I hear the whistle blow as sweat drips down my forehead, after two and a half sets of volleyball all of us are tried. I look up at the buzzer, Nineteen to twenty-four. A feeling of disbelief goes over me. The game is not in our odds and its match point for the opposing team, I'm up to serve. I look over at my coach breathing heavy realizing that she is not going to sub me out. I've always struggled getting my serves over especially under all the pressure. It's our last home game of Junior High and the crowd is full with spectators. At first, I can feel the energy of my teammates going down as we all prepare for the game to end but when I'm handed the ball I hear their encouraging words to help ease my nerves. ​Breathe in, breathe out​, I tell myself. I stand behind the serving line looking at my feet, tears growing in my eyes as I fear I will let my teammates down. I smell the clean scent of the ball and feel the texture of it. It feels like it belongs there right in my hand and ​hopefully​ ready to be pounded over the net.
I look up at my teammates, they are ready in position to make the next move. I throw the volleyball against the ground to feel the power I need to get it over. I do it two more times and swiftly spin the ball around the palm of the hand. I hold it up in front of me with my other arm back. My next motions are like they’re in slow motion. Suddenly, I toss the ball up taking a shaky step as I follow the ball and my arm starts to swing for it. A watch the ball fall in front of my hand as the power that I'm using throws me forward making me stumble into the court. I watch the ball like a cheetah watches a gazelle, completely focused. The ball gets closer and closer to the net and its dead silent. Immediately I'm back hearing the cheering of the crowd and my teammates. Initially, I stand shocked, I mean who wouldn't. Not only had I gotten the ball over the net I got an ace! ​Omg I just got an ace ahhhhhh yes yes yes! Wait, noooo. I'm going to have to serve again. No, I'm good. I did it once I can do it again. Oh no, nevermind I can't, but I have to. I have to.​ The thoughts racing through my mind, as my teammates give me high fives.

I received the ball again. ​You're okay, just breathe, you got this.​ I take an unsteady breathe staring directly at my opponents. ​We are going to win!​ I repeat to myself. After a little while, the whistle blows again as I bang the ball against the ground, now determined and ready. Bam! I hit it over the net again! ​Cmon cmon cmon!​ The ball collides to the ground on the other teams court. ​AHHHHH! I GOT ANOTHER ACE! Woah, omg how am I doing this!? Am I like in a movie or something!?​ At last, reality hits me again, but this time we are all screaming and jumping. We huddle together boosting each other for the next serve. I head back to the line, toss the ball up and wham. ​It's going over, I just know it. Okay, whew but now the other team received it.​ I run up the setter's position ready for it to come back over. My teammate passed the ball up for me as it fits directly in between my hands. The momentum and strength I feel is crazy and I set the ball up perfectly for the middle hitter. She hits it down as it misses the other team's grasp. We go crazy, I'm actually pumped. I feel so happy I could cry. Everything seems right, volleyball is my sport and I belong here.
We score another two points. At this point we don't know what to do with ourselves. Our lungs are so sore from shouting and our knees ache from diving for the volleyball. I take a glance over at my mom, she looks so energized and nervous at the same time. She knows that the game could end like that, but we still have hope. The scores now 24-24. Since we are tied and both at game point one team has to gain 2 more points than the other to win. Our whole team was using every last bone in our body to secure a win but just when we try we lose this point. We still have a chance as the other team serves. We receive and get ready as our hitter scores us another point. Tied again, Woah, I can't believe we have gotten this far.​ Unfortunately, we lose the next point. However, We still have so much fire within us, more ready to fight than ever.

We are all being driven by our love for this sport, but in the end not even that can help us win. The ball is passed over the next with such passion as we all stand on the tips of our toes hoping it will stay inside the court . The screeching noise of the whistle filled my ears. The most devastating sound as the game has ended. Some girls' eyes are full of tears while others comfort them. As, we all feel the heaviness of this loss we tried so hard to win. Now I have gone through my whole Junior High career without winning a volleyball game.
I was crushed but that game gave me hope. It gave me power and the will to keep fighting for my goals. Knowing that I helped bring up my teams morale and hope up, made me feel so warm and happy. Now that the season is over I'm going to be starting in a new club team for the first time. None of it could be happening either without that game, the strength and reassurance made me a better player. I honestly can't wait for next year to try again as a freshman. I will never forget the feeling of not only overcoming my fear but smashing it down and smacking it over the net.