After defeating the teams from Kazakhstan and South Korea, the Chinese team had already secured a spot in the top four. This meant that they had fulfilled the targets given to Newton by the team leaders before the tournament.
However, when they learned that they would be facing the Iranian team, even the fans were prepared to see the boys lose. Most of the fans who had such thoughts had good intentions behind them.
Mei Xuandong, who hadn’t been updating the race status for a while due to his sister’s issues, organized the information once again.
Mei Xuandong V:
Six members of the Iranian team have participated in the Rio Olympics. Compared to our national team, which was recently promoted from the national youth level to the senior level, they have gained extensive experience from various competitions. Their secondary attack line is particularly strong, and they have consistently performed well.
He then proceeded to type out the past record of the Iranian men’s volleyball team.
This was the top Asian team, the kind that was incredibly challenging to play against.
Other fans had also come to the same realization.
[Our national men’s volleyball team had to rely on young players from the youth team due to what Bureau Zhao did. It’s understandable that they may not be able to match up to the Iranian team.]
[They are a well-prepared team, with an average skill level of 85. Our average level is 65, which is not bad. We’ve come this far relying on a group of SR and SSR cards with high basic attributes.]
[Our national team didn’t have much time to practice at all. After the World Youth Championship, we didn’t even have a chance to rest before being immediately sent to Indonesia. Some veterans in the team still have a history of injuries.]
[This team was put together by Coach Niu under the watchful eyes of provincial team coaches.]
[Don’t be fooled by the easy victories of the previous matches. It’s only because the opponents were weak. Understand that they are not a strong team. They are likely a second-tier international team.]
[I’m already satisfied. It’s not easy for this group of young players to reach the semifinals. Let’s play with joy next time. If we lose, it will be a valuable experience!]
The overall appearance of the national team this year was good. There were two good-looking players of mixed race, Qin Chunxiao of Chinese-Russian descent and Min Yaoyang of Chinese-South American Latino descent. In addition, the athletes ate well, slept well, and exercised every day. Their facial features were not bad, and they could score six points overall.
Who doesn’t love a team with great physical presence?
So, by the time the World Youth Championship was over, they had already gained a wave of fans. However, most of them were new to volleyball and didn’t know the specific rules. Many of them even held the idea of “I don’t like volleyball, but I love him” without much thought. It was common for these new fans to boast, criticize, and attack other players.
This was normal, just like after every Olympics, a large number of fans would flood into popular sports. When the limelight faded, some would leave, while others would learn more about the sport and become genuine sports fans. However, before things settled down, the waves created by the fan base accidentally hurt countless bystanders.
Many long-time fans were frustrated with these newcomers and their fan-style behavior.
Unlike the youngsters in the fan base who only cared about the players’ looks before getting into volleyball, most long-time fans loved volleyball first and gradually paid attention to the new generation of players. They were generally supportive fans.
In team sports, there were not many fans who only focused on one aspect and criticized others. Anyone with a deep understanding of the sport would know that a team’s failure could be attributed to an individual’s performance, but a successful team required the hard work of every team member!
As a result, one of the volleyball fans had just posted a photo of Qin Chunxiao and his partner Li Ling, and was criticized by another fan.
[Li Ling is an idiot. How can there be people who like both Brother Qin and Li Ling? Is he a fan of Brother Qin?]
[Competitive sports bring out the worst in people. Li Ling is holding his brother back and laughing all day long. Shameless! These so-called supportive fans are brain-dead. They can be forgiven. Moreover, Li Ling has a promising future. Bah! It’s clear that Li Ling is the one pestering my brother! Not only is he lacking in skills, but also lacks enthusiasm!]
This older fan, who always liked to share information about volleyball players from various backgrounds, expressed his thoughts: It feels like being a dog enjoying a walk and suddenly being kicked by a passing bear cub.
Where did this brainless brat come from?
Fortunately, at that moment, the real Qin Chunxiao responded to each comment and directly blocked the fan.
Being blocked by the fan’s idol was a devastating blow for the fans.
All the long-time fans: At this moment, the Xiaoqin team is like the urban management that maintains the city’s appearance in our eyes, radiating great brilliance and righteousness.
The 2017 National Youth Team had a strong camaraderie and had weathered many challenges together. They were extremely united. Even in the past, when Luo He and Liu Yuelou didn’t perform well, everyone stood together to protect their own, expressing their opinions without hesitation and suppressing the unhealthy trends that were about to engulf the men’s volleyball team.
