Chapter 351: Campus Academic System (23)

The Preliminary Tournament does not count as the Official League; the Official League does not open until mid-December.

The Preliminary Tournament is similar to the selection trials held by each province, consisting of three rounds in total: the first round is the District Group Stage, where the top three teams in points for both men's and women's groups advance to the second round, the City Tournament, and likewise, the top three there advance to the third round, the Provincial Tournament.

Only the teams that place in the top three in the third round are eligible to qualify for the National League.

First High School had bad luck with the draw this year; both the men's and women's volleyball teams were placed in the Death Group, and the women's team had even worse luck, facing the District Runner-up and City Fifth Place, Wenli High School, in the very first match.

Last year, the two teams didn't meet until the very end, and the final match was neck-and-neck, with the First High School women's team narrowly winning by a two-point advantage.

Unexpectedly, they met in the very first match this year.

This brought no small amount of pressure to the players on the First High School women's volleyball team.

Someone said, "Don't be afraid! We have Xie Yang this year."

"That's right! We have Xie Yang!"

"Almost forgot about this human weapon of mass destruction!"

"……"

Originally, there was no plan to have Xie Yang play in the first round, but the strength of Wenli High School's women's volleyball team could not be underestimated; for the sake of caution, Teacher Liu deliberated and adjusted the team.

Xie Yang was prominently included in the lineup.

This was exactly what she wanted.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon; she had heard from the girls in her class earlier that they had asked the head teacher for leave and were coming to cheer her on during the last self-study period.

She wanted to finish the battle quickly and end the match before four o'clock.

That way, she wouldn't have to listen to that ear-piercing cheerleader song.

The First High School lineup walked onto the court with their heads held high.

With Xie Yang on the team, everyone was full of confidence.

But the Wenli High School women's volleyball players burst out laughing.

"Hey, what's up with you guys at First High this year? Why let someone so short be the main attacker? Are you unable to pick anyone out? Do you want us at Wenli to lend you a few?"

"Hahahaha—"

The Wenli High School women's volleyball players laughed unscrupulously, making the audience in the stands realize something was wrong.

Among them, besides the teachers and students who came to cheer for their respective school teams, there were also many sports teachers and players from other schools whose matches had not yet come up.

"The First High School lineup is a bit strange this year."

"It's not that strange; the main attacker who led the team to the Provincial Tournament last year graduated, so they are probably in a transition period and can't pick out good talent. After all, it's First High School; if you're picking students for math, physics, or chemistry competitions, you can grab a handful, but their sports programs are generally a bit weak."

"Even in a transition period, they shouldn't let someone who lacks height be the main attacker."

"Exactly, look at Wenli; I heard their main attacker this year is 179 cm, a freshman recruited as a sports specialist. Then look at First High; they are more than a head shorter than her, pfft!"

"It looks like First High School's multi-year streak as District Champion will be broken this year."

"What a pity for First High School!"

"This is good news for us!"

"Hard to say, the overall strength of the Wenli women's volleyball team is even stronger than last year."

"First High is done for; keep a close eye on Wenli, record their tactics, and go back to review them."

Before the match even started, the audience was already one-sided.

This was also because there were few First High School students on the scene; except for the sports students from other events who came to watch and cheer, the other First High School students were still in class at school, and the earliest they could rush over was after the main afternoon classes were finished.

Unlike Wenli High School, which, in addition to teachers and students from the sports department, had an official cheerleading squad composed of dance specialists who started performing aerobics and shouting inspiring slogans with great momentum as soon as they arrived.

The atmosphere of victory leaned heavily toward Wenli High School.

Just then, a loud cheering sound that completely drowned out the Wenli cheerleading squad rang out abruptly:

"Xie Yang, Xie Yang, a fierce tiger descends the mountain! Whoever comes to challenge, we'll knock them all down!"

"Xie Yang, Xie Yang, sharp and unstoppable! Killing the whole court, the strongest on earth!"

