Dawn Dusk Leia

Part 2

So, there I was, doing my floater serve, and the ball just effortlessly sailed over to the other side. I scored the entire set with just my floater serves, and eventually, the coaches and trainers had me sit down. The crowd was cheering for me while the ones who were super annoyed at me tried to make a scene. "Sit down! Do you think you'll get picked?", "Such a show-off! Let's get some whitening cream, girl!", "Drink some glutathione soap!" Meanwhile, others were collapsing after just 1 hour and 30 minutes of jogging. When it was their turn on the court, they couldn't even receive with a dig. Not just amateurs, they were downright rotten. Madeline and Gwen took over the teasing for me. "The ball just sneaks in by itself!", "Hit me baby one more time - said the ball!"

I was just laughing in my head and smiling while wiping my face with a towel. My friends were masters at teasing. Watching their game was so boring that they just stopped. The scores were supposed to go up to 25 points, but they didn't see anyone with real volleyball skills, so it was on to the next batch. "Leia, you're up for the next set, go over to the other side," one of the trainers said, guiding me. I noticed that the other players seemed like they were just like me, coming from ordinary families and financially struggling. Their skin color and body build showed they had done heavy work. In the province, I climbed coconut trees, fed pigs, herded cows and goats, chopped firewood, and drove a tricycle to deliver coconuts to buyers. I'm a cowgirl at heart; I loved what I did back in the province. I miss doing those things, and I remember now that it's my parents who are doing them.

Our game was a best-of-five sets showdown, and it was all freshmen on the court. Each team had its own coach. We had Sir Robles, and the other team had Sir Real. Before the game started, one of the committee umpires said, "All of you in this match are freshmen, and we know you already have some skills in volleyball. We have copies of your Athlete Profiles from your previous schools. If you don't get picked in this tryout, don't lose hope immediately because as long as you're within the age limit, you can still train with team B until you really improve. If you don't make it to team A—whose goal is to compete in the Manila Games, and eventually the National Games—there's a summer league launch, and you team B players will be playing there."

Then came the coin toss, and they got the first serve. Our coach called us over. "I assume you all know the rotation. I won't need to remind you of that." I was the last to serve because they had seen my floater serve. "Just spread out first, and I'll check your defense against the ball."

"WIN!"

We shouted in our huddle and spread out in the usual rectangular defense formation. As I expected, they served the ball right away; these weren't beginners. The player in front of me on the right received it well with a solid stopper dig, sending the ball soaring upwards.

"Mine!"

I yelled as they all backed off, giving me space to catch the ball. I have a vertical leap that’s almost half a meter stick. It's one of my standout traits, and you can see it in my thighs and calves.

"Whoooooo--- smack--- pow!"

Score for our team, and the crowd in the gym went wild. The spectators were a mixed bunch—players trying out, students passing by from the cafeteria. It was a familiar moment, like playing back in the province. So, it was our turn to serve. My teammate did a spike serve, and the other team managed to receive it, setting up an offensive play. Spike! Our teammate on the left, who was on par with me in defense, got it. Another stopper, and while the ball was in the air, the setter signaled that the ball was for me again, just like before.

I jumped even before she tossed the ball, so when I came down, I held off hammering it! Her timing was off, so the defender who jumped on the other team came down with the ball; I just tapped it down. The opponent got it, but the net caught it, and it went outside. Another point for us, and we high-fived each other.

"Leia."

"Korin."

"Mai."

"I'll set," Korin said to Mai. "Leia, just keep hitting." Mai was going to be our libero, chasing after every ball. She'd handle the first ball whenever possible. Korin was skilled in her setter position. Jackie, Anne, and Olga were our defensive players, ready to dig if the ball went to the sides. Jackie had the height, so she was our blocker. Mai was quick, so she took the middle position, and I was at the back.

Spike serve!

Olga's up first in the rotation, followed by Anne, Korin, Mai, Jackie, and lastly, me. We've already scored two consecutive points. The ball hit the net, but someone managed to receive it, leading to a net ball violation. If they hadn't tried to save it, the point would've been theirs. Then, the opposing coach called a timeout. Meanwhile, our coach couldn't stop praising us!

"Nice one!"

"Good!"

"Leia!" Our coach gave me a thumbs up when I looked back. I just waved and smiled. Then I searched for Madeline and Gwen with my eyes.

"That's our best friend!"

"Go Leia!"

Olga served another spike, and it was a dead ball. When they received it, the ball went outside their court.

3 - 0

Timeout.

Our coach called us over for a huddle. We weren't even out of breath or sweating yet. "Always give the ball to Leia. Quick set or '1' or 'A'. Your defense is Perimeter, and let Mai handle the center. Jackie, stay close to the net while Olga serves; everyone else, just stay in the perimeter. Anne, you take the left, Korin on the right. Leia, stay behind Mai. Olga, after you serve, move behind Korin. Mai, try to get the first ball; Korin, you're the setter; and Leia, just keep smashing those hits!"

"WIN!"

Olga's spike serve got returned right away; just a simple dig. We set up, and I hit it again. They returned it again, just lifting the ball up. Just like coach said, Mai took the first ball, Korin set it, and I went for the hit. Quick set! Another dig, they now had someone who could receive my hits that always go to the center. So, I signaled to Mai that I was going to back up far from the net; I needed to send the ball to the far end where they wouldn't be able to chase it.

Whhooooo----pak!!!

I didn't max out my vertical leap, but I made sure to smack the ball with all my might. It would've gone outside, but they tried to dig return it, and because the ball was spinning, it just glanced off their arm.

4 - 0

We added that attack to our offensive variation. Olga kept up a 12-point streak until the ball went outside, and we called a timeout. I wasn't tired yet, but Mai and Korin took me out for a break. Bea, Camille, and Jamaica were subbed in. We were told to rest up because the other team would definitely make adjustments in the next set. Coach was checking who could keep up with me as a spiker, another good receiver like Mai, and another setter like Korin.

25 - 6

We took the first set. Jamaica was flying around and hitting the ball hard just like me. Camille was just as quick and diligent as Mai. It seemed like Bea wasn't going to be much help since the opponent's scores were because she avoided the ball whenever it came her way.

In the next set, Jamaica, Camille, Korin, Mai, Jackie, and I were going to play. We had rested, and now we had a new play to try out.