With the guidance of Mei Xuandong, a devoted fan, the atmosphere surrounding the men’s volleyball team during the Asian Championships was described as pure and clear. Everyone focused on the game and supported the players with determination. It didn’t matter how talented they were, their future was undoubtedly promising, and everyone could see that they were making progress!
Newton and the players had even bigger ambitions than the netizens.
They all aimed to win the championship and reclaim the honor lost by the men’s volleyball team last time.
Newton: “Iran is a team with physical attributes similar to those of Europe and the United States. After all, they are already tall and have fair complexions. The players are generally very strong, and their skills and tactics are quite good. Their overall quality is impressive.”
Newton glanced at everyone: “Their technique is not rough at all. Do you understand what I mean?”
All the rugged men looked ashamed.
“We also want to refine our technique. Isn’t there enough time?”
“That’s right, we were supposed to have specialized training, but you called us for the Asian Championships.”
“We’re still young players.”
The youth team was full of rough guys walking around. The not rough Qin Chunxiao was still a reborn version. Before he was reborn, he was also very rough at the age of 16.
Newton glanced at them: “Youth is not an excuse. Don’t you still want to win after being promoted to the senior team? Then think about it now. Your physical condition is at most on par with the opponents, and your skills are not as good. How do you expect to win?”
Think about it, you brats!
Qiao Mingming: “Attack!”
Aizmat: “Block at the net!”
Ding Rong: “Deceive and block!”
You Ziyu: “Use serves to widen the point difference!”
Qin Chunxiao: “Defend and counterattack!”
Li Ling: “Score from unexpected places!”
The rest of the team members raised their hands one after another and shared their respective strengths. Jiang Xiaohai could tell that all of these individuals had special skills, but unfortunately, many of the rough men’s special skills were only at level 50.
After all, for them, relying on talent alone was enough to dominate domestic competitions.
Provincial team coaches: Why else would they be our treasures? Newton, you %￥#&@*…
They were not perfect, their skills were still immature, and they were too young. Many of them were far from reaching their peak physical condition. For example, Fu Biyang’s biceps were not smaller than his face at his peak, but now they were only slightly thicker than his thighs. Captain Qiao hadn’t fully tapped into his potential to evolve into a quasi-sacred beast.
But their will to win was unmatched.
This was the advantage of constantly facing challenges from the beginning of their youth competition. This group of individuals had no fear of difficulties at all.
Being young meant that if they lost this time, there would always be another chance, and if they won, they would gain a lot.
Mao Xunfeng also took out three pairs of sunglasses and handed them to Qiao Mingming, Kong Duojin, and You Ziyu, saying, “Wear these when you go out on stage tomorrow.”
Qiao Mingming asked Newton honestly, “Coach, can we wear sunglasses when we enter the field?”
Newton took out a pair of sunglasses and replied, “Sure, if you want, I can wear them too.”
Qiao Mingming immediately made up his mind, “Okay, let’s show off our momentum when we enter the arena tomorrow!”
He was clearly an honest kid who needed Du Xiaofeng to protect him during fights, but when it came to playing, he always projected the aura of a big brother.
On the other hand, Ding Rong, who was the most powerful, showed disgust and said, “Yeah~. Xiaozi, it’s better for you to handle all these formalities. Playing a game is playing a game, and there’s no need for these rituals.”
That being said, on the second day, Qiao Mingming, Newton, You Ziyu, and Kong Duojin still wore their sunglasses and led the team into the arena with an aggressive attitude.
The audience, who were already familiar with the three towering figures of the Chinese team, applauded skillfully as they entered the arena.
Fans, regardless of whether they were Chinese or foreign, enjoyed watching the entire spectacle, and this year’s Chinese team satisfied their appetite.
The Iranian team observed the Chinese men’s volleyball team, who appeared like gangsters, with a dignified expression.
In this Asian Championships, the Chinese team was a dark horse, advancing to the top four with surprising victories. The Iranian team had watched their games in advance and knew that this team had a tough style.
The libero of the Iranian team flinched and said, “Fortunately, volleyball is played across the net, otherwise I’m afraid these people would switch from playing ball to hitting each other during the game.”
Among the three major ball sports, apart from volleyball, which is played with a net, basketball and football involve direct physical contact, so it’s inevitable that some violent incidents may occur.
