Since the match between the Hamsters and the Beluga entered the third round, volleyball fans from all around the world had been spreading the word.
“Hey, have you watched the Russian Super League match between the Hamsters and the Beluga? No? Hurry up and watch it! They’re playing exceptionally well!”
“Roman is actually being suppressed by the Hamsters’ defensive strategy! Unbelievable! I always thought that a beast at his level couldn’t be restricted by defense, but the Hamsters managed to do it.”
Everyone was talking about methods to limit the beast, but no one mentioned the Hamsters’ real breakthrough against the Beluga. It’s evident to discerning eyes that they weren’t dominating the match.
Their offensive efficiency was already inferior to the opposing team’s, and now, with Alexander on their side, how could they win this match? Nevertheless, this game indeed provided many coaches and players with new ideas.
Who would have thought that defense could be so aggressive and effective? I never felt this way when watching the Japanese play defense and counterattack.
The reason was quite simple: Nikolai used the “swinging player” tactic in this match. It meant the second setter, Anton, switched to the first setter position, and Qin Chunxiao switched from the first setter to an attacker. This was a tactic that coaches could use when they have abundant 3D players in the team, and both Newton and Chen Aiguo loved to play it.
The brilliance of the swinging player tactic lies in its flexibility, just as the fans mentioned earlier. The Hamsters displayed a highly dynamic style in this match, frequently surprising their opponents with unexpected coordination and targeting their weak points.
In this tactic, the core players usually consist of three roles: attacker, defender, and setter. These three players need to have versatile skills, good chemistry, and the ability to switch and cover each other’s positions at any time. The other three teammates focus on supporting the defense, making counterattacks the primary strategy.
They say coaches often wonder how many receivers are on the court when they play this tactic.
Previously, Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling mainly executed this tactic with Ding Rong or Gao Depi. Now, Gao Depi had been replaced by Anton, and surprisingly, the efficiency had improved. Anton was a setter for Russia, a strong men’s volleyball nation, with a higher overall level than Mao Xufeng and without Ding Rong’s injury history.
Their cooperation was smooth and enjoyable.
As a result, both teams continued to score with intense competition, until the score reached 32:31. Although the Hamsters were still one point behind, they never showed any intention of letting the Beluga take this set.
Their strength might not be on par with the Beluga, but their tenacity would allow them to fight to this stage. How could the spectators watching the entire game remain unmoved?
Therefore, even though the Hamsters were playing as the visiting team, when they scored a point, the audience started applauding and cheering.
Volleyball enthusiasts cheered with action, saying, “Well played!” “You’ve delivered an excellent match!”
Qin Chunxiao panted, his blue headband soaked in sweat, but he couldn’t relax because Roman’s strength was overwhelmingly powerful. If he let his guard down even slightly, it would give Roman a chance to end the match.
This time, Qin Chunxiao took up the setter position.
Among the three 3D players, his setting skills were the weakest, not comparable to professional setters like Li Ling and Anton. However, he relied on his understanding with Li Ling and managed to set up a lightning-fast quick attack that most people couldn’t react to.
But this time, the Beluga’ libero, who was also in excellent form, reacted in time and dove to pick up the ball. However, the ball bounced off his wrist and flew back into the net.
Both teams’ players reacted, trying to push the ball over the net!
Qin Chunxiao had a quicker reaction, so he prepared to make an approach jump ahead of time, while Roman attempted a hasty spike. A photographer also lifted his camera, capturing this astonishing moment.
In the lens, Qin Chunxiao and Roman extended their arms simultaneously to push the ball. Due to Qin Chunxiao’s advantage in approach, he managed to jump as high as Roman despite being 30 centimeters shorter. The whole scene appeared as though a mortal was challenging a god.
As an athlete, Qin Chunxiao undoubtedly had talent, but at this moment, with a height of less than 1.8 meters, he dared to compete against a 2.1-meter giant at the net. Wasn’t this scene inspiring and thrilling?
Everyone who witnessed this moment felt deeply impressed.
Indeed, this was the kind of match they wanted to see, filled with passion, excitement, and miracles. Every player was full of fighting spirit, unwilling to give up even a single point, and a 1.78-meter player dared to challenge a 2.1-meter opponent.
