My Soulmate is A Libero
“Ladies and gentlemen in the audience, welcome to the American Volleyball Channel. I’m your live commentator, Eddie. At exactly 6:30 PM today, the VNL determined its final four teams: Poland, Russia, Italy, and China. If it were a few years ago, I would never have believed that China could make it to the final four…”
Eddie expressed his astonishment at China’s re-entry into the top four with a shocked tone, followed by his customary praise for Coach Newton’s remarkable abilities.
Taking a team that was ranked outside the top sixteen in the world and turning them into a powerhouse – who could be more impressive than Newton?
Coach Newton, full of confidence, finally encountered the European men’s volleyball patriarch, Nikolai.
With the energetic DJ music playing in the background, players from both sides entered the court for warm-up, and the scene was dominated by a muscular aesthetic!
Newton and Nikolai locked eyes. Nikolai elegantly waved. Compared to Mars, who was somewhat distant, Nikolai and Newton were true old acquaintances.
Back when Newton was an assistant coach at Italy’s ENEL club, he had faced Hamster Club (Warehouse Club) before. And in the early 1990s, they had a match on the court, leaving a deep impression on each other.
Newton: “The players coached by Nikolai are really sharp and muscular. How did he train them?”
Nikolai: “That Chinese setter with the same name as a scientist is as cunning as a fox. Perhaps he’s a good material for coaching.”
Now, they were about to become opponents once again.
Newton looked at his cute Dundun, noticing that his mood wasn’t high. Immediately, he pushed the thought of the opponent aside and started inquiring, “Dun, what’s wrong? Who spoiled your mood?”
Seeing Newton’s attitude, whoever dared to upset the team’s Daddy figure before the match would trigger Ding Rong’s hunting mode.
Ding Rong, who was sitting on the ground doing splits, caught the coach’s gaze and promptly stood up, flexing his wrist and nodding to the coach. He was ready to spring into action at any moment.
Qin Chunxiao was speechless: “It’s fine, it’s fine.” Where did these grown-up kids come from?
It was just that one of Zhe Yue’s spokespersons had caused some public opinion issues, and there was also some tampering with the stock price. This led to Lu Xuandong having to rush back to China for a short while. Given Dongzi’s frail constitution, which Qin Chunxiao considered very delicate, and the prevalence of “e-cigarette lung disease” in the United States, even wearing a mask didn’t make people feel at ease. It was better for him to return early. Qin Chunxiao hadn’t thought much about it.
That was, until he noticed a figure in the Russian team’s spectator seats – it was Lu Yunchen. Moreover, that kid had been quite close with his “nanny.” This made Qin Chunxiao think of his own older brother and distracted him.
Qin Chunxiao shook his head to clear his mind and focused on the match.
Today, he was still wearing the red jersey like his teammates, playing as the opposite hitter. The young man’s sideburns were originally meant to be his fringe, but he hadn’t had time to get a haircut before heading out for the game. That part of his hair had grown longer, so Qin Chunxiao simply borrowed a hairpin from the team doctor to clip his hair up. Coupled with a headband, it wouldn’t obstruct his line of sight.
He naturally had well-defined facial features. With his fringe clipped up, his whole face was exposed – a face that conformed to Western aesthetics. He exuded an overall air of heroism, freshness, and refinement, yet without a trace of femininity. He looked as robust as a wild animal.
Just a few days ago, there were fans online saying that in an era where global aesthetics were declining and Hollywood struggled to produce new heartthrobs, the volleyball court surprisingly produced a handsome guy who could rival the golden age. That person was none other than Qin Chunxiao. There were many new fans who bought tickets just to see his face, and some of them didn’t even know that volleyball matches were played to 25 points per set, or that you needed to win by two points if the score reached 25.
This was the power of a face!
As Qin Chunxiao stepped onto the court, he heard someone shout, “Misha! Marry me!”
Er Leng immediately burst into laughter, “Xiao Xiao, now you’re just like me – someone proposed to you on the court.”
Qin Chunxiao stopped in his tracks. Everyone was looking at him, expecting Misha Qin to respond similarly to Tulengchika, with a respectful acknowledgment of any sexual orientation but a polite rejection indicating a preference for females.
Qin Chunxiao put his hands by his mouth and said, “I’m sorry, I don’t like you! So, I can’t marry you!”
Qin Chunxiao rarely spoke about his own sexual orientation. He knew that within the pure gay community, bisexuals seemed less steadfast, while in the eyes of purely heterosexual individuals, bisexuality was akin to promiscuity. In recent years, there were even statements like “There’s no such thing as bisexuality; there are only gays who want to deceive people into having children” circulating on the internet.