Football, of course, has its share of shoving and tackling. As for basketball, NBA fights can be more intense than the game itself. Jordan had his ribs broken by elbows, and players have even had their brawls televised. The Chinese men’s basketball team has also had their fair share of fights in international competitions, and their record is unbeaten, earning them a reputation in Asia.
The libero of the Iranian team followed basketball closely. In his opinion, the Chinese men’s volleyball team’s combat effectiveness this year was no less than that of the men’s basketball team. They all seemed capable. For example, Min Yaoyang, who had Latino blood, and the tall Kong Duojin.
The deputy coach of the Iranian team reminded them, “They won’t fight unless they want to get suspended. Pay attention to those who may not seem aggressive, like their setter Ding Rong. He’s skilled at deceiving, and blocking him is like dealing with a cunning fox. And don’t underestimate Misha Qin. He may be petite, but his defensive abilities deserve attention.”
Everyone on the Iranian team took the warning seriously.
Setting aside the assessment of their combat abilities, both teams thoroughly researched their opponents before the game and studied tactics.
At this moment, Newton announced the starting lineup, saying, “Qiao Mingming, Ding Rong, Kong Duojin, You Ziyu, Fu Biyang, Qin Chunxiao. The six of you will start, with libero Du Xiaofeng on standby.”
Upon hearing the lineup, Chang Xiaole reacted, saying, “This lineup is very aggressive, capable of launching a five-point attack.”
The term “five-point attack” referred to a tactic where, among the six players on the field, all except the one receiving the first pass could attack.
Qiao Mingming, the primary attacker of the national team, was a given. Kong Duojin and Fu Biyang were also strong offensive players in the secondary offense. Ding Rong, who had played as the main attacker before becoming the setter, was no slouch. And of course, there was Qin Chunxiao, a 3D player who excelled in reception, defense, and offense.
With a good first pass, there was no need for a second pass to set up an attack, and the attacker could jump and spike the ball. This was the first type of five-point attack. If the second pass was executed, Qin Chunxiao, who received the first pass, also possessed offensive capabilities. That was the second type of five-point attack.
Excluding Qin Chunxiao, the lineup’s height was also impressive, with an average height of two meters. Their blocking ability was solid. With the addition of the master server You Ziyu, this was the team’s strongest lineup.
In this match, Iran wore white and red jerseys, while the Chinese team donned red and yellow jerseys resembling tomato scrambled eggs.
Qin Chunxiao put on his knee pads and his iconic blue headband. The combination of red, yellow, and blue on his body appeared cute and festive in the eyes of others.
Newton stood up and declared, “Ready to play!”
He and the players on the bench raised their hands, and the starters exchanged high-fives with their teammates and coaches before sprinting onto the field.
When it was Qin Chunxiao’s turn, Mao Xunfeng, who was next to Newton, instinctively lowered his hand. Newton promptly raised the boy’s hand back to its original height.
Qin Chunxiao walked onto the court without changing his expression.
Mao Xunfeng subtly glanced at the coach and wondered if Lao Niu had a slight fear of Xiaozai before. Was Xiaozai’s presence really that intimidating?
Lao Niu also cast a subtle glance at Mao Xunfeng, thinking that this kid still lacked experience in competitions. As a seasoned setter, he knew that the first pass was crucial for a setter.
Iran served.
Their server happened to be Captain Mallard.
Qin Chunxiao’s eyes brightened as he followed the opponent’s energetic jump.
The ball’s speed was impressive, the fastest serve he had encountered in the Asian Championships.
He lightly leaped like a bird, waving his left arm to direct the ball to Ding Rong, who was already in mid-air. Ding Rong executed a swift and beautiful jump set, and Fu Biyang soared up to deliver a powerful spike straight to the opponent’s side.
The Chinese team scored the first point with a fast break!
Mallard smiled and remarked, “Truly worthy of the birthplace of the quick attack tactic. This team looks much stronger than the previous one.”
The Iranian team failed to score with their serve, and the ball went back to China.
You Ziyu stepped up to the serving position and flashed a smile at the opposing team’s main attacker, revealing his sharp canine teeth.
Bang!
You Ziyu’s signature high serve for Hubei Men’s Volleyball Team made its appearance.
The referee signaled that the ball was out of bounds.
You Ziyu felt embarrassed and said, “I aimed for the corner, but unfortunately, it wasn’t accurate.”
