We then went over by Fred so we can get the line up. He always said your practice determines what you bring to the tournament.
He pulled out his clipboard and began to read, "10, 7, 9 is front row and 1, 3/2, 9 is back row. 2 go in for 7." He set down his clipboard leaving Ali in shock; he didn't put her on the starting line up. I mean we all saw it coming. She was always showing up the practice late and never caring. I don't know why she's upset now. We even told her to get her act together, but she never listened.
"I'm sorry, what?" Ali semi-yelled.
Fred ignored her and put his hands in the center, and we followed, "Juniors on three! One, two, three JUNIORS!"
We all got on the line and the ref blew his whistle so we can shake hands. Every time we shake hands it always sounds like we're saying 'g'luck' instead of 'good luck'.
We then got into our huddle, did our usual 'Hail Mary' prayer, which I'm still confused on why we do that, and did our last cheer.
Marcey brought her fist to the center of the circle, "Alright, fuck shit up on three?" We all brought our fist to the middle, "One, two three, fuck shit up!" We semi-yelled since the ref doesn't like us cussing.
After we went our separate ways and did our handshakes, we finally got into our positions. The down ref check the line up, and Mya went in for Marcey, and the ball was rolled to the other side, so Midway can serve. I hear the ball bounce a couple of times before I heard the ref blow his whistle.
"Watch deep! Mya come up watch short!" Carter yelled out.
Once I heard her hand hit the ball, I waited a few seconds until the ball touched Mya's arms to move. Mya passed the ball perfectly to Miracle.
Carter and I called out our numbers at the same time, but Miracle ended up setting Kailah instead. She went up for her approach and perfectly followed through with her swing. She's been having trouble with her new position all week, but I'm glad she's doing well now. She's a really good setter too.
Midway's libero was able to get the ball back up. I watched the ball as it was coming closer and closer to the net; it's starting to look like an over pass.
"Mine!" I look in my peripheral to see that Miracle and Kailah have backed off. I went up and as soon as the ball reached the middle of the net, I slammed it back in Midway's faces.
"Ayee!" We all screamed.
1-0
It's now Miracle's turn to serve, which meant that Kailah was now the setter. Miracle bounded the ball a couple of times before the ref blew the whistle for her to serve. She stepped back a little before she did her approach for a float serve.
The ball touched the net, making me cringe, before it went over the net. I don't know if that was on purpose, but I know Miracle likes to do catch the other team off guard; it works most of the time too.
They were able to get the ball back up and got it to their setter smoothly, my eyes immediately went to her. She ended up setting the outside because she's their strongest hitter. I quickly did the approach and Kailah and I went up for the block.
I felt the ball touch the tip of my fingers, but the ball still came over.
"Touch!" Kailah yelled out.
Carter came up behind and set the ball high. I heard Mya call 'mine' and I thought she was going to free ball it over, but she ended up hitting it over sending the ball to corner 1, which was open for them; that's not smart at all. We cheered again, and the ball was handed back to Miracle.
2-0
Miracle bounced the ball again, but this time served deep catching the girls off guard. Some how their libero was still able to pass the ball perfectly to the setter.
"X,X!" I heard the middle yell.
The setter set the ball back, but not far enough for a regular right side could hit. I saw the middle come from behind the setter, and I jump as soon as her hand touched the ball. I heard the ball touch someone's hand, but it wasn't mine. I land and looked to see that Carter got a block. The ref blew his whistle meaning we got the point.
"Oooooh!" We all cheered as we threw our hands in the air.
3-0
*
We won the first game, but we played three matches because Midway came back, but once the the third match game, we knew we wanted to win. Then we won our second game with only playing two matches, but lost our third game playing three matches.
Ali didn't get to play at all today, and I know she's pissed about that. Hell, she's probably even more pissed about Carter taking her spot, but Carter has no control over that.
We all decided to go to Red Lobster after our first tournament. Carter even came even though she was supposed to be hanging with Destiny and Chasity today.
Ali brought Adam, who brought Aaron, who then brought Nathan. I actually don't mind everyone being here; it can help Carter and Kailah to get to know everyone better.
After we all ordered our food, Nathan and Aaron started goofing around while Ali and Adam were talking silently to each other.
"So, what made you guys start playing volleyball?" Kailah asked catching everyone's attention.
Marcey cleared her throat and spoke, "Anger management." She said shrugging.
Next was Miracle, "I liked watching it when I was younger, so I decided to play it."
Then Liana, "My mom was a college volleyball coach, so I kind of grew up around it."
Then Carter, "I got tired of only focusing on cheerleading and I didn't know how to play basketball or softball and I knew a little bit about volleyball, so I just chose that."
Then Ali, "I got tired of everyone thinking that blondes are only good for cheerleading." She said shrugging.
Next was Mya, "I dunno, my mom just told me to pick a sport that looked interesting 'cus I wasn't gonna be sitting on my ass all my life." We all laughed a little, but it was true.
And finally it was me, "Well, I started because I always watched my sister play volleyball when she was in college, and she was so good."
"Does she still play?" Kailah asked.
"Yea, professionally."
"Who's your sister?"
"Damn girl, why all the questions?" Ali cut in.
I glared at her, "She's fine Ali, chill." Marcey said to her. Ali just rolled her eyes.
"Anyways, my sister is Destiny Hooker." Kailah almost choked on her drink.
"Are you kidding? Dude, I love her!-" Kailah immediately stopped after realizing what she said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to freak out like that."
I waved her off, "You're fine, not a lot of people know anyways."
"Why? So people won't compare you to her?"
"Yup." I said popping the 'P'
Right after I said that, our food had arrived and my stomach growled at the sight of it.
"Damn Izzy, you hungry?" Liana called out laughing.
"You already know!" I say. Once the waiter set my plate down, I immediately started stuffing fries in my mouth.
After lunch at Red Lobster, we all went our separate ways. Kind of; Mya ended up coming home with me so we can finish up our applications.
I already filled out my Common App and I plan on sending those to Xavier University in New Orleans, Duke University in North Carolina, and Tulane University which is also in New Orleans. I did some more research on the non-Common App schools and made few adjustments. I'm applying to University of Nevada, Las Vegas, North Carolina A&T, University of Southern California, Louisiana State University, and Arizona State University. I don't know how I'll pay for these applications, but it will happen.
"Ugh!" Mya groaned as she threw her phone on the table.
"You good bro?"
"Hell nah! You need to get your cousin 'cus he playin' games." She said referring to Rodney
I chuckle, "What he do this time?"
"I asked him what he was doing and he said he was like 'driving back to the airport', and I was like I hope you're not the one who's driving, and he was like 'I am tho', and I was like 'boy I know you ain't that stupid to be texting and driving cus that shit ain't worth it', then he was like 'girl shut up I know what-' then it stops there cus he didn't finish, but I'm scared because what if he really did get into an accident?" Mya began sniffling and I saw a few tears roll down he face.
"Oh gosh," I mumble, "Look Mya, there's a 95% chance that, that boy is messing with you." I say tying to comfort her.
"How do you know?"
"Because he's done this to me before, and I thought he really did die, but he showed up at my door the next day and I didn't talk to him for 2 weeks. So don't worry about it."
"And if he really is hurt?"
"How about this, if we don't hear from him within the next two days, we'll catch the earliest flight down there to see him."
I them felt her arms wrap around me, "You're the best bitch I could ever asked for."