SAM QIAN ZIXIN'S
PERSONAL PORTAL
Spiking My Way Through School: My Life on the Volleyball Court
I'm not just about textbooks and homework; I’ve also spent a huge chunk of my life flying through the air, diving on floors, and celebrating every point with my teammates.
From Little Leaps to The Yew Wah Years
For five years, my second home was the gym at Yew Wah School of Shanghai. Being a key player on the school volleyball team from Grade 7 to 11 wasn't just a hobby, it was my identity.
The gym smells of sweat, dust, and possibility. The sound of a clean, sharp spike connecting with the ball? That’s my happy sound. Volleyball taught me about momentum, both in a game and in life. You start slow, you build up a rhythm, you hit a slump, and then you have to dig deep and power through. It’s the ultimate team sport, where nobody can succeed alone. The hitter is useless without the setter, and the setter is useless without the perfect pass from the back row. This section is all about my journey from a nervous rookie to representing my school and winning at both the provincial and national levels.
When I first joined the Yew Wah school team in Grade 7, I was just looking for a fun way to run around after school. I watched the older players soar and hit with such power, and it seemed impossible to ever reach that level. But our coaches were amazing. They preached fundamentals and hard work, and they made us believe that what we lacked in size or experience, we could make up for in hustle and smart strategy.
​
My journey on the team basically followed the school’s competitive track. We started small, playing friendly matches against local schools, but things got serious once we hit the official U15 national league matches.
​​
We were the underdogs in almost every game, playing against established sports schools with dedicated training programs. That's where I truly learned what it meant to be a key player. It wasn't about being the star; it was about being reliable. My role often changed, but I was usually an outside hitter or a defensive specialist.
​
-
The Grit: Our U15 success wasn't about blowout wins. It was about grinding out three-set matches, often losing the first set badly, but coming back in the second and third. This phase was all about mental toughness. We realized that even if you're physically exhausted, your brain can still win the point if you anticipate the opponent's move. We started to get noticed in the league because we simply refused to give up the point.
-
​
-
The Provincial Triumph: One of the earliest, and most memorable, successes came when we won competitions at the provincial level in the U15 category. That tournament was a whirlwind. In the final match, it came down to a tight third set. I remember the entire gym going silent as the ball went over the net. Our setter, Lucas, pushed it back to me on the outside. I managed to punch it high over the block and watch it land just inside the back line. Game. Set. Match. Winning that trophy for the school was a feeling that validated every early morning practice and every sore muscle. It showed us we could compete with the best.
The pace was insane. The serves were harder, the blocks were higher, and the strategy was chess-level complex. Now, as one of the team veterans, the responsibility was heavier.
​
-
Leadership Through Action: My role shifted from just being a key player on the court to being a leader. This meant running drills, keeping the mood light when things were tense, and communicating constantly. This is where the concept of flow and transition became vital. In U19, a single mistake is immediately punished. You have to move instantly from defense to offense. We worked endless hours on serve-receive, recognizing that the first touch dictates the whole play.
-
National Match Victories: The highlight of my time was our run in the U19 national competition. While we didn't take the whole championship, we did manage to win matches at the national level. Every win at that stage felt massive. It wasn’t just a win for the team; it was a huge moment for Yew Wah, proving that our school could produce top-tier athletic talent. One specific victory stands out: a grueling 5-set match against a team from Beijing. I was playing opposite side hitter and scored the winning point with a tough cross-court spike. That moment taught me that years of focused dedication really do pay off when it matters most.
The bond formed with my teammates during those years is unbreakable. We fought together, we laughed together, and we cleaned up enough spilled water bottles to fill a swimming pool. These experiences, the wins and the losses, shaped me into who I am today.
​
The Volleyball Deep Dive: Mechanics and Mindset
​​
Volleyball is a physical sport, no doubt, but it’s also a mind game and a study in physics. To be a successful player, you need to understand the basic theories of volleyball—the technical stuff that makes the ball do what you want it to.
​
a) Mastering the Attack: Power, Angle, and Wrist Snap
​
When people talk about a powerful spike, they usually think of arm strength. That’s maybe 30% of it. The real secret is kinetics and body sequencing.
​
-
The Approach (Kinetic Energy): A great spike starts with a fast, controlled three- or four-step approach. You are converting horizontal motion (running) into vertical motion (jumping). The last two steps are the crucial "penultimate" (long step) and "plant" (short, quick step) to maximize jump height. Without this momentum, your spike is weak.
-
The Arm Swing (Torque): As you jump, your arm action is everything. It’s not a straight, stiff swing; it’s a whipping motion. You pull your elbow back and up, creating torque. The non-hitting arm comes down fast to help rotate your chest and get your shoulders squared up to the net.