His teammates consoled him, “It’s alright, kid. You’re always off target when serving to the corners. We’re used to it.”
“Squid, when you go back, work on improving your serving accuracy. Otherwise, next time, stick to more reliable jump serves or float serves.”
Now it was the opposing team’s turn to serve. Their opposite hitter, Kalumi, was serving.
With a skillful jump serve, Qin Chunxiao squatted down and received the ball, Ding Rong set the ball again, but the opponents quickly read the trajectory of the ball, resulting in Fu Biyang’s quick attack being blocked.
Qin Chunxiao lunged forward, retrieved the ball that was blocked by the opponents, and without waiting for the setter to act, Qiao Mingming directly jumped and executed a powerful spike!
The forceful volleyball smashed onto the ground, and the referee signaled 2-1.
Qiao Mingming and Fu Biyang chest bumped and roared in anger.
Rough players had their own rough playing style. They possess strength and speed, so they could still score points, right?
The only issue was that they shout too aggressively, especially when Fu Biyang angrily roared at the opponents on the other side of the net, causing their opposite hitter to take a step back in fear.
Then the referee blew the whistle and issued a warning to the Chinese team.
Jiang Xiaohai silently opened the rulebook to page six, which clearly stated: for minor misconduct, the referee would issue a warning, and if it escalated further, a yellow card would be given, resulting in a loss of 1 point. Beyond the yellow card, there is the red card, which directly disqualifies the offending player for one set.
So, generally speaking, when players celebrate with a roar, they deliberately turned away from their opponents to avoid being misunderstood as “intimidation.”
Qiao Mingming and Fu Biyang probably didn’t mean to intimidate their opponents, but their size and expressions were too ferocious, making it possible for the referee to interpret it that way.
Chang Xiaole muttered, “I remember there was another athlete in a different sport who received a warning because his smile looked particularly terrifying, right?”
Newton replied, “Are you talking about Duncan? His appearance can be easily misunderstood when he smiles.”
Now there were more players from the Chinese team who could be easily misunderstood. Newton couldn’t explain to the referee, “Actually, these big guys are all weaklings, far less threatening than the shortest one.” He could only sigh and accept it.
After defeating the teams from Kazakhstan and South Korea, the Chinese team had already secured a spot in the top four. This meant that they had fulfilled the targets given to Newton by the team leaders before the tournament.
However, when they learned that they would be facing the Iranian team, even the fans were prepared to see the boys lose. Most of the fans who had such thoughts had good intentions behind them.
Mei Xuandong, who hadn’t been updating the race status for a while due to his sister’s issues, organized the information once again.
Mei Xuandong V:
Six members of the Iranian team have participated in the Rio Olympics. Compared to our national team, which was recently promoted from the national youth level to the senior level, they have gained extensive experience from various competitions. Their secondary attack line is particularly strong, and they have consistently performed well.
He then proceeded to type out the past record of the Iranian men’s volleyball team.
This was the top Asian team, the kind that was incredibly challenging to play against.
Other fans had also come to the same realization.
[Our national men’s volleyball team had to rely on young players from the youth team due to what Bureau Zhao did. It’s understandable that they may not be able to match up to the Iranian team.]
[They are a well-prepared team, with an average skill level of 85. Our average level is 65, which is not bad. We’ve come this far relying on a group of SR and SSR cards with high basic attributes.]
[Our national team didn’t have much time to practice at all. After the World Youth Championship, we didn’t even have a chance to rest before being immediately sent to Indonesia. Some veterans in the team still have a history of injuries.]
[This team was put together by Coach Niu under the watchful eyes of provincial team coaches.]
[Don’t be fooled by the easy victories of the previous matches. It’s only because the opponents were weak. Understand that they are not a strong team. They are likely a second-tier international team.]
[I’m already satisfied. It’s not easy for this group of young players to reach the semifinals. Let’s play with joy next time. If we lose, it will be a valuable experience!]
The overall appearance of the national team this year was good. There were two good-looking players of mixed race, Qin Chunxiao of Chinese-Russian descent and Min Yaoyang of Chinese-South American Latino descent. In addition, the athletes ate well, slept well, and exercised every day. Their facial features were not bad, and they could score six points overall.
Who doesn’t love a team with great physical presence?
