Tomasz takes a big deep breath, catching the ball and tossing it in his hands, looking across the net at Jaden, Max, and Kurai who defended the front court, Kyle in the back right.
He tosses the ball and jumps forward, serving it over the net at the whistle.
Sean watches as the ball spirals towards him. 'He's targeting me!' Sean steps back.
"Kyle!" Kyle stretches his arms out, bringing the ball up with a thump.
"Kyle with the serve receive!"
"Mine!" Emelio runs up to the net, swinging his arms back before flying in front of the net.
Adam and Lucas sliding to the right, Lucas quickly glancing around. Kurai, Jaden, and Sean from the backcourt rushing forward. 'Who do we block!?'
Emelio swings his arm as he watches the ball, smashing it over the net without any blockers. Piotr diving forward, bouncing the ball back up. Lucas jumped for the ball, setting it to the far side. Brine slamming his feet into the court and jumping. Swinging his hand over the net. Max jumped across the net with hands stretched up. Brine swung his hand, pushing the ball into the wall for a joust.
Max grits his teeth, pushing back against Brine, overpowering and knocking the ball out of Brine's hand and down onto the court, Piotr sliding over moments later having missed the save. Kurai looks down at Lucas with a smirk.
"What? Can't block us anymore? Are we too unpredictable for ya?" Lucas scoffs with a grin.
USA 3-2 Poland.
"What would you even call that rally!?"
"Well, you'd expect Adam and Lucas to go after Emelio to block the rookie of the US Team, but every time he's been up to spike this game, he's emergency set it to someone else"
"OH! I see! And with Kurai, Jaden, and Sean all running to the net, they had to take a gamble in NOT blocking Emelio!"
Kurai smacks Max on the back.
"Good joust, keep it up" Max nods.
"Thanks… if it weren't for practicing against you monsters, I probably wouldn't have gotten that…" Max glances across the net to Brine who grits his teeth with a clenched fist. 'He's falling apart a lot easier than I expected him to…'
Emelio exhales as the whistle blows. Emelio tosses the ball high and sends it spiraling over the net. Piotre, still in the back row for Poland, stepped to the side.
"Out!" the ball hits the court as the ref waves it out. Emelio deflating.
"Man!" Sean turns around alongside Kurai, speaking in sync.
"Don't let it get to you, Emelio!" Sean and Kurai look at each other kinda shocked for a moment.
USA 3-3 Poland.
Kurai turns to Max.
"Max, come here, let's talk strategy" Max nods.
The whistle blows as Adam, now in the back row, tosses the ball. Stepping forward and hopping, tapping the ball over the net. Kyle stepped forward, overhand receiving the ball. 'Stupid float serves!' Kyle hits his knee.
"Kurai, it's low!" Kurai nods, stepping to the back court, leaning close to the court on his knees, overhand setting the ball towards the net from the floor. Jaden jumps at the net as Lucas and Marek jump to block. Jaden freezing midair for a brief moment. 'Not triple blocking me was a bad mistake' jaden rotates mid swing, smashing the ball at a sharp angle to the court. Piotr stretched out, barely reaching the ball but bringing it up.
"Piotr brings up that crazy spike!"
Lucas lands, instantly turning and setting the ball to the left as Brine runs forward.
Max and Kurai rush to the net, the air becoming heavy as they jump.
Brine's eyes glow as he jumps at the net. Kurai and Max blocking an angled shot, Kyle waiting for a line shot. 'You want a Line shot!? HAVE IT!' Brine smashes the ball, warping it in his hands. Kyle reaches the ball in time as it ricochets far into the bleachers. Kyle hitting the ground with a thud. 'What kind of power is that!?'
Brine lands, brows furrowed as he locks eyes with Kurai and Max.
USA 3-4 Poland
Adam tosses the ball, stepping forward and floating it over the net. Kyle stepped forward.
"I got it!" he overhand receives the ball. Kurai stepped backwards.
"Emelio!" Emelio locks eyes with Kurai and nods. Rushing to the front court and setting from the attack line. Marek, Brine, Lucas sprinting to the left side of the court. Lucas gritting his teeth as he jumps to block 'It's crazy triple blocking the setter, but this is Kurai we're talking about!'
Kurai steps forward, then jogging into a full sprint. Stretching his penultimate step forward and slamming his body weight onto the court. Flying high into the air and swinging his hand. Hitting the ball nearly a foot and a half over the wall, slamming it down onto the court with an echo. Kurai landed with an exhale.
USA 4-4 Poland.
The arena shakes, releasing a loud scream. Stomping, chanting, and roaring.
"Kurai! Kurai! Kurai!"
Kurai looks across the net to Lucas with a grin.