"Every game is an opportunity to measure yourself against your own potential."
- Bud Wilkinson
~ ~ ~ ~
5 Months Later ~ March
It's finally time for qualifiers. We actually don't have to qualify for nationals in Florida, but we go to the qualifiers just for the experience. This year we do have the opportunity to qualify to play in New Orleans right after Florida, but Fred said if we don't get the full paid bid, the we don't get to go.
Also, Rodney went back to the Navy and this time he was stationed in Alaska. This sucks for Mya because as soon as he gets back, he's going off to Vegas for college. Hopefully she doesn't be stupid and follow him there because she might not like it there.
Oh yea, and Kado got two full scholarships to play basketball from Duke University and University of Kentucky. He got other offers, but Duke and Kentucky are the only schools that are offering him a full ride. Right now he's in Kentucky visiting the school and then he's off the North Carolina to visit Duke.
As for me? I got offered a full ride from Louisiana State University for volleyball, Xavier University of Louisiana for my grades, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne for volleyball. Honestly, I already know that Illinois is off the list because I want to go out of state for school. As for the other schools, I got accepted to all of them, but I didn't get much money, so those are off the list too. And right after qualifiers, I'm going to visit Xavier and LSU since they're in the same state. Hopefully I get more offers just in case I don't like these schools.
*
"Okay girl, lets get warmed up!" Fred yelled as he handed us the ball cart.
It's day one of qualifiers and I'm actually excited. There are teams from all over the U.S here at the McCormick Place in Chicago. This is like nationals except there are no teams from other countries.
I found a ball and Kailah joined me as we began to pepper. I noticed that Kailah seemed a bit off, like she was nervous about something.
"You good Kai?" I ask, standing straight up.
She shook her head, "Yea I'm good."
I looked at her again, still not believing her, but decided to let it go because I know pressuring her would just make her irritated.
After about 15 minutes into peppering and playing ball tag, the ref finally came and called for captains. Liana went up and we got first serve.
When she came back, she had a worried look on her face. She waved us over
to her.
"Guys, we play Lions Jrs."
"When now, or next game?" Marcey asks.
"Now. What do we do?"
Everyone's eyes landed on me, "Why is everybody looking at me?"
"Because you're always the person we go to when we need help." Miracle says.
I looked over at Lions Jrs. and saw Ali and Destiny peppering. I rolled my eyes and gave my attention back my team and sighed.
"Just play like it's your last."
*
We lost the first match and we just won the second match; now we're on the third match. Lions Jrs. have serve now and the score is 2-5; we're down 3.
Destiny bounced the ball, and served the ball. The ball touched the net, but still came back over short. Mya and Liana both went for the ball, but they ran into each other, giving Lions Jrs the point. I looked over at Fred and he was sitting on the chair just staring at us. Both Mya and Liana got up quickly and rolled the ball back over.
When Destiny served this times, she served deep, but hard. It went towards Kailah, and she was able to touch it, but she ended up shanking the ball. Mya ran full speed towards the ball to get it back in rotation, but the ball was too far.
The ref blew the whistle twice, and we all looked over at him. He made a T with his hands and pointed to our side. We jogged over to Fred and he set down his clipboard.
"Talk it out." Was all he said.
We stood there for a couple of seconds before Marcey spoke up.
"We're not communicating. I don't know what the problem is, but you guys need to work together. Right now we're playing as individuals and we need to be playing as a team. Talk because that's what makes us a stronger team. Yes Lions Jrs is a good team, but they can be weak in their defense, so if we can get that ball back up then we're good. Okay?" We nodded our heads. Marcey put her hand in the middle, "Juniors on three?"
The ref blew his whistle signaling that our time out was over.
"One, two, three, Juniors!" We all yell.
We make our way back on the court and got in position. As soon as I hear the whistle, I hear the back row talking.
"Watch short, watch deep!" Kailah yells, "Mya you got short, Li watch deep!"