Qin Chunxiao’s wrists were exceptionally agile, allowing him to control the ball in the air. He gave the ball a slight twist, causing it to slip off Roman’s fingertips. The Beluga’ libero, however, managed to chase after it and pick it up, sending the ball back to the net. Qin Chunxiao and Roman hadn’t even landed yet, so they were helpless against this play.
But this time, the Hamsters’ main attacker, Oleg, showcased his strong presence! With a big beard, he jumped high and smashed the ball down.
The Russian Super League commentator shouted, “32:32! The tenacious Hamsters have equalized the score again! They haven’t lost this set!”
In the previous matches, the Beluga came close to finishing off the game several times, but the Hamsters held on each time. The thrilling scenes made fans’ hearts pound, and they couldn’t tear themselves away. Some fans with weaker hearts wanted to wait until the game was over to catch up, but they just couldn’t bear to leave the TV.
Qin Chunxiao and Roman landed simultaneously, locking eyes. This time, Roman looked at the petite player and exclaimed, “You’re really impressive.”
Qin Chunxiao smiled and replied, “You too. Your last-minute jump was also quite high.”
Then both of them turned around and walked towards their respective teammates.
Qin Chunxiao rotated to the serving position again, walking to the serving area and patting the ball.
How does that saying go? Serving is like an attack beyond the line, distant but powerful. As long as the server possesses the skill, strength, and a heart determined to win!
Qin Chunxiao tossed the ball up and leaped high towards the front, delivering a powerful jump serve!
The serve was truly beautiful, even catching the attention of Mars, who was in Brazil. He adjusted his glasses and muttered, “This serving style looks familiar.”
His proud disciple, Joshua, served just like that. Mars had a lot of confidence in Joshua and had even tried to have him teach other young players to serve like that, but unfortunately, nobody had learned it yet.
Mars thought that this young player must had studied Joshua’s serving technique; otherwise, their stances wouldn’t be so similar. If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought that Joshua had taught Qin Chunxiao.
The jump serve was received by the opponents, and they quickly organized a counterattack. The ball came over, and Li Ling performed a dive to pick it up, while Anton set the ball, and Qin Chunxiao executed a back-row attack. The ball traced a large diagonal line in the air and landed in the opponents’ backcourt.
32:33, the Hamsters team gained their first lead!
Mars affirmed, “This kid has definitely studied Joshua’s technique.”
The diagonal serve and jump serve were Joshua’s signature moves.
The Russian Super League commentator whispered, “Alright, let’s see if the Hamsters can take this set while they’re ahead. I’m getting more and more curious about the outcome of this match!”
Indeed, could the Hamsters win this set? They had given their all for this set, and all the main players were battling fiercely against the Beluga, giving their best performance. If they can’t win this set, their morale will be greatly affected.
Li Ling rubbed his legs, hummed a little, and seemed to be the only person on the court who didn’t appear so nervous. However, his forehead was also covered with sweat beads.
Qin Chunxiao served again, and this time his serve was received. He immediately prepared for the next move.
The ball came.
The volleyball’s figure appeared in his blue pupils, and Qin Chunxiao focused on the ball, moving his body naturally and instinctively.
The ball was received and flew towards the second spiker!
Li Ling immediately jumped, while Oleg and Danny also leaped, shouting, “Mine!”
They all wanted to attack and were extremely confident in their ability to score.
The moment Li Ling’s hands caught the ball, his agile shoulders exerted force, and he swung both arms to the side, sending the ball to the Beluga’ floor.
Second spike, point scored! 34:32, the Hamsters Club secured the third set, and the overall score became 2:1, with the Hamsters Club in the lead!
In an instant, countless cheers erupted from the surrounding fans. Li Ling happily waved to the crowd and blew a kiss.
An elderly lady in the audience chuckled and said, “Oh, he really looks like a cute Husky.”
Qin Chunxiao pulled Li Ling out of the court, and together with their teammates, they wiped off sweat and drank water, listening to the coach’s tactical arrangements.
Alexander leaned against the side, excitedly saying, “You guys are amazing! The Hamsters have never reached this far against the Beluga before! I think we can win today!”
