The court thumped with the stomps of the crowd, the chanting of their cries and roars. The spotlights all looking down on Sean as he closes his eyes. Taking a deep breath.
Kurai covers the back of his neck, looking through the net at Poland as they prepare.
Piotr exhales, stepping slightly to the right.
Brine leans further down.
Sean opens his eyes as the whistle blows. Looking out at Max, Kurai, and Emelio who stood at the net. 'Don't overthink it Sean… just play like always…' Sean tosses the ball high, sprinting forward and jumping, swinging his right hand back. Locking eyes on the court. Across the net, Adam stood left, Tomasz in the center, Marek to the right, while Piotr crouched deep behind them. 'Then… I go where they aren't!' Sean smashes the ball over the net to the left side of the court. Piotr appeared under the ball and brought it up.
"It's high!" Sean grits his teeth. 'He used himself as a decoy to get me to hit where he wanted me to in the first rally of the game!?'
Max's eyes glow, tracking the movement across the net. Tomasz jumping for the ball. Max's eyes shift to the left as Brine rushes forward. "Track their main hitter…' Max steps forward, jumping to block as the ball hits the court from a setter dump. A whistle blowing.
USA 0-1 Poland.
Max groans.
"They really got me there, huh?" Kurai grins at Tomasz as Poland huddles and shouts.
"Don't let it get to you, Max, next time… Sean!" Sean glances up. "Nice serve, keep it up. The game just started… we still have a few tricks up our sleeves" Sean nods.
"Did I just see that right!?"
"What? That Piotr brought up Sean's serve in the FIRST rally!?"
"NO! that Poland actually managed to break Team USA's wall so easily, setter dumping OVER Kurai, none the less!"
"But it was only the first rally, everyone's still getting into the game, so we'll see where this goes Daniel"
"If you say so, Tanaka!"
Lucas inhales deeply. Letting it out slowly with closed eyes. Looking up as the air heats up. His eyes were glowing.
Kurai leans down, smirking. His own eyes glowing as the air goes cold. 'Entering a state of flow this early in the game? What a madman!' Sean perks up, glancing forwards at Kurai. 'Kurai suddenly just locked in… what's going on?'
Marek tosses the ball and steps forward softly. Jumping high and swinging his arm, smashing into it, then wrapping his hand tightly around it, sending the ball spiraling sharp across the net.
Kyle's eyes widened. 'Power serve this early!?' He steps backwards with a hop. The ball spirals straight towards him as Kurai appears. Hands lifted, instantly setting the ball from the first touch. Emelio jumping towards the center of the net. Smashing both feet into the ground and flying high into the air, swinging his left hand. Marek and Adam rush over to block Emelio.
Lucas' eyes glow. "Man, this is so fun!'
Emelio exhales, shifting midair and setting the ball last second. Marek and Adam gasping as Sean jumps forward from the back court. Flying into the air, smashing the ball onto the court beside Lucas. The whistle blows as Emelio and Sean land.
USA 1-1 Poland.
Lucas grins as his eyes glow, their air getting hot. Kurai turns after huddling with the rest of the team, locking eyes with Lucas as the air goes cold.
The whistle blows as Emelio takes a big inhale. Exhaling softly and tossing the ball high. 'I'm an unknown variable. They don't know what to expect…' Emelio sprints forward, launching into the air with his arm reeling back. Piotr and marek in the back, stepping backwards. "Expecting a power serve, I'll bring it right… in front of the net!' Emelio smashes the ball forward, dropping it right in front of the net between Tomasz and Adam
Tomasz dives for the ball, reaching out just enough to bump it up. Kurai readjusts to the left of the court as Brine rushes forward. 'Good targeting Emelio, knocking out their setter…!' Tomasz hits the ground.
"Sorry, It's low!" Lucas sprints over, leaning close to the ground.
"Don't worry about it!" Lucas underhand sets the ball behind him. Brine smashing the ground with his jump. Jaden and Kurai run to the left side of their net. Brine jumps in from the 3 meter line as he grits his teeth, his arm coiling like a spring.
"That won't stop me!" He swings his hand, the ball warping around his palm as it hits Max's arms, then hitting the court in an instant. Brine landing as the ball bounces away.
USA 2-1 Poland.
Max lands, turning around and pumping his fist with a shout. The arena shook in an echoed roar from the crowd.
"Emelio Alvaro! A miniscule player compared to the rest, lands a pinpoint serve at the net to Tomasz!"
"He's definitely one to look out for, that was crazy!"
"Given barely anything's known about him, but can we talk about Max's last second block just then!? He shut down Brine Sanders in the third rally of the game!"
"Team USA doesn't plan on letting Poland take ANY points, it seems!"
"Yup, now Emelio's stepping up for his second serve!"
Kurai turns to Lucas who stands across the net.
"Nice floor set, by the way. Doesn't seem to have helped much though. What? Are you in this for a show or something?" Lucas grits his teeth with a grin.
"Oh, shut up!"
Emelio tosses the ball. Sprinting forward and swinging his arm back. 'Can't do the same thing again, Lucas has floated further to cluster with their setter to stop me if that happens… so I'll just-' Emelio smashes the ball over the net towards the back right corner. Piotr appeared under the ball and brought it up.
"Gotcha!" Emelio grits his teeth with a grin. Lucas turned and ran horizontal along the net. Hopping at the middle as Max appears with a firm wall. Lucas smirks, twisting last second and setting the ball to the left. Adam sprinting up the net and hopping up, swinging his hand back. Kurai jumped up like a giant steel wall. Adam scoffs and bounces the ball off the wall, then out of bounds as they land.
USA 2-2 Poland.
Emelio groans.
"Sorry!" Kurai turns around and exhales.
"Don't worry about it" Sean shakes his head.
"No, we do… because now, Brine'll be in the front row… no longer restricted… it was a miracle we even blocked him last time" Emelio gulps as they all turn. Locking eyes with Brine as he steps up to the net.