Free Over the Net by Jake Maddox Page A

her best friend, Kate.
    â€œHey,” said Kate. “How was practice?”
    â€œAwful!” exclaimed Allie. “I am such a bad player! I still can’t spike the ball, and we’re more than halfway through the season. Coach said today that we need to sign up for summer league if we want to play next year. I really want to play, but what’s the point? I’m the tallest player. It’s embarrassing if I can’t spike the ball!”

    Allie stopped talking. She was almost in tears.
    Kate sighed. “Allie, calm down,” she said. “You’re not a bad player. You know that! There is just one part of the game you need to work on. We’ve talked about this so much. I just wish you’d believe that you’re good at volleyball.”
    â€œI know,” Allie said. “Me too.”
    â€œLook, you have a coach for a reason, right?” asked Kate. “She’s there to help you get better. So tomorrow after practice, why don’t you just ask her for help?”
    Allie wanted to tell Kate she thought that was a bad idea. But she stopped. She frowned and thought for a minute. Maybe Kate was right. Maybe Allie just needed to ask for help.
    â€œAre you still there?” Kate asked.
    Allie smiled. “Yeah, just thinking,” she said. “I think you might be right. I’ll talk to Coach Anderson tomorrow.”
    â€œGreat!” Kate said. “I’m glad to hear that you’re not giving up. You’re no quitter, Allie! You’ll be a great spiker before you know it.”
    â€œYeah, maybe,” Allie said. She just couldn’t stop thinking about that day’s volleyball practice and the two spikes she’d messed up.

Chapter 3
UNEXPECTED HELP
    The next afternoon, practice was terrible again. Allie practiced hitting, but she couldn’t get anything over the net.
    Just as she was starting to think she’d never be more embarrassed, she heard a familiar voice. “Come on, Allie! You can do it!” someone yelled.
    Allie’s stomach dropped when she realized who was yelling. It was Nikki, Allie’s favorite varsity volleyball player.
    Nikki was a junior in high school. She was the best hitter on the varsity team — maybe in the whole state.
    Allie had been to all of the varsity team’s home matches. She’d watched Nikki hit the ball straight down to the floor over and over again. Nikki was amazing.
    So when Allie was messing up every single hit of her own, Nikki was the last person Allie wanted to be watching. She felt her cheeks burning.
    Luckily, just then, Coach Anderson finally blew her whistle. She called the team in for the end-of-practice huddle.
    â€œGreat work today, girls,” said Coach Anderson. “Have a good weekend. Remember, our match on Monday is at home. See you then!”
    Everyone started to head to the locker room, but Allie hung back. Then she walked across the gym to Coach Anderson’s office. She knocked on the half-open door.
    â€œCome in!” called Coach Anderson.
    Allie pushed the door open. “Hey, Allie!” Coach Anderson said. “What’s up?”
    Allie looked down at the floor. Standing in the doorway, she quietly said, “Coach, I was wondering if you could help me with my hitting. I really want to play on the freshman team next year, and I’m afraid I won’t make the team if I can’t learn to spike.”
    She looked up, hoping to see Coach Anderson’s reaction. To her surprise, she saw Nikki sitting in a chair against the wall. Coach Anderson smiled at Allie.
    â€œOh!” exclaimed Allie. “I didn’t know you were busy. I’m really sorry!” She started to back out of the office. “I’ll just talk to you next week,” she added.
    â€œWait, Allie! I’m not busy,” exclaimed Coach. “Nikki’s just here visiting.”
    â€œI had to bring some stuff down from the varsity coach,”