But just as they came off the court, several of them replied in unison, “It’s hard to say.”
Joking aside, with the Beluga being the world’s second-best club, who could confidently say they will win, especially when they were facing those monstrous players firsthand.
Qin Chunxiao looked at the opposite team’s setter and grimaced, “Their setter is from France, and his skills are impressive.”
Li Ling also followed suit and grimaced, “He’s exceptionally impressive indeed.”
He was the top three scoring attacking setter in the Rio Olympics, a veteran who had participated in three consecutive Olympics, and his experience was terrifying. How could he not be impressive?
The Beluga had made up their minds this year and signed such a top-tier setter for Roman, aiming for the championship in the World Club Championship. Although they didn’t succeed in winning the championship, nobody could say that the money spent on this setter was wasted.
However, Anton held Qin Chunxiao’s shoulder and stammered, “I will become even better than their setter in the future.”
Big bro, Anton won’t let you down with every ball you give him, so give me all the balls too! I can also perform a second attack!
Qin Chunxiao said, “Okay, I believe you can.”
Indeed, Anton could, as he was one of the best setters during the Tokyo Olympics cycle.
But in the fourth set, Qin Chunxiao’s condition started to decline.
The young wolf cub was only 16 years old, and his physical endurance had its limits.
The Beluga noticed that Qin Chunxiao was starting to feel a bit fatigued and immediately seized the opportunity to attack relentlessly. Qin Chunxiao gritted his teeth and persisted, diving and scrambling all over the floor to keep the ball from touching the ground.
Everyone could see that he was already exhausted, but he refused to give in.
Nikolai sniffed and said, “I spent 300,000 dollars, and it’s worth every penny.”
But if this kid plays this well and with such dedication, how much should they offer him for the contract renewal next year?
Qin Chunxiao barely held on to the defensive end, and fortunately, Li Ling also started to perform well, providing him with a slight breathing room.
Just at this moment, the Beluga’ setter grabbed his knee and took a deep breath.
Everyone on the court stopped in their tracks, looking at the veteran player, who showed a wry smile and pointed to his hip bone.
Li Ling was puzzled, “What happened? He didn’t move just now. What’s going on?”
Qin Chunxiao frowned, “I don’t know, but… injuries that happen outside of sports can sometimes be more severe.”
The setter was carried off the court, and the once lively match cooled down.
The fans expressed their dissatisfaction with some of them, who had long been critical of the high-paid and injury-prone second setter, shouting, “Get rid of him!”
“He’s no good!”
“He’s simply useless!”
Roman had never witnessed such a scene and found himself speechless for a moment. The coach of the Beluga stood up, preparing to calm down these fans with the help of the staff.
Chinese fans who were following the match online felt confused, “What’s wrong with these fans? The player got injured!”
“Exactly, Ludvika has been putting in all his efforts as the setter. Roman’s offense has been smooth this season, and it’s because of Ludvika’s good setting. Why are they cursing him?”
Only a few more thoughtful ones sighed, “The Beluga have dominated the Russian Super League for many years, but they haven’t won the gold medal in the World Club Championship every time they participate. Some extremist fans must have been holding grudges for a long time.”
And human malice tends to lean towards the weaker ones, such as players who make mistakes or suffer sudden injuries on the field. At this moment, they indeed become the team’s weak point and are likely to be targeted.
Just then, Qin Chunxiao of the Hamsters threw his towel on the ground and directly shouted over there, “Shut up!”
His voice was powerful, and almost the entire stadium heard him.
Qin Chunxiao didn’t care if shouting like this would get him sent off by the referee. After all, the opponent’s main setter was already off the court. If he had to leave as well, so be it. But he couldn’t bear to watch the fans bully the veteran player.
After shouting, he made a gesture to Nikolai.
Nikolai immediately stood up to deal with the situation caused by the impulsive kid. He skillfully walked to the referee with a smile and said, “I think the match should continue, right?”
The referee hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly, “Okay, you’re right, Nikolai. The match should continue.”
Roman looked at his teammates being substituted out, his eyes full of worry, but as the captain of the Beluga, he had to uphold the spirit of the game and continue fighting.
The Beluga’ coach glanced at Roman but didn’t take him off the court. Instead, he substituted two other players who also had injury concerns and fatigue issues.
