Net Loss? Not on My Watch! – The Volleyball Vigilante’s Secret Web of Justice

Throwback to my university days—I was completely obsessed with volleyball. And I mean really obsessed. My entire day revolved around volleyball—playing, practicing, thinking about it—and I even dreamed of becoming an international player representing my country. Volleyball wasn’t just a sport to me; it was my passion, my escape, my future.

One day, as usual, my teammates and I headed to the court for our regular practice. But when we arrived, something felt off. The court was empty—all the volleyball nets were gone. At first, we thought maybe they were just being cleaned or repaired, but soon we found out the truth: a few professors had complained that we were too loud during practice, and just like that, the nets were taken down. I was furious. Volleyball was more than just a game for us—it was our bond, our outlet, and to see it taken away because of something so petty felt like a slap in the face. I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing.

Determined to restore what we had lost, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I was going to bring the nets back—on my own terms. But, as I was a good student (was I?), I knew I had to be strategic about it. I couldn’t just go barging in; I had to protect my identity while carrying out this mission. After all, it wasn’t about just getting the nets back—it was about making a statement.

That’s when inspiration hit me like a lightning bolt. In Chinese, the words for "net" and "web" are the same. And then it hit me: No one complains about a spider weaving its web. Spiders can spin their webs anywhere, and people just accept it. So, I thought, why not become a spider myself? I made a spider costume and set out to "weave" my own nets all around campus. Armed with my homemade costume, I snuck around, quietly weaving my nets across the college grounds, leaving a trail of makeshift volleyball nets in my wake. It was both ridiculous and genius—no one could question a spider weaving its web, right?

Eventually, the volleyball players got their nets back, and with a little bit of stealthy creativity, our practices resumed as usual. Mission accomplished. And while the professors might not have been impressed with my method, I sure felt a sense of victory—proving that sometimes, a little ingenuity and a whole lot of passion can get things done, even if it involves donning a spider costume and weaving nets in secret.