Destiny bounced the ball and served a deep ball. Liana was there and passed the ball perfectly to Miracle.
Carter, Kailah and I called our numbers, but Miracle ended up tipping the ball, sending Lions Jrs off.
Ali tried getting the ball back up, but it just went back into the net.
"Ayee!" We screamed.
3-7
The ball was rolled back to our side and was given to Mya so she can serve for me. Since I didn't play back row that well, Mya did it for me; same for Marcey. So basically Mya never got a break unless we called a timeout.
Once Marcey was subbed in, she went and stood by the net and I stood on the side. Fred used his clipboard and covered his fingers to give Mya a zone to serve.
He rarely gives zones, but since we're playing a good team I guess he wants to pick on them a little.
When the ref blew his whistle, Mya did her serve routine and did a float serve to zone 1. The girl she served it to swung her arms trying to pass it, but ended up shanking it onto a different court.
The girl stood up frustrated and went to go get the ball. Once she got it, she took her time by walking back to the court, which is irritating. Why are you mad that you couldn't pass the ball correctly?
She rolled the ball back over to Mya and Fred gave her the same zone. This time, Mya sent over a short ball.
The girl leaned forward trying to reach the ball, but she didn't move her feet. The ball landed right in front of her as she fell forward.
"Ayee!" I cheered with the team.
The girl slapped the floor as she stood up. I laughed to myself. Just move your feet.
The ball was rolled back over to Mya and instead of watching her I decided to watch the other side.
I noticed Ali and Destiny whispering to each other, and I then saw Ali nod her head toward Mya. I squinted trying to see if I could read their lips, but that was a complete fail.
The ref blew the whistle and everyone got back in their positions. This time, Fred didn't give her a zone, so she ended up serving deep in zone 2.
They got the ball up this time and the ball was sent perfectly to their setter, who then set it to Destiny. She hit line throwing Mya off since she normally hits across.
Mya turned and ran to get to the ball. She dove and surprisingly was able to get the ball back up, but Mya stayed down and was holding her knee.
Fred stood up and ran over to Mya. The ref realized what happened blew his whistle to stop the game. I ran over just as the girls started crowding around her. Mya was still holding her knee as she was crying. I looked over and saw Ali looking over as if she wanted to come see what happened. I rolled my eyes and put my attention back on Mya.
"Would she still be able to play?" I heard the ref ask as Fred picked her up.
I rolled my eyes, "Does it look like she'll be able to play?" I wanted to say, but I kept my mouth closed.
I watched as Fred handed Mya over to her parents and my parents followed, most likely going to an athletic trainer. Once he came back, he ran his hands over his face.
"Go in for Mya." Was all he said and sat down.
Not wanting to upset him, I quickly took my spot back row where Mya was supposed to be.
It was Lions' turn to serve now. Once the ref blew the whistle, I immediately got low enough that my hands touch the floor.
"Liana and Miracle watch short! Izzy you got deep!" I heard Kailah yell.
I heard the ball being served, but I couldn't see the ball because the lights were blinding me.
"Izzy it's coming to you!" Shit.
Once I could I finally see the ball, I stepped forward and passed the ball. The pass was perfect, but it didn't go to Miracle.
"Red, red!" I heard Liana yell.
Some how, she was still able to get and set back row for Liana.
She did the two-step approach and send the ball over. The ball went over deep and I heard a couple of then yell that it was out. But it ended up being in.
"Ayee!" We cheered.
The ball was handed to Carter as we rotated. Since Fred didn't give her a zone, so she ended up serving short.
Lions got the ball up perfectly, and was set to their middle. I'm not even gonna lie and say that I wasn't scared because I was.
I stood at an angle and got low. Marcey went up for the block and got a touch, but instead of the ball going straight back to me, it went across the court.
I sprinted and dove for the ball. I swung my arm, getting the ball back up. I quickly got back and to see the ball going over the net, but it was out.
