The conference tournament bracket was posted on Sunday afternoon, and Leo stared at it for eleven minutes without blinking.
Crestmont was the second seed. Their path to the championship was clear: semifinals against the third seed, then finals against either the first seed or an upset winner. Win two matches, and they'd qualify for the national tournament for the first time in eleven years.
Leo had circled the dates on his calendar. He'd packed his bag. He'd iced his knee, stretched his shoulders, visualized every serve, every set, every spike.
But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong.
Kai found him in the gym that evening, alone, serving against the wall.
“You're supposed to be resting,” Kai said.
“I am resting. I'm just also serving.”
“That's not how