Xie Yang, who was warming up and waiting for the match to start, almost stumbled.

After standing steady, she looked at the audience in disbelief.

She saw a sprinter who had a cousin in the Experimental Class and often came to the Experimental Class to hang out, grinning and raising a megaphone he had pre-recorded.

"Go Xie Yang! The cheerleading squad from your class asked me to bring this to cheer you on!"

"……"

No, no way?

Is this kind of operation even possible?

This is even more socially mortifying for her than them dancing and shouting!

Watching Xie Yang's expression crack, her teammates laughed like crazy, one by one mimicking the chant:

"Xie Yang, Xie Yang, a fierce tiger descends the mountain!"

"Xie Yang, Xie Yang, the strongest on earth!"

"Xie Yang, Xie Yang, killing the whole court!"

"Hahahaha..."

"……"

Xie Yang felt life was meaningless and just wanted to end this match as quickly as possible.

That was what she thought, and that was what she did.

"25-8, First High School wins!"

"25-9, First High School wins!"

"25-4, First High School wins!"

For three consecutive sets, First High School took the battle with a wide point gap, ultimately winning the match with a 3-0 sweep.

The Wenli girls' volleyball team, having mentally prepared to play all five sets and for each one to be a fierce, grueling battle, was completely stunned by Xie Yang's fierce, direct style of play.

The final whistle blew, and the court fell into a deep silence.

Aside from the huffing and puffing of the volleyball players, there was no other sound.

It was so quiet that one could even hear the thumping heartbeats of every player and the sound of sweat dripping onto the floor.

The Wenli girls' volleyball players and their coach stared blankly at Xie Yang, who was wiping her sweat with a Towel on the other side of the net, unable to believe that this girl, whom they had mocked before the match for being at least a head shorter than them, was actually First High School's dark horse this year.

How many points did she score by herself?

She scored at least fifteen points in every set.

What made them break down the most was the third set; she crushed them by 15 points on serves alone.

"Whoosh—"

After a brief silence, the court erupted in loud applause and cheers.

The teachers and students of First High School were jumping for joy.

"Well done! Well done!"

Teacher Liu smiled so hard his eyes disappeared.

He just knew Xie Yang was a promising talent!

It was worth it that he had pestered the principal to bring her onto the school team the moment he first saw the video of Xie Yang playing against the school team members.

Otherwise, how could there be such a brilliant result today!

The school team he led had swept Wenli 3-0; he could brag about this for the rest of his life! Hahahaha!

Her teammates excitedly hugged Xie Yang:

"Sister Xie is awesome!"

"Sister Xie is mighty!"

"When Sister Xie draws her blade, who can compete with her!"

"..."

If Xie Yang hadn't been quick-witted, she would have almost been lifted up by them and tossed into the air.

"What's going on?"

The top students from the Experimental Class, who had rushed over to cheer for Xie Yang, heard a burst of cheers before they had even stepped through the gymnasium doors.

"Is the match over?"

"What? Over? Did our school win or lose?"

"I don't know! Wasn't it supposed to start at three? It's only four and it's already over?"

"We won, we won! I see Xie Yang; she's hugging her teammates and looks very happy."

"Really? That's great! I told you our slogan would work!"

"Quick, quick, quick! Cheerleaders, get ready!"

The girls from the Experimental Class, who had come prepared with Props, felt they couldn't let their hard work go to waste; even though today's match was over, there was still tomorrow, right?

They couldn't come tomorrow because they had classes off-campus, so they would just treat this as cheering Xie Yang on in advance:

"Xie Yang, Xie Yang, a fierce tiger descends to the countryside! Whoever comes to challenge, we'll knock them all down!"

"Xie Yang, Xie Yang, unstoppable! Sweeping the whole court, the strongest on earth!"

Once these lyrics came out, let alone the others, even Jiang Yinian, who rarely smiled, couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

Xie Yang: "..."

She had rushed to finish the match, so how did she still fail to escape this slightly embarrassing, ear-searing song?