Chongqing - The moment the ball hit the floor on the opponent’s side, the gymnasium in Chongli, Hebei Province, erupted.

The final whistle blew. "We won!" The players of Chongqing No. 8 Middle School’s girls’ volleyball team rushed toward each other. Some leaped high, fists clenched, releasing months of pent‑up emotion. Others bowed their heads, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

After winning the match, the team members (in red) celebrate their victory. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

On July 29, the 13‑member squad won the national championship at the 22nd China Middle School Volleyball League (Senior High Girls’ Division). Combined with their victory in the National Middle School Regional League finals in March, the team had secured two national titles within just six months.

The team members receive their awards on stage. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

Behind the celebrations lies a story of sweat, injuries, and resilience – told by a group of girls averaging 1.8 meters tall and 16 to 17 years of age.

"After one practice, the dry mops are nearly soaked through"

On July 31, under Chongqing’s blazing summer heat, the team was back in closed‑door training at the Municipal Sports Academy, preparing for the upcoming National Youth Games for Football, Basketball and Volleyball.

Before the July tournament, the team had to borrow a nearby primary school’s gym for pre‑competition training because their own venue was being rearranged. That gym had no air conditioning. In Chongqing’s near‑40°C summer, just sitting still for a few minutes would leave a shirt drenched. Yet the girls trained there every day from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

"Each of us brings three 1.5‑liter bottles of water to practice – and by the end, they’re all empty," said captain Zhao Lianduo.

July 31, 2026, the girls of the Chongqing No. 8 Middle School volleyball team train behind closed doors at the Training Hall of the Municipal Sports Academy, preparing for the upcoming National Youth Games for Football, Basketball and Volleyball. (Photo by Yin Shiyu)

"The thing we fear most during training is falling," explained teammate Xu Xingyu. "Because we’re soaked from head to toe – when you hit the floor, you leave a puddle. If you don’t wipe it up immediately, the next person could slip and get hurt. So we learn to control our bodies."

"But falling is inevitable," head coach Peng Bo admitted. For him, training is not just about technique – it’s about attitude. "If there’s a ball that can be saved, and you don’t dive for it, you lose that point. So every time a player falls, we wipe the court. After one session, the dry mops are practically dripping wet."

"Volleyball and academics – neither can be neglected"

Behind the championships lies a story of perseverance – fighting injuries, overcoming self‑doubt, and never giving up.

At the training court, Xu Xingyu adjusted her wrist guard, revealing a nearly 8‑centimeter scar on the back of her hand. It came from a training accident last year when she went all‑out to save a ball and slammed her hand into the sideline equipment. "I heard a 'crack’ – when I looked down, my palm was bent sideways," she recalled. "At that moment I felt no pain – I was just terrified I wouldn’t be able to play again. Tears just poured out."

Doctors implanted a steel plate in her hand. In March this year, after medical clearance for high‑intensity contact training, Xu returned to the court with the plate still inside. "I saw my teammates giving everything – I couldn’t stay out," she said. It was only in May that she had surgery to remove the plate, and after a short recovery, she was back training again.

July 31, 2026 – The girls of the Chongqing No. 8 Middle School volleyball team pose for a group photo at the Training Hall of the Municipal Sports Academy. (Photo by Yin Shiyu)

Such perseverance is common across the team. Captain Zhao Lianduo once tore a ligament in her left ankle and was sidelined for over a month. Unable to sit still, she came to watch her teammates train; unable to use her legs, she worked on upper‑body strength; unable to join full drills, she practiced passing to keep her touch. "Sometimes it still hurts," she said, "but I have to be at the gym – I can’t fall behind."

"These girls cry when they feel wronged, and they cry when they’re exhausted," coach Peng said. "But after they cry, they keep practicing – and they practice even harder. Tears fall, but their feet never stop."

That drive extends beyond the court. For these 17‑ and 18‑year‑olds, they are both athletes and students. On regular school days, they start practice at around 4 p.m. after classes, finish at 6 p.m., grab a quick dinner, and rush back to evening self‑study. During summer break, they complete high‑intensity training in the daytime and then take 1.5 to 2 hours of online classes at night. "Volleyball and academics – neither can be neglected," said teammate Dai Yuyan.

Winning a championship – and becoming a better version of themselves

"When I first started playing, I was very emotional and self‑centered," Zhao Lianduo admitted. "If I played badly, I’d put on a sour face, not caring how my teammates felt." But volleyball is a team sport – one person’s mood affects the entire group. Gradually, she learned to control her emotions and see things from her teammates’ perspective.

Li Yixuan, standing 1.78 meters, is not the tallest or most physically gifted on the team. When she first joined, she was often a substitute. "I felt useless – I even thought about quitting," she said. Then her coach told her that volleyball is not just about physique, but about using your head. She started using her off‑time to study match footage of professional players, learning defensive positioning and searching for attacking angles. Eventually, she earned a starting spot. "Volleyball taught me that if you don’t have absolute physical advantage, you have to create advantage through hard work," she said.

Teammate Pu Yizhen once slacked off during practice and lost a critical point in a scrimmage. The coach made her do extra spike drills. "Spike after spike, I threw myself to the floor – my legs were scraped, bruises covered my body, and tears came without me realizing it," she recalled. After that session, she came to a realization: "Once you’re on the court, you give everything for every ball – that’s being responsible to yourself and to your teammates."

July 31, 2026, the girls of the Chongqing No. 8 Middle School volleyball team train behind closed doors at the Training Hall of the Municipal Sports Academy, preparing for the upcoming National Youth Games for Football, Basketball and Volleyball. (Photo by Yin Shiyu)

"I used to think 'good enough’ was fine," said teammate Bai Siyu. "But after years of volleyball, I finally understand: once you step onto the court, you give it your all. Even if you fall, you get back up."

"To work with a group of like‑minded people toward the same goal – to persist, to coordinate, to fall and rise again – that’s the best gift of youth," Li Yixuan said.

This summer, the tears and sweat that fall on the gymnasium floor will fade with time. But the footsteps of those who stumbled and stood back up – again and again – will remain the most precious marks of their journey.