I sighed, ran my hand through my ponytail. This is going to be a long game.
*
"I don't know, it's like -- everything happened so fast." Mya said.
After the tournament we immediately went to the hospital to visit her and she looked so broken
"So did you only tear it a little?" Liana asked.
Mya sighed and shook her head, "I tore my ACL completely." I saw a couple of tears fall and my heart ached for her "So basically I'm out for the rest of the season and I can never play again." She snapped.
"That's not true. I mean yea you're out for the rest of the season, but once you recover you can still play." Carter said trying to cheer her up.
"Yea but I literally just lost all of my offers Car. Unless I can magically recover by the end of May, which I doubt can happen, I'm not gonna get any offers. What are they gonna do with an injured girl who won't be able to play until next year?"
"You're gonna work your ass of." I say, "You don't have to play your first year. And you're gonna have a whole 'nother three years to prove yourself."
"But the scholarships-"
"Mya you have amazing grades and you scored super high on the ACT. Hell I'm pretty sure you scored higher than me, and my mom told me that you got a full ride to the University of Houston and Howard University for your grades and scores."
Mya smiled a little, "Yea a I got some money from a couple of other schools too."
"See! There's other options. Don't let volleyball stop you from going to college." I say and everyone agrees.
"I guess you're right." She said laughing a little.
"Oh, how did the rest of the tournament go?"
"Lost one, won two" Marcey said.
Mya rolled her eyes, "Lemme guess, we lost to Lions?" We nodded and she shrugged, "At least we made it to three games. Most teams don't make it that far." She said.
After leaving to hospital, we all went our separate ways. When I got home, I had a missed call from Rodney and a missed FaceTime call from Kado. Rodney was just wondering if Mya was okay. Why couldn't he just text her himself? I don't know.
"Yoooo!" Kado yelled.
"Heeyyy."
"How was the tournament?"
I explained how we lost one game against our biggest rivals and how Mya tore her ACL completely, and how I have to start playing back row for the rest of the season.
"Damn. Well I hope lil My get better, and I thought you said you not good at passing."
"I'm not, but we don't have enough people to fill in for her now that Ali is gone." I say, "Speaking of Ali, I have to go talk to her. Kay imma call you back."
I waited for him to say 'okay' before hanging up. I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.
Omniscient POV
Izzy made it to Ali's house in under 20 minutes. When she got there, she saw Adam storming out of her house. As much as she wanted to say hi, he looked pissed and she didn't want to bother him.
She jogged up the stairs and rang the door.
After a couple of seconds, Ali came to the door.
"Adam I thought I told you-- Izzy? Wh-what are you doing here?" As tough as Ali was, she was scared.
Izzy continued to mug Ali, "Do you think I'm stupid?"
Ali just stared at her. confused at what she was talking about, "What are you talking about?"
"You set Mya up and she tore her ACL."
"What? Why would I do somethin--" Ali really didn't know what Izzy was talking about. She would never set Mya up like that. Even though she did switch teams, she would never do anything to harm them.
"Save it. You've done enough damage to this time. Did you know that Mya is out the for the rest of the season and her first year of college? That means she lost all of her volleyball scholarships because of you and that bitch Destiny."
"But--"
"Just don't, Ali. I've had enough of your shit." With that, Izzy left Ali standing there confused and angry.
Little did Izzy know, Ali was only telling Destiny to watch out for Mya because she knows how to dig the hardest hits. Also, Ali only switched gyms because she wasn't getting enough playing time at Chicago Jrs; not because she was mad at her team. She meant to tell them, but she never got to it. She doesn't regret switching gyms at all, she just misses the connection she had with her old teammates.
Her and Destiny have gotten close, but not as close as her old teammates. To make matters worse, Adam broke up with her for an unknown reason and they had gotten into an argument right before Izzy showed up.
Ali went back up to her room and silently cried.
What did I do to deserve this? She thought.