Qin Chunxiao himself was clear and pure, having never been in a relationship and possessing a strong moral sense. He didn’t bother refuting such statements. He didn’t want to get involved and risk being caught up in chaos and mental disturbances caused by internet trolls. However, whenever he rejected someone, it probably had nothing to do with gender – he simply didn’t like them.
A Cantonese-origin celebrity he liked once said, “Whether it’s a boy or a girl, if you like them, it’s good.”
Chang Xiaole’s expression changed, and he shook his head with a sigh, “This kid is totally open about himself…”
He had a hunch that if Qin Chunxiao ever made up his mind to love someone, no matter who asked, he would straightforwardly reply, “Yes, I like that person. I want to pursue them.”
Being so open-hearted and forthright was actually quite admirable and even made people envious of Qin Chunxiao’s future lover.
However, apart from a few individuals, most people didn’t think so deeply. They just felt that Qin Chunxiao used the same tone as Tulengchika to reject a fan’s joking marriage proposal. They treated it as another topic of conversation.
The Russian team also laughed good-naturedly. With Qin Chunxiao’s appearance, when hadn’t there been fans screaming for him? Everyone was used to it. Even the owner of Hamster Club said that signing Qin Chunxiao as a player was worth it because he not only had skills but his face could also attract sponsorships for the club.
Roman was still contemplating as he prepared to serve. He wondered if Misha’s state would be affected by this marriage proposal.
The answer was no.
Even before Roman’s serve was sent, Qin Chunxiao had already positioned himself near the ball’s landing spot. With a simple lift of his hand, the ball immediately flew into Ding Rong’s hands.
In fact, many setters evaluated the libero’s passing ability. Some inexperienced liberos simply aimed to prevent the ball from hitting the ground or going out of bounds – that alone counted as a victory. Some liberos set the ball too high, making it uncomfortable for the setter. Then there were liberos who not only had a high receive rate but also delivered the ball with the perfect height, speed, and spin, offering the setter a sense of reassurance akin to parental love.
Qin Chunxiao definitely belonged to the latter category; any setter who had worked with him would attest to that.
The Russian team was also quite familiar with Qin Chunxiao. Either they were teammates from the Russian Super League or they had faced him as opponents. Not even halfway through the first set, everyone knew that Misha was in excellent form today, and there was no point trying to exploit any weaknesses – that wasn’t going to work.
Roman was accustomed to tough battles. As a spokesperson for the “High-Point Attack” campaign in the men’s volleyball program from 2016 to 2024, spanning eight years and two Olympic cycles, his attacking prowess was actually the strongest among the Five Mythical Beasts.
Whenever the team faced a strong adversary, there was no need for the coach to say anything; he would voluntarily step forward and unleash a barrage of attacks, putting an end to all fancy tricks.
But Newton had also researched the Russian team extensively. The Guangdong Twins didn’t go to the Russian Super League to be mere foreign players, they were experienced competitors. Today, they weren’t going to play any tricks, they were going to engage in a direct battle. Qiao Mingming, You Ziyu, and other strong attackers would take turns attacking at the net. Fu Biyang and Kong Duojin would score points with quick attacks while blocking at the net. Qin Chunxiao would focus on defense.
Come on, let them defend against each other like tough guys, and let’s see who gives in first.
This kind of match required the players to be fierce and resolute, capable of enduring adversity, possessing a steadfast determination, and the courage to jump at powerful opponents.
Coincidentally, both the Chinese and Russian men’s volleyball teams had this spirit.
But as the match progressed, people noticed that the Chinese team wasn’t at a great disadvantage, as their defense was even stronger than Russia’s.
Qin Chunxiao genuinely wanted to help his team get on the podium before the Tokyo Olympics began. Whether they won a medal or not wasn’t the point; he knew that the morale of a team needed victories as its foundation. If they kept losing to the same team, it would become habitual defeat.
Are they going to kneel before the Russian men’s volleyball team until the Tokyo Olympics? What a joke!
As long as the players could take turns defeating the men’s volleyball teams of Russia, the United States, and Brazil this time, they would have a sense of confidence for more important competitions in the future.
This was also why Newton, on one hand, exaggerated how well everyone played this year and, on the other hand, tried to motivate the team with motivational speeches before the match. He really wanted the Chinese men’s volleyball team to win this match. As a coach, he understood the importance of team spirit building even more than Qin Chunxiao.