-
The Wrist Snap (The Finisher): This is the most crucial part of the attack. The wrist snap is what directs the ball down into the court and gives it topspin. If you hit the ball with a flat hand, it sails out. A sharp, quick snap on top of the ball drives it down fast, making it almost impossible to dig. I spent countless hours just hitting the ball against a wall, focusing only on that wrist snap. It's the difference between a great swing and an unforced error.
b) Defensive Excellence: Anticipation and Platform Angle
Defense is often considered the less glamorous side of the game, but I've always loved it. Digging a ball that looked like a sure point is the greatest rush. Defense is 90% anticipation and body positioning, and 10% reaction.
​
-
The Reading Game: As a defender, you're constantly "reading" the attacker. Where are their hips pointed? Which way are their eyes looking? Did the setter push the ball tight to the net or far out? The moment the ball leaves the setter's hands, a defender is already making an educated guess about where the ball is going. This quick, logical decision-making is one of the most transferable skills volleyball taught me.
-
The Platform: The perfect forearm pass (or "bump") relies on creating a stable, flat platform with your forearms. The ball should hit your forearms, not your wrist or elbows. The angle of this platform is everything—it's like a ramp for the ball. You don't swing your arms much; you let your legs and shoulders do the work, angling the platform to send the ball directly to the setter. Maintaining that stable angle under pressure is a fundamental that elevates a good player to a great one.
The Championship Mentality: More Than Just a Game
​​
Competing in the provincial and national leagues isn't just about technical skills; it's about developing a championship mentality. This is what separates teams that win the close games from those that fold under pressure.
​​
Handling the High-Stakes Pressure
​​
When the score is 24-24 in the fifth set, everything you practiced for comes down to one point. The pressure is immense.
​
-
Selective Amnesia: The first rule of clutch volleyball is selective amnesia. If you serve or hit the ball out, you have literally zero time to worry about it. You must instantly forget that mistake and focus 100% on the next point. If you carry the baggage of the last error, you’ll definitely make the next one. Our coach used to yell, "Next point!" right after a mistake, forcing us to move on.
-
Controlling the Controllable: In a noisy, crazy gym, the only things you can control are your effort, your focus, and your communication. When the atmosphere got chaotic, we would rely on our simple, clear call-outs: “Mine!” for the ball, "Cover!" for the block, or "Deep!" for a tip. This simple act of clear communication cuts through the noise and brings stability back to the team. This idea of focusing only on what you can control has become my mantra in all aspects of life.
Life Lessons from the Court
My time on the Yew Wah court, competing at such high levels, taught me a ton that goes way beyond sports.
​
-
Resilience and Iteration: Every loss, especially at the national level, was painful. But our team philosophy was always about iteration. You lose, you watch the tape, you identify exactly what failed (was it the serve-receive? Was the block too late?), and you fix it immediately in practice. This constant cycle of test, fail, analyze, and rebuild is the core of problem-solving.
-
Leadership in Crisis: Being a key player means stepping up when the team is down. Sometimes that meant hitting a powerful spike; other times, it meant giving a teammate a high-five and a quiet word of encouragement after a mistake. True leadership is often found in the small, consistent acts of support and accountability. You lead by setting an example of effort.
Volleyball wasn't just a sport; it was a five-year masterclass in teamwork, physics, psychology, and personal grit. The provincial wins and national match victories are great memories, but the skills I gained—the ability to focus under pressure, to communicate clearly, and to always bounce back from a hit—are the real trophies.
More relevant info:
International Competitions: The official site for international and professional volleyball competitions, including the VNL (Volleyball Nations League) and World Championships.
https://en.volleyballworld.com/
Basic Rules & Court Layout: A quick, easy-to-understand reference for volleyball rules, scoring, and a visual representation of the court.
https://volleyballmag.com/indoor-volleyball-rules/
Theories of the Serve An instructional resource that breaks down the mechanics and strategy of the aggressive jump serve (topspin and float).
https://www.adidas.com/us/blog/790778-how-to-jump-serve-in-volleyball
Understanding Positions: A clear guide explaining the roles of the six core positions on the court (Setter, Libero, Outside Hitter, etc.) and their importance in strategy.
https://hoovermetcomplex.com/back-to-basics-volleyball-player-positions/
Match Strategy: Transition: An article or guide focused on team strategy, explaining the crucial concept of transition from defense to offense.
https://coachesinsider.com/volleyball/transition-drills-article/
Blocking Technique: A resource detailing the biomechanics and footwork for a successful block, focusing on timing and hand penetration.
https://www.allvolleyball.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-blocking-in-volleyball
Passing Platform: A simple guide on how to create the perfect "platform" with your forearms for accurate passing and defense, the foundation of offense.
Youth/Junior Volleyball: A resource that showcases the structure and focus of junior competitive volleyball programs, similar to your school league experience.