Chapter 9
When she and the rest of her teammates walked into the gym to start doing their warm-ups, Allie looked at the bleachers. Her mom was there. She was sitting with Kate and Nikki, a few rows behind Allie’s team’s bench.
When they saw Allie looking at them, Kate, Nikki, and Mom pulled out a white sign. It read, “GO ALLIE!” in blue and gold, the school’s colors.
For the first time, Allie started to feel like that day’s match would be different. Before, she would have worried that Nikki would see her mess up or that she would make a mistake and disappoint her team. Today, though, Allie was happy and excited to see her friends and mom there to cheer her on.
She thought about the advice all three people had given her. I can do it, Allie thought. I know I can.
The first four games of the five-game match were very close. Allie’s team won the first and fourth games. The other team won the second and third games.
Allie and her teammates really wanted to end their season with a win. It was their last eighth-grade game. Plus, it was the last game they’d ever play in that gym, where they’d played all through middle school.
In the fifth game, the score was 22–20. Allie’s team was winning. And it was Allie’s turn in the rotation to hit.
Three points, thought Allie. I have to hang in here for three points. I can do it.
It was Allie’s team’s turn to serve. The first serve went over the net.
Two players from the other team yelled, “Mine!” But both of them backed away, expecting the other girl to hit the ball. It hit the floor between the two girls.
Allie’s team cheered. The other team’s coach called for a time-out. Then both squads jogged to their benches.
Allie took a deep breath. One point down, she thought. Just two more to go.