Both sides started grinding point by point. Russia had a slightly stronger offense, while China had a slightly stronger defense. It was like steel against steel, and tactics nearly vanished. All that remained were the roaring of fierce men and the ferocious charge of the snow wolves.
China lost the first set to Russia, but in the second set, they launched a comeback. The fierce roars of the players grew louder and louder. Many of them were drenched in sweat, their eyes reddened. They were on the verge of combustion, and their fighting spirit was off the charts.
However, the audience loved it. They loved the Chinese team even more. After all, this team was capable of both flashy plays and tough battles. Occasionally, they even started fights, leading to the highest viewership in a VNL match. They really knew how to entertain.
The only ones remaining calm at this moment were probably the setters from both teams and Qin Chunxiao. Qin Chunxiao maintained his terrifying high level of focus, patiently waiting for signs of Roman’s exhaustion to appear. Scoring against him was difficult; the physical exertion required to play three sets against him wasn’t much different from playing five full sets.
Roman’s reputation as a mythical beast might be grand, but he was ultimately a mortal. Hence, Qin Chunxiao had discussed with Ding Rong before the match and decided to try to exhaust Roman as much as possible.
Nikolai sensed that something was off. He called for two timeouts in the third set to give Roman as much rest as possible and increased the involvement of other attackers in the team.
He also had a promising new player at his disposal – Ruslan, Qin Chunxiao’s teammate from Hamster Club. This young man’s attacks were strong, while he might not be on par with Qiao Mingming, he was quickly catching up to Fu Biyang.
Facing Qin Chunxiao on the court left Ruslan feeling utterly helpless. This player, slightly younger than Qin Chunxiao, used to be taken care of by everyone at Hamster Club. Now, he was left to fend for himself, and the fatherly figure he used to rely on had become the father figure of another team.
Ruslan was feeling incredibly frustrated due to Qin Chunxiao’s defense!
【Both teams are playing their hearts out today. It seems like they’re both determined to make it to the finals.】
【At this stage, it’s time to give it everything. Gua Team has truly surprised us. They’ve brought out the power and spirit of men’s volleyball!】
【Gua Team’s real key to competing against Russia lies in their defense. I, Lang, am the only player on the field who hasn’t roared today, but his presence is huge! He’s saved us on so many occasions.】
【For Russia to win, breaking through defense is the key. For China to win, withstanding Roman is the key.】
【In other words, it comes down to which coach has the stronger ultimate tactics, right?】
Amidst everyone’s incredulous gazes, Qin Chunxiao withstood Roman’s attacks and even managed to free up a hand to receive Roman’s ball. Along with his teammates’ coordination, the Chinese team played a beautifully defensive game today.
However, Qin Chunxiao’s exhaustion was also becoming evident. He was starting to look like he had been doused with water, with his jersey clinging to his body. Sweat dripped from him as he ran, leaving small stains on the floor.
But if someone from his past were here, they would notice one thing.
At the age of 18, Qin Chunxiao had finally regained the peak physical condition and technique he had during his prime. Although he had transitioned a bit later in his previous life and only reached a defensive level of 90 by 2023, which fell short of full mastery, UR-level 90 was still more formidable than SSR-level 100.
On this day, Qin Chunxiao achieved the miracle of “chasing victory without letting the ball touch the ground.” This young player, with his defense, kept Russia outside the gates of the finals, ultimately preventing Russia, aspiring for the championship, from advancing beyond the semifinals.
Mars from the Brazilian team watched this match on-site and said to his assistant, “Misha Qin will become the world’s number one defensive player in the future. His influence on the team is now comparable to that of Krüm back in the day.”
Krüm was a libero that Mars had coached, very active in international matches in the early 2000s, but the child died in a car accident later on.
Now, a libero with a similar style to Krüm’s, yet even more polished, was rising.
“It’s a pity that Italy will end up benefiting from this in the end.”
Mars shook his head. The biggest advantage of the Chinese team now was Qin Chunxiao, but he was also their biggest flaw. The Chinese team had a deep bench of attackers, but when it came to defense, there were few who could fulfill Qin Chunxiao’s role.
After being depleted by the Russian team today, Qin Chunxiao might find it hard to replicate his performance against Italy tomorrow.
Mars’ judgment was accurate. That year, the Chinese men’s volleyball team made it to the VNL gold medal match for the first time, narrowly losing 2:3 to Italy and ending their VNL campaign with a silver medal.