Risking their lives for the regular season was not worth it. If we talk about a fiery and passionate match, these young men had already played enough.
But Qin Chunxiao and Roman had the same thought in their hearts.
No, they were not done yet!
They wanted to give it their all, to determine the true winner!
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as they wished. After the Beluga signaled that they would no longer use full force, the Hamsters gained the upper hand and eventually won the match 3-1.
At the end of the game, there were still 3 minutes left until Qin Chunxiao’s maximum time on the court set by Nikola.
Both teams shook hands in a somber atmosphere, and they naturally inquired about each other’s players’ injuries, wishing the injured players good luck and a speedy recovery.
When Roman shook hands with Qin Chunxiao, he noticed the injury on Qin Chunxiao’s right hand and offered his left hand.
Qin Chunxiao extended his left hand to shake it.
Roman took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, “Next time, I will go all out from the beginning to deal with you!”
Qin Chunxiao replied without hesitation, “That’s what I’m hoping for. I’m looking forward to it.”
Roman paused for a moment, then showed a hearty smile, and the light green in his eyes was as clear as transparent lake water reflecting the spring sun.
He didn’t bow down again but expressed his gratitude, “Thank you for speaking out bravely like that. In that situation just now, not many people could stand up, and you didn’t lose control of your emotions. You just asked everyone to stop talking, and Coach Nikola handled it well. You perfectly put an end to the farce. It was fantastic.”
Qin Chunxiao smiled and shook his head, “No, I just did what I should do because I, the fans, the coach, and everyone on this court are here for volleyball.”
He gestured a circle with his hands.
“Volleyball is wonderful. It has given me many precious memories. I firmly believe that we should all enjoy volleyball together, rather than letting it bring unhappiness. Players should respect the audience, respect the fans who love them. They can feel guilty for not performing well, but we don’t need to grovel. Volleyball is not played kneeling down.”
“We all stand, and we love volleyball on equal terms!”
As he listened to the young man’s determined tone, Roman felt that his admiration for Misha the Hamster had reached its peak.
Since the match between the Hamsters and the Beluga entered the third round, volleyball fans from all around the world had been spreading the word.
“Hey, have you watched the Russian Super League match between the Hamsters and the Beluga? No? Hurry up and watch it! They’re playing exceptionally well!”
“Roman is actually being suppressed by the Hamsters’ defensive strategy! Unbelievable! I always thought that a beast at his level couldn’t be restricted by defense, but the Hamsters managed to do it.”
Everyone was talking about methods to limit the beast, but no one mentioned the Hamsters’ real breakthrough against the Beluga. It’s evident to discerning eyes that they weren’t dominating the match.
Their offensive efficiency was already inferior to the opposing team’s, and now, with Alexander on their side, how could they win this match? Nevertheless, this game indeed provided many coaches and players with new ideas.
Who would have thought that defense could be so aggressive and effective? I never felt this way when watching the Japanese play defense and counterattack.
The reason was quite simple: Nikolai used the “swinging player” tactic in this match. It meant the second setter, Anton, switched to the first setter position, and Qin Chunxiao switched from the first setter to an attacker. This was a tactic that coaches could use when they have abundant 3D players in the team, and both Newton and Chen Aiguo loved to play it.
The brilliance of the swinging player tactic lies in its flexibility, just as the fans mentioned earlier. The Hamsters displayed a highly dynamic style in this match, frequently surprising their opponents with unexpected coordination and targeting their weak points.
In this tactic, the core players usually consist of three roles: attacker, defender, and setter. These three players need to have versatile skills, good chemistry, and the ability to switch and cover each other’s positions at any time. The other three teammates focus on supporting the defense, making counterattacks the primary strategy.
They say coaches often wonder how many receivers are on the court when they play this tactic.
Previously, Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling mainly executed this tactic with Ding Rong or Gao Depi. Now, Gao Depi had been replaced by Anton, and surprisingly, the efficiency had improved. Anton was a setter for Russia, a strong men’s volleyball nation, with a higher overall level than Mao Xufeng and without Ding Rong’s injury history.
Their cooperation was smooth and enjoyable.
