How I won the volleyball championship at ZJU

We did it!

The moment that last drop shot landed perfectly, I leaped up and was instantly wrapped in a tight hug with my teammates. In that split second, all the shouting, the sweat, and the suffocating tension evaporated, replaced by an immense, overwhelming joy. We, the School of Economics Women's Volleyball Team, had fought through a three-set battle in an epic final and ultimately claimed the 2025 "Sanhao Cup" championship!

This was a long and arduous journey. This year's "Sanhao Cup" brought together 29 women's teams from 32 departments, making the competition fiercer than ever. As a long-standing strong team, we had consistently stayed in the top eight in recent years—from 6th place in 2023 to 5th in 2024. We were hungry for a breakthrough. In the elimination rounds, we fought hard, defeating teams like the School of Medicine and the School of Public Administration, achieving a historic leap into the Final Four. Every victory was built on our continuous improvement and the belief that we would never give up.

The pressure of the final against the School of Energy Engineering was unprecedented. When the opponent opened the first set with a 5–0 flash start, we were completely stunned. Standing on the court, I could feel my palms sweating. As the captain, my mind was racing with one thought: I have to steady the ship. We lost the first set 16–25.

We quickly adjusted our tactics for the second set, using flexible drop shots to seize the initiative. As No. 6, together with No. 8 and No. 17, I contributed to key scores, pulling us to a massive lead. We took the set 25–10, and our morale instantly soared! The deciding third set was grueling, with the score tied multiple times. After an important timeout at 13–13, we managed to maintain a one-point lead—every rally felt like walking a tightrope. My heart was pounding out of my chest! Finally, No. 13's drop shot landed, sealing the 16–14 victory.

Our success was a testament not just to No. 17's consistent output, but to the multi-point attack and tenacious defense from the entire team. Looking back at the seven days of competition, we wrote a new chapter through belief and sheer hard work. Holding the trophy now, it represents the best embodiment of our team motto: "Never let the ball drop, never give up; the passion is ceaseless, the struggle never ends."

I am incredibly proud of my team. This love for volleyball will never stop.