The stadium roared—tens of thousands of voices fusing into a single wave, white light flooding the Olympic volleyball court. Ji-hye's heart thundered in her chest, every nerve alive. She wiped sweat from her brow, focused on the ball sailing overhead, the heavy thud of sneakers and the clipped orders of her captain echoing in her ears. Korea versus Germany: third round robin, make-or-break. Cameras flashed from every corner, but Ji-hye saw only the net, the court, and her teammates' faces.
Germany was tough. They served with power, blocked high, and their libero read every attack. For a moment in the second set, momentum shifted—Korea fell behind. Coach Min's voice cut through the din, sharp and relentless. "Move your feet! Heads up!" Ji-hye dove, fingertips grazing the hardwood, saving a ball by inches. The crowd gasped. Captain So-young hustled to set, flicked a quick to the middle, and the crowd erupted as the spiker hammered it home.
