Technique: Receive: 75, Serve: 78, Spike: 80.
Since the training camp ended, nearly a month had passed until today's match. During this time, he had grown 2cm taller.
Taichi Kaedehara felt that his overall skill level had significantly improved. Particularly, during the match against Karasuno, his speed had unknowingly broken through its critical threshold.
Although it was just an increase of one point, this speed hadn't changed at all from the start, and he had once thought that 90 was the upper limit of his speed.
"Oikawa-senpai, has my hitting point gotten higher recently?"
Taking advantage of the time before the serve, Taichi Kaedehara whispered to Tōru Oikawa. After all, Oikawa, who assisted him daily, would be the most aware of any changes in his teammates.
In every match, the setter had to adjust their sets according to the players' conditions.
"About the height of half a palm."
Oikawa's eyes showed a hint of disdain, as if Taichi needed others to point out his changes.
Taichi pretended not to see it, not wanting to mention how, earlier that morning, it was Oikawa who had looked despondent, fearing a loss to Shiratorizawa.
Aoba Johsai served, and Kentarō Kyōtani stepped up to the service line, glaring fiercely at everyone on Shiratorizawa's side.
"Shirabu-senpai, I didn't see this guy during the last practice match," Goshiki Tsutomu said while glaring back at Kyōtani with an equally fierce expression.
However, with his neat bangs, his expression looked somewhat amusing.
Kenjirō Shirabu ignored Goshiki's words. Once he was on the court, there was only one thing on his mind—how to best set the ball for the ace to spike!
Without any warning, Kyōtani suddenly tossed the ball up. His body bent slightly as he ran up, and just as the ball descended, he sprang off the ground like a spring, his body arching backwards as his right hand whipped out like a lash.
For a moment, Goshiki couldn't tell whether Kyōtani's roar or his serve was more intimidating.
Nevertheless, he reacted, stepping forward to approach the ball.
The volleyball struck Goshiki's chest and bounced off, sending him to the ground.
Shirabu called out, realizing he probably wouldn't be able to catch up to the ball.
Shirabu's shout reached the libero, who dug the ball up. It soared high above the centre of the net.
Although the ball was a bit close to the net, Wakatoshi Ushijima didn't hesitate. He ran up, jumped, and spiked it down!
"Triple block!" Taichi Kaedehara, Takahiro Hanamaki, and Tōru Oikawa—all around 185cm tall—jumped up simultaneously to block Ushijima's spike.
A loud impact resounded as Ushijima's spike was blocked!
Unlike during the practice match when his block was directly pierced by Ushijima, this time Taichi gritted his teeth and successfully blocked the spike.
Akira Kunimi ran to the back to save the ball, while Taichi immediately sprinted to the far left side of the court—utilizing the court's width!
When the ball reached Oikawa, Taichi was already airborne on the far left.
But! On the opposite side of the net, another player followed suit. Not only had Aoba Johsai gained a better understanding of Ushijima, but Shiratorizawa was also wary of Aoba Johsai's new weapon.
Taichi Kawanishi stood in front of Taichi Kaedehara, the two Taichis staring at each other across the net.
The volleyball hit the ground, the spike coming from the back-row attack by Hajime Iwaizumi!
Aoba Johsai's first attack was initiated by the most familiar duo, Tōru Oikawa and Hajime Iwaizumi!
[Aoba Johsai 1 - 0 Shiratorizawa]
"Nice spike, Iwa-chan!" Oikawa and Iwaizumi high-fived, displaying their perfect coordination.
Despite focusing most of his energy on defence recently, Iwaizumi was still the team's most reliable attacker!
Taichi Kaedehara glanced at Taichi Kawanishi on the opposite side, thinking that, as expected, such quick attacks would be anticipated after being seen once.
Against strong teams, using them as bait was far more effective than as an offensive tactic.
Kyōtani prepared to serve again, feeling annoyed that his first serve had been unexpectedly received by a first-year player.
Kyōtani's powerful jump serve lacked control, sending the ball directly towards Shiratorizawa's libero, Hayato Yamagata.
Yamagata barely managed to receive the ball, and Kenjirō Shirabu stepped in to set it high.
Wakatoshi Ushijima ran up for the spike, his expression unchanging.
"Triple block!" Aoba Johsai's blocking strategy remained unchanged.
However, the anticipated loud impact didn't occur. Ushijima, known for his powerful left-hand spikes, gently pushed the ball over the net instead.
The volleyball tipped over the three blockers, and although Iwaizumi dove forward, he couldn't save it.
Ushijima scored with a tip!
[Aoba Johsai 1 - 1 Shiratorizawa]
"Tch, that's frustrating to watch," said Kenji Futakuchi from Date Tech's stands, displeased.
The sight of the muscular Ushijima playing such a delicate shot irked the Date Tech players, who had lost to Shiratorizawa the previous year.
"It's terrifying, I thought for sure he would spike it," some spectators murmured in amazement.
But the most frustrated were the three Aoba Johsai blockers. They had braced themselves for a powerful spike, only to be outwitted by Ushijima's deceptive move.
Shiratorizawa served, and Taichi Kawanishi's straightforward jump serve was received by Shinji Watari.
Oikawa unhesitatingly set the ball to Taichi Kaedehara.
Surprisingly, Ushijima blocked the quick attack, participating in the defence.
Goshiki Tsutomu hit the ball back, and Shirabu, seeing Ushijima's continuous involvement in both attack and defence, prepared to set for Satori Tendō.
As if reading Shirabu's mind, Ushijima called out firmly.
Shirabu hesitated for a moment but still set the ball to Ushijima.
For the third time, Ushijima ran, jumped, and spiked!
"Triple block!" Aoba Johsai's blockers didn't slack off either!
The powerful spike deflected off Takahiro Hanamaki's arm and landed in Aoba Johsai's court.
Ushijima scored with his spike!
[Aoba Johsai 1 - 2 Shiratorizawa]
Hanamaki had been wary of another tip shot, which caused a slight hesitation in his blocking. That brief doubt allowed Ushijima's spike to pierce through.
"Ushijima is playing very aggressively today..." Coach Irihata pondered. "Does Coach Washijō have a special plan?"
"Such aggressive play will tire him out quickly, right?" Team Manager Mizoguchi speculated, thinking it might work in Aoba Johsai's favour.
"He's a stamina monster; three sets this afternoon won't exhaust him."
In truth, Coach Washijō had no special strategy. He didn't know why Ushijima seemed more excited than usual.
No one could have guessed that Ushijima's excitement was due to Taichi Kaedehara ignoring him during their pre-match talk.
Ushijima simply wanted to prove himself again through his actions on the court.
"The winner of this match will be Shiratorizawa."
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