My Soulmate is A Libero
“Ladies and gentlemen in the audience, welcome to the American Volleyball Channel. I’m your live commentator, Eddie. At exactly 6:30 PM today, the VNL determined its final four teams: Poland, Russia, Italy, and China. If it were a few years ago, I would never have believed that China could make it to the final four…”
Eddie expressed his astonishment at China’s re-entry into the top four with a shocked tone, followed by his customary praise for Coach Newton’s remarkable abilities.
Taking a team that was ranked outside the top sixteen in the world and turning them into a powerhouse – who could be more impressive than Newton?
Coach Newton, full of confidence, finally encountered the European men’s volleyball patriarch, Nikolai.
With the energetic DJ music playing in the background, players from both sides entered the court for warm-up, and the scene was dominated by a muscular aesthetic!
Newton and Nikolai locked eyes. Nikolai elegantly waved. Compared to Mars, who was somewhat distant, Nikolai and Newton were true old acquaintances.
Back when Newton was an assistant coach at Italy’s ENEL club, he had faced Hamster Club (Warehouse Club) before. And in the early 1990s, they had a match on the court, leaving a deep impression on each other.
Newton: “The players coached by Nikolai are really sharp and muscular. How did he train them?”
Nikolai: “That Chinese setter with the same name as a scientist is as cunning as a fox. Perhaps he’s a good material for coaching.”
Now, they were about to become opponents once again.
Newton looked at his cute Dundun, noticing that his mood wasn’t high. Immediately, he pushed the thought of the opponent aside and started inquiring, “Dun, what’s wrong? Who spoiled your mood?”
Seeing Newton’s attitude, whoever dared to upset the team’s Daddy figure before the match would trigger Ding Rong’s hunting mode.
Ding Rong, who was sitting on the ground doing splits, caught the coach’s gaze and promptly stood up, flexing his wrist and nodding to the coach. He was ready to spring into action at any moment.
Qin Chunxiao was speechless: “It’s fine, it’s fine.” Where did these grown-up kids come from?
It was just that one of Zhe Yue’s spokespersons had caused some public opinion issues, and there was also some tampering with the stock price. This led to Lu Xuandong having to rush back to China for a short while. Given Dongzi’s frail constitution, which Qin Chunxiao considered very delicate, and the prevalence of “e-cigarette lung disease” in the United States, even wearing a mask didn’t make people feel at ease. It was better for him to return early. Qin Chunxiao hadn’t thought much about it.
That was, until he noticed a figure in the Russian team’s spectator seats – it was Lu Yunchen. Moreover, that kid had been quite close with his “nanny.” This made Qin Chunxiao think of his own older brother and distracted him.
Qin Chunxiao shook his head to clear his mind and focused on the match.
Today, he was still wearing the red jersey like his teammates, playing as the opposite hitter. The young man’s sideburns were originally meant to be his fringe, but he hadn’t had time to get a haircut before heading out for the game. That part of his hair had grown longer, so Qin Chunxiao simply borrowed a hairpin from the team doctor to clip his hair up. Coupled with a headband, it wouldn’t obstruct his line of sight.
He naturally had well-defined facial features. With his fringe clipped up, his whole face was exposed – a face that conformed to Western aesthetics. He exuded an overall air of heroism, freshness, and refinement, yet without a trace of femininity. He looked as robust as a wild animal.
Just a few days ago, there were fans online saying that in an era where global aesthetics were declining and Hollywood struggled to produce new heartthrobs, the volleyball court surprisingly produced a handsome guy who could rival the golden age. That person was none other than Qin Chunxiao. There were many new fans who bought tickets just to see his face, and some of them didn’t even know that volleyball matches were played to 25 points per set, or that you needed to win by two points if the score reached 25.
This was the power of a face!
As Qin Chunxiao stepped onto the court, he heard someone shout, “Misha! Marry me!”
Er Leng immediately burst into laughter, “Xiao Xiao, now you’re just like me – someone proposed to you on the court.”
Qin Chunxiao stopped in his tracks. Everyone was looking at him, expecting Misha Qin to respond similarly to Tulengchika, with a respectful acknowledgment of any sexual orientation but a polite rejection indicating a preference for females.
Qin Chunxiao put his hands by his mouth and said, “I’m sorry, I don’t like you! So, I can’t marry you!”
Qin Chunxiao rarely spoke about his own sexual orientation. He knew that within the pure gay community, bisexuals seemed less steadfast, while in the eyes of purely heterosexual individuals, bisexuality was akin to promiscuity. In recent years, there were even statements like “There’s no such thing as bisexuality; there are only gays who want to deceive people into having children” circulating on the internet.
