Kurai exhales and tosses the ball high. Sprinting forward and blitzing it across the net. Rafael shifted himself to the right, reaching out to bring the ball up as it smashes into his shoulder, then out of bounds.
USA 22-20 Brazil.
"We find ourselves at the end of the second set, Team USA's still growing strong, but after a substitution, Team Brazil's lost Lucas Almeida in exchange for the more experienced Luiz Vallaha…"
"And only because of that has Brazil been able to keep pace with the USA, but they've been behind this whole time… and now it's as if Brazil's defensive line is struggling!"
Kurai tosses the ball and slams it over the net. Rafael diving forward and pancaking it. Diego sets it backwards to Luiz, who jumps to spike. Rafael rushing over in case of a block. Luiz smashes the ball as Max appears, blocking it. The ball full speed smashes Rafael in the face, sending him to the floor.
USA 23-20 Brazil.
Luiz lands and Diego rushes over.
"You good, Rafael?" Rafael nods silently, wiping his nose.
"Think so… yeah"
"That… looked like it hurt-"
"Definently"
Kurai tosses the ball, floating it over the net. Bruno reaches forward. The ball floats up suddenly. 'Too far forward-' The ball hits him in the arm, then bouncing onto the court.
USA 24-20: USA Set Point
Kurai tosses the ball high and jumps forward. Rafael taking a deep breath and focusing. The ball flies over the net. Something suddenly runs down his nose. He wipes it to see blood as Kurai's serve smacks his dead in the face, sending him to the ground, then hitting the court.
USA 25-20 Brazil - USA takes second set
Rafael sits up, his nose bleeding as he groans. Bruno and Diego running over.
"You good, man?" Rafael plugs his nose with the back of his hand.
"I think so…? It won't stop though…" Bruno looks up, walking with Rafael to the bench.
"...Yeah…" Bruno looks down, a tear running down Rafael's cheek.
"And… I was just starting to have fun…"
"HEY!" Rafael perks up, wiping his face dry, turning to look back at the court. Kurai standing there. "Didn't mean to do that, sorry!"
Rafael smirks and chuckles a bit. Walking to the bench.
"What's this? Brazil's Libero, Rafael Silva has been taken off the court with a Bloody… very bloody nose it looks like"
"After taking Kurai's serve to the face, it doesn't shock me… can't help but feel bad for the lad"
"...Yeah, what will Brazil do for the third set after losing 2 consecutive sets?"
"...I'm not sure"
Kurai sits down on the bench, Sean taking a swig of water. Looking down at Kurai and exhaling.
"Don't let it get to you, Kurai… it happens" Kurai nods, rubbing his own knee.
"I know I know… we all deal with it sometimes… but I could've easily stopped-" Coach Copley walks over.
"Okay Team, we're entering the third set, and I don't want anyone to lose focus here, this is important, victory here is a gold medal… Kurai, it wasn't your fault, it was just bad timing, keep that in mind and don't stop" Kurai nods.
The Medic inspects both sides of Rafael's bleeding nose.
"With something like this, I'm going to have to keep him off the court for the rest of the game, Sorry Coach"
Brazil's Coach exhales and nods.
"Got it, thanks… now… don't let it get to you, Rafael, focus on stopping that nose bleed" He turns to the rest of the team, pulling out a clipboard. "Okay Team, I'll be removing Rafael and Fillipe, I'll be bringing in Michael and Dnaius. We'll put them in the front with Lucas, so when in frontal rotation, we'll have our 3 strongest blockers in the front at the same time… and change our strategy to a shift block, always keeping eyes on their Setter and their main cannon, Sean… got it?" the team nods as Michael and Dnaius stand up.
"Yes sir!"
"And there's the whistle! That signals the start of the third set!"
"Yeah, The US team is currently in the lead with 2 sets to none against Brazil's B team"
"If Brazil doesn't step up, and the US wins this set, then Brazil loses Gold!"
"Exactly, Brazil's swapped out Rafael and Fillipe and brought in two veterans of the team, Michael Walsh and Dnaius Miller from the bench, two giant Middle blockers!"
"Definently, and Team US has switched their starting rotation to put Kurai on the serve line, they serve first"