The overhead gym lights flickered on the freshly waxed floor. On the wall, the scoreboard showed that the game was tied late in the final set. Everyone sitting in the gym was super nervous, waiting to see who would score the next big point.
Number 2 stood right in the middle of the volleyball court. She bent her knees low and put both of her hands up in the shape of a triangle, just like her coach taught her during after school practice. The ball floated down from the gym ceiling. She did not listen to the loud cheering coming from the bleachers. Instead, she kept her eyes completely locked on the volleyball as it fell.
A few feet away on her left, number 12 got into position and prepared to run forward. The two teammates had practiced this exact set-and-spike play during gym class, recess, and after school every day all week long. They knew they had to get their timing completely right to score.
Up in the stands, parents, teachers, and classmates leaned forward in their seats to watch the play. A parent holding a red team spirit blanket stopped talking so she could see what would happen next. Even the substitute players sitting on the bench held their breath as the play unfolded.
When the ball reached her, number 2 pushed it high into the air using only her fingertips. It flew in a smooth arc right toward the top of the net. Number 12 did not waste a second. She took three fast steps, jumped as high as she could off the shiny floor, and pulled her arm back to hit the ball over to the other side. For one quick moment, the whole room was totally quiet while the ball hung frozen in the air.
