A few days passed, Roxy arrived at school with sore arms and heavy legs. She never knew how hard it would be to walk up and down stairs with sore legs. She had expected practice to be difficult. She had not expected sitting down to hurt. Every time she bent her knees, her body reminded her that Coach Rudeus had made her shuffle back and forth across the gym until her legs stopped feeling like they belonged to her.
Ruby leaned back in her chair and watched Roxy take three unusually careful steps: "Why are you walking like a grandma?"
Roxy stopped beside her desk: "I'm sore. Coach Rudeus had me doing a lot of exercises the past few days."
Ruby grinned.
Roxy slowly sat down and winced: "Does my pain make you that happy?"
Ruby: "No, I'm just so glad you're gonna start playing volleyball."
Roxy: "Exercising hurts, I don't wanna anymore."
Ruby: "Roxy?!"
Roxy: "Hehe. I'm joking."
Ruby: "Don't play with my feelings like that!"
Roxy apologized with a smile: "Sorry."
Ruby: "Wait, so has the assistant coach been practicing with you right after our practice all week?"
Roxy: "I guess so."
Ruby: "Hoho. I know what it is. He must see a star in you! You have the hidden talent to be the best spiker in the world!"
Roxy: "Hehe. That's definitely not it. But now that I think about it, I wonder why he's been helping me so much?"
Ruby reached into her bag, pulled out a small packet of crackers, and tore it open without breaking eye contact.
Ruby: "Here, in any case, these are great for getting your energy back."
Roxy leaned forward against her desk while they ate. Her arms still felt tender where the ball had repeatedly struck them, and there was a faint red patch near one wrist that she had discovered while brushing her teeth that morning.
Ruby glanced at it: "Battle scar?"
Roxy: "Yeah, I don't know if I'll make it."
Ruby: "Sounds serious."
Roxy: "It is."
Ruby: "Should I notify your next of kin?"
Roxy: "Please do."
The 2 couldn't help but start laughing. In the front of the class, a boy had been watching their interaction. Yuta Tatum, a player on the boy's volleyball team.
Roxy had spent most of the morning thinking about volleyball instead of the lessons being taught, which had probably not helped her already questionable relationship with math. By the time she stepped into the courtyard, she had already replayed yesterday's one clean receive in her head enough times that she could remember exactly how the ball had felt against her arms.
She spotted Ruby near one of the benches who wasn't alone.
A girl stood beside her wearing their school's cardigan, the school crest stitched onto the chest and a volleyball emblem visible on one sleeve. Roxy recognized the jacket immediately.
Ruby noticed her and raised a hand: "Roxy!"
Roxy walked over.
The other girl looked her up and down once, quickly enough that it could have been mistaken for nothing.
Ruby pointed between them: "Roxy, this is Natsuki. Natsuki, Roxy."
Natsuki smiled politely: "Oh. You're the girl Ruby's always with."
Roxy: "Heh. Yep, that's me."
Natsuki had seen her outside the gym. More than once.
She's seen her lingering by the doors more times than she can count, watching practice with the same expression little kids wore when staring at their favorite cartoon. It didn't seem important enough to mention, so Natsuki didn't say anything.
Ruby leaned against the bench: "She's playing rec volleyball soon."
Natsuki: "Really?"
Roxy nodded: "Next month."
Natsuki: "What position do you play?"
Roxy: "Um…I don't know yet."
Natsuki couldn't help but laugh a little: "You don't know? Well, it's rec so I guess it doesn't matter."
Ruby proudly stuck her chest out with her hands at her hips: "I'm gonna be playing with her."
Natsuki: "What? We have a tournament coming up soon."
Ruby: "Who cares, coach will understand."
Natsuki: "Don't be mad if he doesn't start you next school year."
Ruby: "He wouldn't do that."
The words lingered in Ruby's head for a few seconds before she remembered he totally would.
Natsuki: "Is this going to be your first time actually playing volleyball?"
Roxy: "Y-Yes."
Natsuki: "Aw. That's cute. Also, you don't need to be so formal. We're the same age."
Roxy: "Sorry, it's just because you seem so mature."
Natsuki: "Well thanks. Everyone starts somewhere. There's nothing wrong with playing rec during middle and high school."
Ruby glanced toward her. Natsuki's smile remained completely innocent. Her implication was that she would be playing recreation level until high school graduation.
