Riku Nakamura for Japan steps up to serve. The whistle blows as he tosses the ball and floats it over the net. Kyle shouting.
"I got it!!" Kyle leans forward and brings it up softly. Kurai quick setting to max who spikes it into a block. Kyle appeared under the ball and brought it up. The crowd roared as Soto jumped up at the net and spiking the chance ball back down at the court. Kyle reached forward and brought the ball up once again with his shoulder. The Arena shakes as Kurai leans to the ground and sets down the center. Tyler jumping forward and tapping the ball over the block. USA 6-3 Japan. The crowd roars as Kurai fist bumps Kyle.
"AND THAT'S WHY KYLE HENDRICKS IS TEAM USA'S MAIN LIBERO!! WHAT A MONSTER!!"
"And up to serve next, is the team captain, Sean Maners. And is it just me, or is he kinda off today?"
"That's not just you, maybe he's having an off day, everyone has those"
Sean takes a big deep breath and holds the ball out. 'Even if I fail miserably in this match, at least give me this…' the whistle blows as Sean tosses the ball. Taking a step forward followed by his penultimate. Flying into the air and slamming his palm into the ball. The ball bolts across the court as the opposing Libero gets under it, sending it out of bounds. USA 7-3 Japan. Sean smirks and clenches his fist.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Sean handshakes with Kyle who stood a distance away.
"What an amazing power serve by Team captain, Sean Maners, now he steps up for his second serve!"
Sean takes another deep breath as the whistle blows. Tossing the ball high and bolting forward. Slamming it over the net and onto the back corner of the court. USA 8-3 Japan; USA Technical timeout. Sean turned and pumped his fist.
"TAKE THAT!!!"
Sean wraps a towel around his shoulders, wiping sweat from his eyes as he takes a swig of water.
"Sean" Sean looks up at Kurai who stands there. The captain a distance behind with a smirk.
"What's up, Kurai?" Kurai blankly stares for a moment.
"Now that your head's back in the game like it should be, I have one touch of advice" Sean perks up a bit as Kurai takes another drink of water.
"What would that be?"
"Stay true to yourself… stop trying to prove your worth as team captain and play as you would any other day… Whether we are or aren't playing against Japan shouldn't determine your worth as this team's captain… if you do that, people will always follow you… that's why you're this team's captain" Sean tightens his grip on his water bottle as Kurai finishes.
"Just focus on what you do best and plow through those blocks like I know you can do, Japan's blocks are no stronger than any other team, so I know you can carve them down… just do it, Sean" Sean nods.
"Yeah… sure"
"USA Team Captain Sean Maners steps up for his third serve!"
The whistle blows as Sean exhales. Tossing the ball high and bolting forward. Slamming the ball over the net.
"Out!" The ball hits out of bounds as Sean scoffs a bit.
"Sorry!" Tyler and Max shrug it off.
"Don't worry about it, dude!"
USA 8-4 Japan
Team Japan's setter walks over to their middle blocker. Whispering in their ear.
"That Kurai is probably gonna set to Sean next round to hype him up, get him into a flow, keep an eye on Sean" The Middle blocker nods
The ball flies over the next as Kyle reaches forward and receives it, falling on his knees.
"Kurai!" Kurai jumps forward.
"On it!" Kurai jumps and lifts his hands. Suddenly setting a high ball to the right side of the net.
"To the right!" a wall of 3 blockers move at the same time to the right side of the net. A footslams onto the court, shaking it as Sean sprints towards the net. Eyes focused purely on the floating ball. Sean's feet slam into the court, echoing as he flies into the air. The wall of 3 blockers times it then jumps as the ball floats down. Sean's eyes lock onto a weak point of the block as he stops his motion mid swing for a split second longer than usual. The blockers gritted their teeth.
"We're going down, how's he still going up!?" Sean swings his hand like a cannon, plowing through the block like butter and warping on Japan's court with force before bouncing away.
USA 9-4 Japan. Sean lands as he exhales calmly and his eyes begin to glow.
"What a power spike by Sean Maners! He's insane!"
Max slammed the ball over the net for his serve. The Japanese Libero brings it up as the wing spiker slams it past the USA block. Kyle brings the ball up as Sean's presence suddenly makes the court heavy as he rushes towards the net on first tempo. His eyes glowing as he jumps and the ball hits the court before the blockers can move.
USA 10-4 Japan. Sean turns around and pumps his fist.
"HAAAAAAAA!!"