So, by the time the World Youth Championship was over, they had already gained a wave of fans. However, most of them were new to volleyball and didn’t know the specific rules. Many of them even held the idea of “I don’t like volleyball, but I love him” without much thought. It was common for these new fans to boast, criticize, and attack other players.
This was normal, just like after every Olympics, a large number of fans would flood into popular sports. When the limelight faded, some would leave, while others would learn more about the sport and become genuine sports fans. However, before things settled down, the waves created by the fan base accidentally hurt countless bystanders.
Many long-time fans were frustrated with these newcomers and their fan-style behavior.
Unlike the youngsters in the fan base who only cared about the players’ looks before getting into volleyball, most long-time fans loved volleyball first and gradually paid attention to the new generation of players. They were generally supportive fans.
In team sports, there were not many fans who only focused on one aspect and criticized others. Anyone with a deep understanding of the sport would know that a team’s failure could be attributed to an individual’s performance, but a successful team required the hard work of every team member!
As a result, one of the volleyball fans had just posted a photo of Qin Chunxiao and his partner Li Ling, and was criticized by another fan.
[Li Ling is an idiot. How can there be people who like both Brother Qin and Li Ling? Is he a fan of Brother Qin?]
[Competitive sports bring out the worst in people. Li Ling is holding his brother back and laughing all day long. Shameless! These so-called supportive fans are brain-dead. They can be forgiven. Moreover, Li Ling has a promising future. Bah! It’s clear that Li Ling is the one pestering my brother! Not only is he lacking in skills, but also lacks enthusiasm!]
This older fan, who always liked to share information about volleyball players from various backgrounds, expressed his thoughts: It feels like being a dog enjoying a walk and suddenly being kicked by a passing bear cub.
Where did this brainless brat come from?
Fortunately, at that moment, the real Qin Chunxiao responded to each comment and directly blocked the fan.
Being blocked by the fan’s idol was a devastating blow for the fans.
All the long-time fans: At this moment, the Xiaoqin team is like the urban management that maintains the city’s appearance in our eyes, radiating great brilliance and righteousness.
The 2017 National Youth Team had a strong camaraderie and had weathered many challenges together. They were extremely united. Even in the past, when Luo He and Liu Yuelou didn’t perform well, everyone stood together to protect their own, expressing their opinions without hesitation and suppressing the unhealthy trends that were about to engulf the men’s volleyball team.
With the guidance of Mei Xuandong, a devoted fan, the atmosphere surrounding the men’s volleyball team during the Asian Championships was described as pure and clear. Everyone focused on the game and supported the players with determination. It didn’t matter how talented they were, their future was undoubtedly promising, and everyone could see that they were making progress!
Newton and the players had even bigger ambitions than the netizens.
They all aimed to win the championship and reclaim the honor lost by the men’s volleyball team last time.
Newton: “Iran is a team with physical attributes similar to those of Europe and the United States. After all, they are already tall and have fair complexions. The players are generally very strong, and their skills and tactics are quite good. Their overall quality is impressive.”
Newton glanced at everyone: “Their technique is not rough at all. Do you understand what I mean?”
All the rugged men looked ashamed.
“We also want to refine our technique. Isn’t there enough time?”
“That’s right, we were supposed to have specialized training, but you called us for the Asian Championships.”
“We’re still young players.”
The youth team was full of rough guys walking around. The not rough Qin Chunxiao was still a reborn version. Before he was reborn, he was also very rough at the age of 16.
Newton glanced at them: “Youth is not an excuse. Don’t you still want to win after being promoted to the senior team? Then think about it now. Your physical condition is at most on par with the opponents, and your skills are not as good. How do you expect to win?”
Think about it, you brats!
Qiao Mingming: “Attack!”
Aizmat: “Block at the net!”
Ding Rong: “Deceive and block!”
You Ziyu: “Use serves to widen the point difference!”
Qin Chunxiao: “Defend and counterattack!”
Li Ling: “Score from unexpected places!”
The rest of the team members raised their hands one after another and shared their respective strengths. Jiang Xiaohai could tell that all of these individuals had special skills, but unfortunately, many of the rough men’s special skills were only at level 50.
After all, for them, relying on talent alone was enough to dominate domestic competitions.
Provincial team coaches: Why else would they be our treasures? Newton, you %￥#&@*…
They were not perfect, their skills were still immature, and they were too young. Many of them were far from reaching their peak physical condition. For example, Fu Biyang’s biceps were not smaller than his face at his peak, but now they were only slightly thicker than his thighs. Captain Qiao hadn’t fully tapped into his potential to evolve into a quasi-sacred beast.