Roxy nodded: "Coach Rudeus is really amazing, he's already taught me so much!"
Natsuki: "The new assistant coach?"
Roxy: "Yeah. He's the coach for the team I'm going to play with."
Natsuki: "He's coaching a rec team too?"
Roxy: "Yeah."
Natsuki: "Hm."
The bell sounded from inside the building.
Natsuki adjusted the strap of her bag.
Natsuki: "Guess it's time to head back to class."
Ruby: "See you."
Natsuki looked at Roxy one more time and waved as she walked away.
Roxy: "She seems nice."
Ruby: "You say that about everybody."
Roxy: "Because it's true!"
***
After school, Roxy returned to the gym. Coach Rudeus was already there with a measuring tape, a clipboard, chalk, and the kind of expression that made Roxy suspicious before he had even said anything.
Roxy: "What's all that?"
Rudeus: "Hey, Roxy. We're gonna get some measurements today."
Roxy: "For what?"
Rudeus pointed toward center court: "Your starting line."
Roxy followed him onto the floor.
The net stretched across the court at its usual height, and Roxy found herself looking at the top. It always seemed taller whenever she stood close to it.
Roxy: "The net really is tall. I wonder if I can spike over it."
Rudeus smiled: "You don't need to worry about that."
Roxy: "Eh? But don't I have to?"
Rudeus shook his head: "Not where you're starting."
He motioned toward the net.
Rudeus: "Beginner middle school volleyball isn't going to look like the professional matches you've been watching, let alone high school."
Roxy listened closely.
Rudeus: "Most of the girls in your rec league aren't going to be jumping high enough to spike over the net. Most won't be blocking much either. A lot of rallies will be passing, trying to control the second touch, and getting the ball back over however you can."
Roxy: "However you can?"
Rudeus: "Yep. In most cases, just bumping it over."
Roxy looked skeptical.
Rudeus: "Hitting it over in place as well. But if you're off balance and all you can do is bump it over, then that's fine."
Roxy: "I have seen pros bump it over for the 3rd touch now that I think about it."
Rudeus: "Yep, in some cases that's what you have to do. If it goes over the net and lands in, it counts."
Roxy: "I see, I see. I'm taking mental notes in my head right now."
Rudeus: "Haha. You know what wins a lot of beginner games?"
Roxy shook her head.
Rudeus: "Being the team that makes one less mistake."
That sounded much less glamorous than the matches Roxy watched online. But it still drew her in nonetheless. It isn't just the big plays that made Roxy fall in love with volleyball, but every small detail that connects to each other.
Rudeus placed the clipboard on a chair: "That said, I still want your measurements."
Roxy: "Okay! But do they matter that much?"
Rudeus: "Months from now, when you complain that you're not improving, I want evidence."
Roxy: "I haven't complained yet."
Rudeus: "I'm just planning ahead."
Roxy: "This is a lot, but I'll keep up!"
Rudeus: "It's good that you're excited. First, let's get your height."
Roxy took her shoes off and Rudeus measured carefully.
Rudeus: "5'1."
Roxy sulked: "I'm so short…"
Rudeus: "I'm sure you still have room to grow!"
He had her stand beside a wall and stretch one arm as high as she could. Rudeus marked the point.
Rudeus: "Overhead reach is about 14 inches."
Roxy: "Is that normal?"
Rudeus: "Yep."
He measured again.
Rudeus: "Standing reach is 75 inches."
Roxy repeated it quietly: "75."
Rudeus: "6'3 in other words."
Roxy looked at the net.
Rudeus: "The girls' middle school net is 84 inches."
Roxy did the subtraction in her head.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Roxy: "It's 9 inches taller than my standing reach."
Rudeus: "Correct."
Roxy looked slightly proud of herself for getting the math right.
Rudeus leaned against the pole: "Most girls your age are somewhere around 4'11 to 5'3. You're right in the middle of that."
Roxy: "So I'm average."
Rudeus: "Nothing wrong with that."
Roxy smiled.
Rudeus: "By the way, are you sore?"
Roxy: "Hm. I was earlier, but not anymore."
Rudeus set up another mark on the wall: "Okay. Now let's see you act like you're spiking."
Roxy bent her knees.
Rudeus: "With an approach."
Roxy backed up several steps and ran forward. Her last two steps collapsed into one awkward shuffle, her arms swung late, and she jumped almost straight into the wall.