Qin Chunxiao himself was clear and pure, having never been in a relationship and possessing a strong moral sense. He didn’t bother refuting such statements. He didn’t want to get involved and risk being caught up in chaos and mental disturbances caused by internet trolls. However, whenever he rejected someone, it probably had nothing to do with gender – he simply didn’t like them.
A Cantonese-origin celebrity he liked once said, “Whether it’s a boy or a girl, if you like them, it’s good.”
Chang Xiaole’s expression changed, and he shook his head with a sigh, “This kid is totally open about himself…”
He had a hunch that if Qin Chunxiao ever made up his mind to love someone, no matter who asked, he would straightforwardly reply, “Yes, I like that person. I want to pursue them.”
Being so open-hearted and forthright was actually quite admirable and even made people envious of Qin Chunxiao’s future lover.
However, apart from a few individuals, most people didn’t think so deeply. They just felt that Qin Chunxiao used the same tone as Tulengchika to reject a fan’s joking marriage proposal. They treated it as another topic of conversation.
The Russian team also laughed good-naturedly. With Qin Chunxiao’s appearance, when hadn’t there been fans screaming for him? Everyone was used to it. Even the owner of Hamster Club said that signing Qin Chunxiao as a player was worth it because he not only had skills but his face could also attract sponsorships for the club.
Roman was still contemplating as he prepared to serve. He wondered if Misha’s state would be affected by this marriage proposal.
The answer was no.
Even before Roman’s serve was sent, Qin Chunxiao had already positioned himself near the ball’s landing spot. With a simple lift of his hand, the ball immediately flew into Ding Rong’s hands.
In fact, many setters evaluated the libero’s passing ability. Some inexperienced liberos simply aimed to prevent the ball from hitting the ground or going out of bounds – that alone counted as a victory. Some liberos set the ball too high, making it uncomfortable for the setter. Then there were liberos who not only had a high receive rate but also delivered the ball with the perfect height, speed, and spin, offering the setter a sense of reassurance akin to parental love.
Qin Chunxiao definitely belonged to the latter category; any setter who had worked with him would attest to that.
The Russian team was also quite familiar with Qin Chunxiao. Either they were teammates from the Russian Super League or they had faced him as opponents. Not even halfway through the first set, everyone knew that Misha was in excellent form today, and there was no point trying to exploit any weaknesses – that wasn’t going to work.
Roman was accustomed to tough battles. As a spokesperson for the “High-Point Attack” campaign in the men’s volleyball program from 2016 to 2024, spanning eight years and two Olympic cycles, his attacking prowess was actually the strongest among the Five Mythical Beasts.
Whenever the team faced a strong adversary, there was no need for the coach to say anything; he would voluntarily step forward and unleash a barrage of attacks, putting an end to all fancy tricks.
But Newton had also researched the Russian team extensively. The Guangdong Twins didn’t go to the Russian Super League to be mere foreign players, they were experienced competitors. Today, they weren’t going to play any tricks, they were going to engage in a direct battle. Qiao Mingming, You Ziyu, and other strong attackers would take turns attacking at the net. Fu Biyang and Kong Duojin would score points with quick attacks while blocking at the net. Qin Chunxiao would focus on defense.
Come on, let them defend against each other like tough guys, and let’s see who gives in first.
This kind of match required the players to be fierce and resolute, capable of enduring adversity, possessing a steadfast determination, and the courage to jump at powerful opponents.
Coincidentally, both the Chinese and Russian men’s volleyball teams had this spirit.
But as the match progressed, people noticed that the Chinese team wasn’t at a great disadvantage, as their defense was even stronger than Russia’s.
Qin Chunxiao genuinely wanted to help his team get on the podium before the Tokyo Olympics began. Whether they won a medal or not wasn’t the point; he knew that the morale of a team needed victories as its foundation. If they kept losing to the same team, it would become habitual defeat.
Are they going to kneel before the Russian men’s volleyball team until the Tokyo Olympics? What a joke!
As long as the players could take turns defeating the men’s volleyball teams of Russia, the United States, and Brazil this time, they would have a sense of confidence for more important competitions in the future.
This was also why Newton, on one hand, exaggerated how well everyone played this year and, on the other hand, tried to motivate the team with motivational speeches before the match. He really wanted the Chinese men’s volleyball team to win this match. As a coach, he understood the importance of team spirit building even more than Qin Chunxiao.
