Joining the KDI School’s Volleyball Club was one of the best decisions I have  made since arriving in Korea. Aside from other academic activities, I soon developed a weekly routine to train at least twice a week; on Tuesdays, I train with the rest of the team on the school field. At the weekend, I travel down to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to play other students from neighboring schools. It was during one of my visits to KAIST that I received an invitation on behalf of KDI School to participate in the 1st Annual Invitational Volleyball Competition.

The competition was held between May 20th and 21st, 2023, at the W2 Sports Center at KAIST. In our preparatory plans, we conducted special training or hosted tryouts for participating students. It was just a friendly meetup with familiar faces and friends who shared their love for the game (To be honest, we trained just once!). The other participating teams included KAIST International, Daejeon Humans, KAIST Kaiyu (KAIST), Spike 1 and Spike 2 (SolBridge University), and Chance Team (Woosong University).

After the opening ceremony, the teams’ captains were called to register their players and choose from an automated pool to confirm the fixtures. Each team played a minimum of three matches and was ranked in the table as they proceeded to the quarterfinal and final stages. As a team with limited reserves, we understood that we did not possess a better slde nor had experienced players, but as a team, we made sure to communicate under pressure. For more context, a match consists of two sets with a maximum score of 25 points. If both teams win each set, then they go for a third to declare the winner of the match.

Our first match was with Spike 1 (Sol Bridge University), and we were able to conveniently win our first match: the first set by 25-14 and the second set by 25-19. Our second match didn’t come without some faults, owing to missing spikes and some rotation fouls. With the assistance of our club representative (Claudia Sanchez), we were able to make substitutions for every time we lost five (5) points, consequently managing the burnout and dynamics. We won Spike 2 (Sol Bridge) on both sets, 25-12 and 25-19, respectively. In our final match for the day with Chance Team (Woosung University), we made multiple substitutions to conserve energy and team balance. We won both sets, 25-13 and 26-24, respectively. It was a great feeling of success to have won all three matches, proceeding to the semi-finals, and we rewarded ourselves with dinner at Alibaba’s in Daejeon.

On Day 2, our first match was with Daejeon Humans (KAIST University) and it ended in another win for KDI School with sets 25–18 and 25–19, respectively. While waiting for our next match, I decided to watch the other teams playing and observing areas worth exploring. We had the final against Spike 1 (Sol Bridge University), playing with them for the second time and finding new approaches to beat their attacking plan. With the help of our club coach and representative, we managed to minimize service faults, maintain consistent passing and rotations, and communicate clearly to establish a strong defense and counterattack. We ended the first set 25-21 in favor of the Tigers.

The second set was different; it was a head-to-head battle, marred by several faults on our side. As the student coach and captain, I swiftly called for a time-out to address our concerns and alleviate the mounting game pressure. In the very late minutes of the game, the right spiker of the opposing team committed a leg foul, crossing into our side of the field and granting us the much-needed advantage. The final set ended 26-24 in favor of the Tigers.

With the final call, I screamed with joy, and the spectators joined in the roars , claps, and cheering. It was indeed a great moment for me to love a game and be successful at it even when the odds were stacked against my team. In the spirit of sportsmanship, we shook hands with our opponents and had some moments discussing the game. Reflecting on the triumph again, I can't help but recall the words of one of the players, Leo Gimre (an exchange student from Norway), who described our team as the ‘underdogs that surpassed all expectations.’

"It was a great win for KDI School, 

showcasing textbook-perfect volleyball skills that left everyone astonished."

Hearing those words from him really gave us a sense of pride and the will to do more and perfect our skills.

Additionally, our team was honored with the "Best Spiker Award," recognizing our exceptional offensive performance. After the tournament closed, all the participating players gathered for an enjoyable "after-game pizza dinner party" at Concetta’s Pizza Place, Daejeon, where we had lively conversations about school life and our future aspirations. It was yet another opportunity for us to bond with students from different schools, countries, and diverse backgrounds.

The triumph of our school team not only brought pride and glory to KDI School but also instilled a profound sense of inspiration and motivation within the entire student body. With this win, we have noticed an increased interest in the game and attendance during weekly training sessions. We also look forward to more students and faculty joining the team. All inquiries can be directed to the club representative (Claudia Sanchez) via email at claudia.sanchez@kdis.ac.kr.

It is my hope that KDI School students participate more in these type of competitions as this may go a long way to providing a more enriching study aboard experience, an opportunity fornetworking, and promote the physical well-being of students.