Rudeus caught her shoulder before she bounced backward: "Your approach collapsed at the end, let's try again."
The second attempt was better. So was the third. By the sixth, Rudeus was confident he could at least measure what she currently had. He checked the mark.
Rudeus: "82 inches."
Roxy: "Guh—"
Rudeus: "Your spike height is a bit below average right now. But! You have tremendous room for improvement."
Roxy tried to hide her embarrassment: "Well, receiving is much cooler anyway. Who needs to spike?"
Rudeus: "Haha. You might be the first person I've heard say that."
Roxy: "Hehe."
Rudeus: "Say, Roxy."
Roxy: "Hm?"
Rudeus: "I know this is all real sudden. You don't mind me doing all this? We've been practicing every day the whole week so far."
Roxy: "Not at all! You've already helped me so much, Coach Rudeus! Please, keep helping me practice!"
Rudeus smiled: "I'm glad to hear that. I'll let you decide what you want to work on for the next month. Spiking? Receiving? Or both?"
Roxy put a hand on her chin and took a few seconds to think: "I want to get better at receiving first! That's what my childhood friend was so good at, and what got me into volleyball in the first place!"
Rudeus: "Nice, sounds good."
***
An hour of practice had gone by.
Rudeus: "Learn where to stand. Learn how to move before the ball gets there. Learn how to get something playable to a teammate."
He tapped the ball against his palm.
Rudeus: "And when the ball comes to you and you're not in a perfect position?"
Roxy: "Just try to get it over."
Rudeus: "There you go."
Rudeus had her stand near the net for one more measurement.
Rudeus: "Blocking jump."
Roxy: "Didn't we just do that?"
Rudeus: "There's usually no approach for this jump."
Roxy looked confused.
Rudeus: "Your spike approach gives you momentum. Blocking doesn't. You're jumping more vertically and reacting faster."
He demonstrated the movement.
Rudeus: "Hands up. Load quickly. Jump straight up."
Roxy copied him.
Rudeus: "Good."
Roxy: "That felt terrible."
Rudeus: "It was."
Roxy: "Then why did you say good?"
Rudeus: "Positive reinforcement."
Roxy playfully hit Rudeus with hammer like punches.
Rudeus: "Remember, it's okay. You're 100% not going to be blocking during rec games. I'm just getting the measurements right now."
Roxy pointed toward him: "What are yours?"
Rudeus: "What?"
Roxy: "Your measurements."
Rudeus: "You wanna know?"
Roxy nodded eagerly.
Rudeus: "I can show you.
Roxy took the clipboard with far too much enthusiasm.
Rudeus: "5'10."
Roxy wrote it down.
Rudeus raised his arm.
Rudeus: "18 inch overhead reach."
Roxy did the math: "So 88 inch standing reach."
Rudeus: "Correct."
Roxy looked at the net before looking back at him: "You can reach over it without jumping."
Rudeus: "I can."
Roxy: "That's cheating."
Rudeus: "No, no. There's people who're much taller than me. They're the ones who're cheating."
Roxy: "Even taller than you?!"
Rudeus: "It's a cruel world we live in."
Roxy: "I wanna see you jump."
Rudeus: "Sure thing."
Rudeus backed up and rolled his shoulders a couple of times. The moment he leaned forward and took his first step, Roxy's eyes widened. For some reason, tiny sparkles seemed to flicker around him as his approach suddenly became sharper and more fluid than anything she had seen up close.
His first steps were controlled, but the last two came much faster. He lengthened his penultimate step, dropped his hips, and swung both arms behind him as his shoes bit against the polished floor. For a second, his arms looked like wings. Then everything snapped upward at once.
Rudeus drove through his legs and exploded off the court. It seemed like the floor had simply let go of him. His body rose cleanly past the height Roxy expected, one arm pulling back before reaching high above his head.
He looked completely different in the air.
Roxy could only stare.
Rudeus: "104 inches, not bad."
Roxy: "That was amazing Coach Rudeus!! I can't believe what I just saw!"
Rudeus: "Hahaha. I'm glad you liked my jump so much."
Roxy: "You went so high up!"
Rudeus: "Not compared to pro players."
Roxy: "No way."
Rudeus: "Professional hitters can contact the ball around 9 feet and higher."
Roxy: "9 feet? Are they even human?"
Rudeus: "You've watched professional volleyball, haven't you?"
Roxy: "It doesn't look that high on a screen."