As a result, both teams continued to score with intense competition, until the score reached 32:31. Although the Hamsters were still one point behind, they never showed any intention of letting the Beluga take this set.
Their strength might not be on par with the Beluga, but their tenacity would allow them to fight to this stage. How could the spectators watching the entire game remain unmoved?
Therefore, even though the Hamsters were playing as the visiting team, when they scored a point, the audience started applauding and cheering.
Volleyball enthusiasts cheered with action, saying, “Well played!” “You’ve delivered an excellent match!”
Qin Chunxiao panted, his blue headband soaked in sweat, but he couldn’t relax because Roman’s strength was overwhelmingly powerful. If he let his guard down even slightly, it would give Roman a chance to end the match.
This time, Qin Chunxiao took up the setter position.
Among the three 3D players, his setting skills were the weakest, not comparable to professional setters like Li Ling and Anton. However, he relied on his understanding with Li Ling and managed to set up a lightning-fast quick attack that most people couldn’t react to.
But this time, the Beluga’ libero, who was also in excellent form, reacted in time and dove to pick up the ball. However, the ball bounced off his wrist and flew back into the net.
Both teams’ players reacted, trying to push the ball over the net!
Qin Chunxiao had a quicker reaction, so he prepared to make an approach jump ahead of time, while Roman attempted a hasty spike. A photographer also lifted his camera, capturing this astonishing moment.
In the lens, Qin Chunxiao and Roman extended their arms simultaneously to push the ball. Due to Qin Chunxiao’s advantage in approach, he managed to jump as high as Roman despite being 30 centimeters shorter. The whole scene appeared as though a mortal was challenging a god.
As an athlete, Qin Chunxiao undoubtedly had talent, but at this moment, with a height of less than 1.8 meters, he dared to compete against a 2.1-meter giant at the net. Wasn’t this scene inspiring and thrilling?
Everyone who witnessed this moment felt deeply impressed.
Indeed, this was the kind of match they wanted to see, filled with passion, excitement, and miracles. Every player was full of fighting spirit, unwilling to give up even a single point, and a 1.78-meter player dared to challenge a 2.1-meter opponent.
Qin Chunxiao’s wrists were exceptionally agile, allowing him to control the ball in the air. He gave the ball a slight twist, causing it to slip off Roman’s fingertips. The Beluga’ libero, however, managed to chase after it and pick it up, sending the ball back to the net. Qin Chunxiao and Roman hadn’t even landed yet, so they were helpless against this play.
But this time, the Hamsters’ main attacker, Oleg, showcased his strong presence! With a big beard, he jumped high and smashed the ball down.
The Russian Super League commentator shouted, “32:32! The tenacious Hamsters have equalized the score again! They haven’t lost this set!”
In the previous matches, the Beluga came close to finishing off the game several times, but the Hamsters held on each time. The thrilling scenes made fans’ hearts pound, and they couldn’t tear themselves away. Some fans with weaker hearts wanted to wait until the game was over to catch up, but they just couldn’t bear to leave the TV.
Qin Chunxiao and Roman landed simultaneously, locking eyes. This time, Roman looked at the petite player and exclaimed, “You’re really impressive.”
Qin Chunxiao smiled and replied, “You too. Your last-minute jump was also quite high.”
Then both of them turned around and walked towards their respective teammates.
Qin Chunxiao rotated to the serving position again, walking to the serving area and patting the ball.
How does that saying go? Serving is like an attack beyond the line, distant but powerful. As long as the server possesses the skill, strength, and a heart determined to win!
Qin Chunxiao tossed the ball up and leaped high towards the front, delivering a powerful jump serve!
The serve was truly beautiful, even catching the attention of Mars, who was in Brazil. He adjusted his glasses and muttered, “This serving style looks familiar.”
His proud disciple, Joshua, served just like that. Mars had a lot of confidence in Joshua and had even tried to have him teach other young players to serve like that, but unfortunately, nobody had learned it yet.
Mars thought that this young player must had studied Joshua’s serving technique; otherwise, their stances wouldn’t be so similar. If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought that Joshua had taught Qin Chunxiao.