Both sides started grinding point by point. Russia had a slightly stronger offense, while China had a slightly stronger defense. It was like steel against steel, and tactics nearly vanished. All that remained were the roaring of fierce men and the ferocious charge of the snow wolves.
China lost the first set to Russia, but in the second set, they launched a comeback. The fierce roars of the players grew louder and louder. Many of them were drenched in sweat, their eyes reddened. They were on the verge of combustion, and their fighting spirit was off the charts.
However, the audience loved it. They loved the Chinese team even more. After all, this team was capable of both flashy plays and tough battles. Occasionally, they even started fights, leading to the highest viewership in a VNL match. They really knew how to entertain.
The only ones remaining calm at this moment were probably the setters from both teams and Qin Chunxiao. Qin Chunxiao maintained his terrifying high level of focus, patiently waiting for signs of Roman’s exhaustion to appear. Scoring against him was difficult; the physical exertion required to play three sets against him wasn’t much different from playing five full sets.
Roman’s reputation as a mythical beast might be grand, but he was ultimately a mortal. Hence, Qin Chunxiao had discussed with Ding Rong before the match and decided to try to exhaust Roman as much as possible.
Nikolai sensed that something was off. He called for two timeouts in the third set to give Roman as much rest as possible and increased the involvement of other attackers in the team.
He also had a promising new player at his disposal – Ruslan, Qin Chunxiao’s teammate from Hamster Club. This young man’s attacks were strong, while he might not be on par with Qiao Mingming, he was quickly catching up to Fu Biyang.
Facing Qin Chunxiao on the court left Ruslan feeling utterly helpless. This player, slightly younger than Qin Chunxiao, used to be taken care of by everyone at Hamster Club. Now, he was left to fend for himself, and the fatherly figure he used to rely on had become the father figure of another team.
Ruslan was feeling incredibly frustrated due to Qin Chunxiao’s defense!
【Both teams are playing their hearts out today. It seems like they’re both determined to make it to the finals.】
【At this stage, it’s time to give it everything. Gua Team has truly surprised us. They’ve brought out the power and spirit of men’s volleyball!】
【Gua Team’s real key to competing against Russia lies in their defense. I, Lang, am the only player on the field who hasn’t roared today, but his presence is huge! He’s saved us on so many occasions.】
【For Russia to win, breaking through defense is the key. For China to win, withstanding Roman is the key.】
【In other words, it comes down to which coach has the stronger ultimate tactics, right?】
Amidst everyone’s incredulous gazes, Qin Chunxiao withstood Roman’s attacks and even managed to free up a hand to receive Roman’s ball. Along with his teammates’ coordination, the Chinese team played a beautifully defensive game today.
However, Qin Chunxiao’s exhaustion was also becoming evident. He was starting to look like he had been doused with water, with his jersey clinging to his body. Sweat dripped from him as he ran, leaving small stains on the floor.
But if someone from his past were here, they would notice one thing.
At the age of 18, Qin Chunxiao had finally regained the peak physical condition and technique he had during his prime. Although he had transitioned a bit later in his previous life and only reached a defensive level of 90 by 2023, which fell short of full mastery, UR-level 90 was still more formidable than SSR-level 100.
On this day, Qin Chunxiao achieved the miracle of “chasing victory without letting the ball touch the ground.” This young player, with his defense, kept Russia outside the gates of the finals, ultimately preventing Russia, aspiring for the championship, from advancing beyond the semifinals.
Mars from the Brazilian team watched this match on-site and said to his assistant, “Misha Qin will become the world’s number one defensive player in the future. His influence on the team is now comparable to that of Krüm back in the day.”
Krüm was a libero that Mars had coached, very active in international matches in the early 2000s, but the child died in a car accident later on.
Now, a libero with a similar style to Krüm’s, yet even more polished, was rising.
“It’s a pity that Italy will end up benefiting from this in the end.”
Mars shook his head. The biggest advantage of the Chinese team now was Qin Chunxiao, but he was also their biggest flaw. The Chinese team had a deep bench of attackers, but when it came to defense, there were few who could fulfill Qin Chunxiao’s role.
After being depleted by the Russian team today, Qin Chunxiao might find it hard to replicate his performance against Italy tomorrow.
Mars’ judgment was accurate. That year, the Chinese men’s volleyball team made it to the VNL gold medal match for the first time, narrowly losing 2:3 to Italy and ending their VNL campaign with a silver medal.
