Crushed Dreams

Joseph Hsu

Hopes were high as Dalat’s varsity boys’ volleyball team travel to Hong Kong for the Asia Christian School Conference (ACSC) tournament; however, tragedy struck, crushing the team’s hopes and dreams of winning the tournament.

Bump. Set. Spike! On Wednesday, October 19, the Dalat Eagles ran their usual plays against Faith Academy. After a killer spike by Andrew Kim (12), which tied the set 14-14, a loud, resounding snap echoed through the court. Joseph Hsu (12) and Noah Graves (12) were the first to notice Kim tumbling to the ground. Hsu initially thought that Andrew Kim had torn a ligament. Upon closer inspection, Hsu noticed that Kim broke his leg. The entire team was traumatized by the sight of Kim’s disfigured leg. As the paramedics lifted Kim on a stretcher and took him out of the gym, the Dalat Eagles were discouraged by the fact that they lost their captain early on in the tournament. Unable to clear the tragic event from their minds, the team lost the next two games. Dalat managed to defeat Kunming International Academy, ending the day with a win.

After a long day, the team took the metro to Prince of Wales Hospital to visit Kim, moments before he went for the first of two surgeries. The team was encouraged by Kim’s positive personality. He told jokes and was laughing even through his pain.

On the second day of the tournament, Dalat was evidently still affected by the previous day as they fought hard but still lost all four games that day against Christian Alliance International School (CAIS), Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS), International Christian School Hong Kong (ICSHK), and Grace International School (GIS).

All games were cancelled on Friday, October 21, due to Typhoon Haima. The athletes enjoyed the sauna and steam rooms and relaxed in their cozy rooms at Marriott Courtyard, the four-star hotel they stayed at for the duration of the tournament. They also had the opportunity to enjoy local food at a mall nearby.

Due to the cancellation of games on Friday, Dalat was put in the loser’s pool after their loss against GIS on Thursday. They were robbed of a chance at achieving their goal to place at the ACSC tournament. Despite the disappointment, the Eagles managed to perform well and win three of the four games they played on the final day of the tournament.

Keito Wantanabe (12) said, “The tournament was an invaluable experience. We were able to push through agony and play our best. Also, I was able to make new friends from other schools. I have gained many irreplaceable experiences from this tournament.”

Overall, the ACSC trip was a great experience. Staying at Marriott, learning to overcome adversities as a team, and making new friends with students from other schools in other countries made the trip to Hong Kong worth it.