The jump serve was received by the opponents, and they quickly organized a counterattack. The ball came over, and Li Ling performed a dive to pick it up, while Anton set the ball, and Qin Chunxiao executed a back-row attack. The ball traced a large diagonal line in the air and landed in the opponents’ backcourt.
32:33, the Hamsters team gained their first lead!
Mars affirmed, “This kid has definitely studied Joshua’s technique.”
The diagonal serve and jump serve were Joshua’s signature moves.
The Russian Super League commentator whispered, “Alright, let’s see if the Hamsters can take this set while they’re ahead. I’m getting more and more curious about the outcome of this match!”
Indeed, could the Hamsters win this set? They had given their all for this set, and all the main players were battling fiercely against the Beluga, giving their best performance. If they can’t win this set, their morale will be greatly affected.
Li Ling rubbed his legs, hummed a little, and seemed to be the only person on the court who didn’t appear so nervous. However, his forehead was also covered with sweat beads.
Qin Chunxiao served again, and this time his serve was received. He immediately prepared for the next move.
The ball came.
The volleyball’s figure appeared in his blue pupils, and Qin Chunxiao focused on the ball, moving his body naturally and instinctively.
The ball was received and flew towards the second spiker!
Li Ling immediately jumped, while Oleg and Danny also leaped, shouting, “Mine!”
They all wanted to attack and were extremely confident in their ability to score.
The moment Li Ling’s hands caught the ball, his agile shoulders exerted force, and he swung both arms to the side, sending the ball to the Beluga’ floor.
Second spike, point scored! 34:32, the Hamsters Club secured the third set, and the overall score became 2:1, with the Hamsters Club in the lead!
In an instant, countless cheers erupted from the surrounding fans. Li Ling happily waved to the crowd and blew a kiss.
An elderly lady in the audience chuckled and said, “Oh, he really looks like a cute Husky.”
Qin Chunxiao pulled Li Ling out of the court, and together with their teammates, they wiped off sweat and drank water, listening to the coach’s tactical arrangements.
Alexander leaned against the side, excitedly saying, “You guys are amazing! The Hamsters have never reached this far against the Beluga before! I think we can win today!”
But just as they came off the court, several of them replied in unison, “It’s hard to say.”
Joking aside, with the Beluga being the world’s second-best club, who could confidently say they will win, especially when they were facing those monstrous players firsthand.
Qin Chunxiao looked at the opposite team’s setter and grimaced, “Their setter is from France, and his skills are impressive.”
Li Ling also followed suit and grimaced, “He’s exceptionally impressive indeed.”
He was the top three scoring attacking setter in the Rio Olympics, a veteran who had participated in three consecutive Olympics, and his experience was terrifying. How could he not be impressive?
The Beluga had made up their minds this year and signed such a top-tier setter for Roman, aiming for the championship in the World Club Championship. Although they didn’t succeed in winning the championship, nobody could say that the money spent on this setter was wasted.
However, Anton held Qin Chunxiao’s shoulder and stammered, “I will become even better than their setter in the future.”
Big bro, Anton won’t let you down with every ball you give him, so give me all the balls too! I can also perform a second attack!
Qin Chunxiao said, “Okay, I believe you can.”
Indeed, Anton could, as he was one of the best setters during the Tokyo Olympics cycle.
But in the fourth set, Qin Chunxiao’s condition started to decline.
The young wolf cub was only 16 years old, and his physical endurance had its limits.
The Beluga noticed that Qin Chunxiao was starting to feel a bit fatigued and immediately seized the opportunity to attack relentlessly. Qin Chunxiao gritted his teeth and persisted, diving and scrambling all over the floor to keep the ball from touching the ground.
Everyone could see that he was already exhausted, but he refused to give in.
Nikolai sniffed and said, “I spent 300,000 dollars, and it’s worth every penny.”
But if this kid plays this well and with such dedication, how much should they offer him for the contract renewal next year?
Qin Chunxiao barely held on to the defensive end, and fortunately, Li Ling also started to perform well, providing him with a slight breathing room.
Just at this moment, the Beluga’ setter grabbed his knee and took a deep breath.
Everyone on the court stopped in their tracks, looking at the veteran player, who showed a wry smile and pointed to his hip bone.