Rudeus laughed.
She glanced at the net again.
Roxy: "Do the boys here use the same height?"
Rudeus shook his head: "Middle school boys' net is around 7'4."
Roxy: "88 inches."
Rudeus: "Right."
Roxy: "And pros?"
Rudeus: "Men's regulation is just under eight feet. Around 95 inches."
Roxy's eyes widened: "That's 11 inches taller than this."
Rudeus: "The world is filled with monsters."
***
Roxy sat on the floor with the clipboard in her lap.
Height. Standing reach. Spike height. Vertical. Block height. The numbers looked painfully small when they were all together. Rudeus expected her to stay quiet for a while.
Roxy's smile had a confidence about it: "I can't wait to play."
No declaration that she would become the best.
Rudeus: "Volleyball's a ton of fun. You already know that. But once you play, you'll fall even more in love with it."
Roxy: "Let's practice more!"
***
Roxy's Pov
The next month passed faster than I expected. My forearms stopped hurting as much after the first week.
My legs didn't.
Volleyball requires a lot of stamina, which I don't have much of. So receiving, exercising, and running were the top priorities. I messed up constantly. But something changed after a while. Coach Rudeus was great at noticing every little detail about my receiving. My platform opened too early. I stood too tall. My feet weren't stable. Because he was able to point out everything wrong I did in detail, I was able to improve much faster than I thought I could. I also started visualizing the receives I saw from videos as if I was actually the one receiving them, this was Coach Rudeus's idea.
Ruby always wanted to know every detail about practice.
By the third week, Coach stopped tossing the ball directly at me. He'd toss it short, high, and to the side to make me really go for it. This was to make my passes better in unpredictable situations. After all, the ball isn't always going to come right to me.
I started watching videos differently. Watched to see who moved first. Who stayed still. How they move anticipating who's going to spike.
School kept happening too.
My grades got a little worse because I started drawing volleyball sketches in the margins of my notes instead of writing down whatever the teacher was saying.
Ruby caught me once.
Near the end of the month, the girl's head coach passed by while Coach Rudeus and I were practicing.
Coach: "You're working with her again?"
Coach Rudeus caught the ball I had just passed: "Just helping her prepare for rec."
Coach: "You've been doing that every day."
Rudeus: "Have we?"
Roxy: "Uh…I think so."
Coach: "Sounds like you've got yourself a personal coach."
Rudeus watched the coach leave.
Then he looked at me.
Rudeus: "Did I become your personal coach?"
I smiled immediately: "I'd love for you to be my personal coach, Coach Rudeus."
He went quiet.
I thought maybe I'd said something weird: "If that's okay."
Rudeus: "I'll have to talk to your dad about that."
Roxy: "Oh, okay."
Coach Rudeus became really serious for a second.
A few days before the first rec practice, Coach Rudeus finally explained how the season itself would work. We sat on the bottom row of the bleachers with a sheet of paper between us.
Rudeus: "There's 8 teams. You'll play 1 game a week for 7 weeks. After that, there's single-elimination playoffs."
Roxy: "Meaning if you lose, you're out."
Rudeus: "Right."
Roxy: "7 games. I'm so excited."
Rudeus smiled: "There's practice 3 days a week. We'll be going over everything, not just receiving."
Roxy: "I'm ready!"
Rudeus: "Congratulations."
Roxy: "For what?"
Rudeus: "You made it to the starting line."
A warm, bubbly feeling swelled in my heart. My stomach fluttered, but it wasn't the same nervousness I felt before tests. This felt lighter, like excitement had nowhere else to go and was bouncing around inside me.
I tightened my grip on my bag and smiled.
It was finally starting.
The rec center was 40 minutes away.
My dad drove me there for my first official practice.
I spent most of the ride staring out the window with my bag on my lap.
Kneepads.
Shoes.
Water bottle.
Snack, because Ruby had made me take one.
I had everything.
Dad glanced over: "Nervous?"
Roxy: "A little."
Dad: "Is it the good kind?"
Roxy: "Yep, the really good kind."
The rec center came into view a few minutes later. It looked much more ordinary than I had imagined. But my heart started beating faster anyway. Dad pulled into the parking lot and I stepped out with my bag over one shoulder.
Dad: "I'll be here when you're done."
Roxy: "Okay!"
Dad: "Have fun."
Roxy: "I will!"
I reached for the handle and stepped inside.