But their will to win was unmatched.
This was the advantage of constantly facing challenges from the beginning of their youth competition. This group of individuals had no fear of difficulties at all.
Being young meant that if they lost this time, there would always be another chance, and if they won, they would gain a lot.
Mao Xunfeng also took out three pairs of sunglasses and handed them to Qiao Mingming, Kong Duojin, and You Ziyu, saying, “Wear these when you go out on stage tomorrow.”
Qiao Mingming asked Newton honestly, “Coach, can we wear sunglasses when we enter the field?”
Newton took out a pair of sunglasses and replied, “Sure, if you want, I can wear them too.”
Qiao Mingming immediately made up his mind, “Okay, let’s show off our momentum when we enter the arena tomorrow!”
He was clearly an honest kid who needed Du Xiaofeng to protect him during fights, but when it came to playing, he always projected the aura of a big brother.
On the other hand, Ding Rong, who was the most powerful, showed disgust and said, “Yeah~. Xiaozi, it’s better for you to handle all these formalities. Playing a game is playing a game, and there’s no need for these rituals.”
That being said, on the second day, Qiao Mingming, Newton, You Ziyu, and Kong Duojin still wore their sunglasses and led the team into the arena with an aggressive attitude.
The audience, who were already familiar with the three towering figures of the Chinese team, applauded skillfully as they entered the arena.
Fans, regardless of whether they were Chinese or foreign, enjoyed watching the entire spectacle, and this year’s Chinese team satisfied their appetite.
The Iranian team observed the Chinese men’s volleyball team, who appeared like gangsters, with a dignified expression.
In this Asian Championships, the Chinese team was a dark horse, advancing to the top four with surprising victories. The Iranian team had watched their games in advance and knew that this team had a tough style.
The libero of the Iranian team flinched and said, “Fortunately, volleyball is played across the net, otherwise I’m afraid these people would switch from playing ball to hitting each other during the game.”
Among the three major ball sports, apart from volleyball, which is played with a net, basketball and football involve direct physical contact, so it’s inevitable that some violent incidents may occur.
Football, of course, has its share of shoving and tackling. As for basketball, NBA fights can be more intense than the game itself. Jordan had his ribs broken by elbows, and players have even had their brawls televised. The Chinese men’s basketball team has also had their fair share of fights in international competitions, and their record is unbeaten, earning them a reputation in Asia.
The libero of the Iranian team followed basketball closely. In his opinion, the Chinese men’s volleyball team’s combat effectiveness this year was no less than that of the men’s basketball team. They all seemed capable. For example, Min Yaoyang, who had Latino blood, and the tall Kong Duojin.
The deputy coach of the Iranian team reminded them, “They won’t fight unless they want to get suspended. Pay attention to those who may not seem aggressive, like their setter Ding Rong. He’s skilled at deceiving, and blocking him is like dealing with a cunning fox. And don’t underestimate Misha Qin. He may be petite, but his defensive abilities deserve attention.”
Everyone on the Iranian team took the warning seriously.
Setting aside the assessment of their combat abilities, both teams thoroughly researched their opponents before the game and studied tactics.
At this moment, Newton announced the starting lineup, saying, “Qiao Mingming, Ding Rong, Kong Duojin, You Ziyu, Fu Biyang, Qin Chunxiao. The six of you will start, with libero Du Xiaofeng on standby.”
Upon hearing the lineup, Chang Xiaole reacted, saying, “This lineup is very aggressive, capable of launching a five-point attack.”
The term “five-point attack” referred to a tactic where, among the six players on the field, all except the one receiving the first pass could attack.
Qiao Mingming, the primary attacker of the national team, was a given. Kong Duojin and Fu Biyang were also strong offensive players in the secondary offense. Ding Rong, who had played as the main attacker before becoming the setter, was no slouch. And of course, there was Qin Chunxiao, a 3D player who excelled in reception, defense, and offense.
With a good first pass, there was no need for a second pass to set up an attack, and the attacker could jump and spike the ball. This was the first type of five-point attack. If the second pass was executed, Qin Chunxiao, who received the first pass, also possessed offensive capabilities. That was the second type of five-point attack.