Li Ling was puzzled, “What happened? He didn’t move just now. What’s going on?”
Qin Chunxiao frowned, “I don’t know, but… injuries that happen outside of sports can sometimes be more severe.”
The setter was carried off the court, and the once lively match cooled down.
The fans expressed their dissatisfaction with some of them, who had long been critical of the high-paid and injury-prone second setter, shouting, “Get rid of him!”
“He’s no good!”
“He’s simply useless!”
Roman had never witnessed such a scene and found himself speechless for a moment. The coach of the Beluga stood up, preparing to calm down these fans with the help of the staff.
Chinese fans who were following the match online felt confused, “What’s wrong with these fans? The player got injured!”
“Exactly, Ludvika has been putting in all his efforts as the setter. Roman’s offense has been smooth this season, and it’s because of Ludvika’s good setting. Why are they cursing him?”
Only a few more thoughtful ones sighed, “The Beluga have dominated the Russian Super League for many years, but they haven’t won the gold medal in the World Club Championship every time they participate. Some extremist fans must have been holding grudges for a long time.”
And human malice tends to lean towards the weaker ones, such as players who make mistakes or suffer sudden injuries on the field. At this moment, they indeed become the team’s weak point and are likely to be targeted.
Just then, Qin Chunxiao of the Hamsters threw his towel on the ground and directly shouted over there, “Shut up!”
His voice was powerful, and almost the entire stadium heard him.
Qin Chunxiao didn’t care if shouting like this would get him sent off by the referee. After all, the opponent’s main setter was already off the court. If he had to leave as well, so be it. But he couldn’t bear to watch the fans bully the veteran player.
After shouting, he made a gesture to Nikolai.
Nikolai immediately stood up to deal with the situation caused by the impulsive kid. He skillfully walked to the referee with a smile and said, “I think the match should continue, right?”
The referee hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly, “Okay, you’re right, Nikolai. The match should continue.”
Roman looked at his teammates being substituted out, his eyes full of worry, but as the captain of the Beluga, he had to uphold the spirit of the game and continue fighting.
The Beluga’ coach glanced at Roman but didn’t take him off the court. Instead, he substituted two other players who also had injury concerns and fatigue issues.
Risking their lives for the regular season was not worth it. If we talk about a fiery and passionate match, these young men had already played enough.
But Qin Chunxiao and Roman had the same thought in their hearts.
No, they were not done yet!
They wanted to give it their all, to determine the true winner!
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as they wished. After the Beluga signaled that they would no longer use full force, the Hamsters gained the upper hand and eventually won the match 3-1.
At the end of the game, there were still 3 minutes left until Qin Chunxiao’s maximum time on the court set by Nikola.
Both teams shook hands in a somber atmosphere, and they naturally inquired about each other’s players’ injuries, wishing the injured players good luck and a speedy recovery.
When Roman shook hands with Qin Chunxiao, he noticed the injury on Qin Chunxiao’s right hand and offered his left hand.
Qin Chunxiao extended his left hand to shake it.
Roman took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, “Next time, I will go all out from the beginning to deal with you!”
Qin Chunxiao replied without hesitation, “That’s what I’m hoping for. I’m looking forward to it.”
Roman paused for a moment, then showed a hearty smile, and the light green in his eyes was as clear as transparent lake water reflecting the spring sun.
He didn’t bow down again but expressed his gratitude, “Thank you for speaking out bravely like that. In that situation just now, not many people could stand up, and you didn’t lose control of your emotions. You just asked everyone to stop talking, and Coach Nikola handled it well. You perfectly put an end to the farce. It was fantastic.”
Qin Chunxiao smiled and shook his head, “No, I just did what I should do because I, the fans, the coach, and everyone on this court are here for volleyball.”
He gestured a circle with his hands.
“Volleyball is wonderful. It has given me many precious memories. I firmly believe that we should all enjoy volleyball together, rather than letting it bring unhappiness. Players should respect the audience, respect the fans who love them. They can feel guilty for not performing well, but we don’t need to grovel. Volleyball is not played kneeling down.”
“We all stand, and we love volleyball on equal terms!”
As he listened to the young man’s determined tone, Roman felt that his admiration for Misha the Hamster had reached its peak.