Excluding Qin Chunxiao, the lineup’s height was also impressive, with an average height of two meters. Their blocking ability was solid. With the addition of the master server You Ziyu, this was the team’s strongest lineup.
In this match, Iran wore white and red jerseys, while the Chinese team donned red and yellow jerseys resembling tomato scrambled eggs.
Qin Chunxiao put on his knee pads and his iconic blue headband. The combination of red, yellow, and blue on his body appeared cute and festive in the eyes of others.
Newton stood up and declared, “Ready to play!”
He and the players on the bench raised their hands, and the starters exchanged high-fives with their teammates and coaches before sprinting onto the field.
When it was Qin Chunxiao’s turn, Mao Xunfeng, who was next to Newton, instinctively lowered his hand. Newton promptly raised the boy’s hand back to its original height.
Qin Chunxiao walked onto the court without changing his expression.
Mao Xunfeng subtly glanced at the coach and wondered if Lao Niu had a slight fear of Xiaozai before. Was Xiaozai’s presence really that intimidating?
Lao Niu also cast a subtle glance at Mao Xunfeng, thinking that this kid still lacked experience in competitions. As a seasoned setter, he knew that the first pass was crucial for a setter.
Iran served.
Their server happened to be Captain Mallard.
Qin Chunxiao’s eyes brightened as he followed the opponent’s energetic jump.
The ball’s speed was impressive, the fastest serve he had encountered in the Asian Championships.
He lightly leaped like a bird, waving his left arm to direct the ball to Ding Rong, who was already in mid-air. Ding Rong executed a swift and beautiful jump set, and Fu Biyang soared up to deliver a powerful spike straight to the opponent’s side.
The Chinese team scored the first point with a fast break!
Mallard smiled and remarked, “Truly worthy of the birthplace of the quick attack tactic. This team looks much stronger than the previous one.”
The Iranian team failed to score with their serve, and the ball went back to China.
You Ziyu stepped up to the serving position and flashed a smile at the opposing team’s main attacker, revealing his sharp canine teeth.
Bang!
You Ziyu’s signature high serve for Hubei Men’s Volleyball Team made its appearance.
The referee signaled that the ball was out of bounds.
You Ziyu felt embarrassed and said, “I aimed for the corner, but unfortunately, it wasn’t accurate.”
His teammates consoled him, “It’s alright, kid. You’re always off target when serving to the corners. We’re used to it.”
“Squid, when you go back, work on improving your serving accuracy. Otherwise, next time, stick to more reliable jump serves or float serves.”
Now it was the opposing team’s turn to serve. Their opposite hitter, Kalumi, was serving.
With a skillful jump serve, Qin Chunxiao squatted down and received the ball, Ding Rong set the ball again, but the opponents quickly read the trajectory of the ball, resulting in Fu Biyang’s quick attack being blocked.
Qin Chunxiao lunged forward, retrieved the ball that was blocked by the opponents, and without waiting for the setter to act, Qiao Mingming directly jumped and executed a powerful spike!
The forceful volleyball smashed onto the ground, and the referee signaled 2-1.
Qiao Mingming and Fu Biyang chest bumped and roared in anger.
Rough players had their own rough playing style. They possess strength and speed, so they could still score points, right?
The only issue was that they shout too aggressively, especially when Fu Biyang angrily roared at the opponents on the other side of the net, causing their opposite hitter to take a step back in fear.
Then the referee blew the whistle and issued a warning to the Chinese team.
Jiang Xiaohai silently opened the rulebook to page six, which clearly stated: for minor misconduct, the referee would issue a warning, and if it escalated further, a yellow card would be given, resulting in a loss of 1 point. Beyond the yellow card, there is the red card, which directly disqualifies the offending player for one set.
So, generally speaking, when players celebrate with a roar, they deliberately turned away from their opponents to avoid being misunderstood as “intimidation.”
Qiao Mingming and Fu Biyang probably didn’t mean to intimidate their opponents, but their size and expressions were too ferocious, making it possible for the referee to interpret it that way.
Chang Xiaole muttered, “I remember there was another athlete in a different sport who received a warning because his smile looked particularly terrifying, right?”
Newton replied, “Are you talking about Duncan? His appearance can be easily misunderstood when he smiles.”
Now there were more players from the Chinese team who could be easily misunderstood. Newton couldn’t explain to the referee, “Actually, these big guys are all weaklings, far less threatening than the shortest one.” He could only sigh and accept it.
