This training prohibits the use of a Dump, the machine blockers, which lack the timing for a Block and have errors in hand positioning, will not give him any chance to Tool the block.
All he has to do is a direct, head-on breakthrough.
Without considering the libero in the back row.. the most violent spike is always a line shot that hits the line.
Hinata's arm swing traced a perfectly standard arc, at the moment of the Spike, his palm wrapped around the ball, jamming it into the gap between the Block and the boundary pole.
BANG!!
In the next instant, the ball slammed heavily onto the back row line, its trajectory incredibly clean.
Standing beside the dynamic camera used to measure spike speed, Coach Hiya gasped.
They had watched many of Hinata's matches, but because high school matches were so frequent and the courts lacked the facilities to be equipped with such professional equipment, the intuitive data from many matches was only truly quantified here.
You have to understand that Hinata's results in the strength tests were only at a middle-to-low level among the players on the court, excluding the Libero, he was undoubtedly in the bottom tier.
Yet, despite that pitifully meager physical strength, Hinata was able to produce a spike speed that ranked at the very top among everyone present.
Coach Arakune, looking at the data on the belt, also nodded. "His approach speed is also very fast. So far, I haven't seen any player with this kind of explosive power."
He turned his head to look at Coach Unabara. "Yesterday, during the sprint and long-distance running tests, Shoyo seemed to be first in everything?"
Coach Unabara rubbed his chin in response, "Yeah, he broke the record for the Youth Division in the Volleyball Association with the fifty-meter dash, though he's still a bit behind those guys on the track and field team."
Train him well, later I'm going to drive those old men on the track and field team crazy.
Let them fight over players! If that kid wants to go, then let them fight!
Isn't it just because they've bullied the Volleyball Association for having no significant results these past few years!
Just wait, once these kids grow up, he's going to make those old men's jaws drop!
Coach Hiya, who was also in a very good mood, replied with a laugh, "Hahaha, alright."
Coach Unabara glanced at his watch, then turned to ask the Assistant Coach, "By the way, is Hayami coming in today for the baseline testing?"
The Assistant Coach in charge of physical testing replied, "Yes, Star First said that Hayami's follow-up results came out yesterday. There are basically no major issues, so the testing can proceed."
I'll have him bring the new MRI scans over, we'll have the Team Doctor take another look at them when the time comes.
Coach Unabara nodded. "Alright. Let me know when he undergoes the testing, I'll go take a look at him."
He has been in rehabilitation all year, so his condition likely won't be great, he's fallen quite a bit behind his peers in training. However, I only want to check his current physical and mental condition to facilitate adjustments to his future training content.
Because of injuries during the most important growth stage of high school, he had to say goodbye to the court, witnessing the team's failure while watching one rising star after another from his own age group..
More than the leg injury, he was more concerned about Hayami's mental health.
The Assistant Coach said, "Understood."
The morning's individual training sessions proceeded in an orderly manner, the afternoon's internal scrimmage was held as usual.
When he heard his name mentioned alongside Hinata's, the corners of Miya Atsumu's mouth curled up.
But in the next second, he heard Kageyama's name.
Miya Atsumu stopped smiling.
The coach, who had just called everyone over, glanced at the two most highly anticipated setters of this training camp, then said with a smile, "Hinata, you'll play setter."
Hinata, who had just been happily thinking about having two setters at his service, raised his hand and pointed to himself. "Me?"
The Coach's smile deepened: "That's right, it's you."
Hinata's disappointment lasted only half a second; the next moment, he turned his head to look at Miya Atsumu. "Don't worry, Atsumu-ge! I won't give you any terrible sets!"
Facing Hinata's eyes, which were full of anticipation, Miya Atsumu didn't say anything to dampen his spirits: "That's reassuring."
Bai Ze nodded to Hinata. "I look forward to playing with you."
Hinata gave a cheeky grin. "Same here!"
Suna, who was pointed out as the Libero, stood with his hands in his non-existent pockets. Although his face remained expressionless, an unpleasant aura radiated from him.
Middle Blocker Komori laughed, holding up a finger as he was the first to speak. "The key issue right now is.. who is going to perform the receiving movement."
Everyone looked at Komori, finally turned their gaze toward the Libero, Suna.
Miya Atsumu remained silent for two seconds, then looked back at Kageyama Tobio.
And Kageyama was also looking at Miya Atsumu at this moment.
Given that the Libero's skill level is clearly insufficient, either the wing spikers or a defensive-oriented Opposite should step up to receive, but the latter is also unfeasible, as Bai Ze's receiving level isn't much better than Suna's.
Miya Atsumu suggested, "Let's take turns, the two of us."
Kageyama completely complied with Miya Atsumu's arrangement: "Okay."
Atsumu had already shown Kageyama enough kindness, easily earning that trust.
Hinata, who had just been subbed in as a starter, approached Miya Atsumu: "How should we play?"
But before Miya Atsumu could give him a response, he turned and said, "No, I am the Setter, you should all listen to me."
After saying that, Hinata cleared his throat: "We'll play S1."
Inarizaki usually plays S1, he is most familiar with it; playing according to Miya Atsumu's usual tactical logic would be enough.
Atsumu agreed readily, "Sure."
The opposing setter is Sakusa, the libero is Hoshiumi, among the rest, he was not very familiar with anyone except for the middle blocker, Hakuma.
Since they haven't played together with this current lineup before, it is indeed safer to stick to a familiar way of playing.
—In the first rotation, let's try to test the opponent's situation as much as possible.
After confirming both sides' rotations, Hinata grabbed the volleyball and walked toward the back row serve position.
The Setter's greatest scoring weapon is the serve, something Miya Atsumu had once taught him.
Although his serve could only be described as mediocre, since no one is currently playing in their usual positions, his serve is still effective enough to challenge the opposing side.
The one posing a significant threat is Hoshiumi, who plays as the Libero, but as the one controlling the serve, he can ignore him and aim for the area between Xiaoshan and Chongtian.
With a complete plan in mind, Hinata tossed the ball into the air in the final second of the serve limit.
“I've got it!” Xiaoshan shouted, moving a step forward to get into position for the receive.
He is naturally a Wing Spiker on his own team, receiving is part of his primary job; playing as an Opposite now allows him to transition naturally into a defensive-oriented Opposite to cover the Wing Spiker's movements.
Sakusa didn't make a sound, simply moving under the ball at the first possible moment.
His flexible wrists became the medium through which he could better adjust the ball's trajectory during the set, sending the ball with unerring precision into Hakuma's hands.
Hakuma Mebuki spiked a high ball from Position 4, the heavy spike heading straight toward Hinata, who had just finished his serve.
At this moment, Hinata, acting as the Setter, thought seriously about whether he should receive this ball, while Suna, who should have been covering him, failed to arrive in time.
As the two of them stared at each other, the ball landed directly on the floor.
The whistle blew, Sakusa scored on his side.
Miya Atsumu gave instructions, "Shoyo, your positioning as a setter needs to be a bit further forward; don't give the opponent a chance to spike at you."
Hinata stood up straight. "Understood!"
Atsumu took the opportunity to criticize Suna: "Rintaro, you're the Libero, how can you let the Setter be targeted like that?"
Suna clicked his tongue lightly and stopped paying attention to him.
He hadn't completely finished this massive identity shift, but he would adapt to the next serve.
Sakusa's serve was as tricky as ever, but Suna had anticipated being targeted, so he managed to receive the ball.
Hinata quickly made two hand signals behind his back, then retreated while looking up to track the ball's position and observing the opposing blockers.
Suna's set was quite terrible; the ball was so far from the Attack Line that Hinata could only jump from behind the Three-meter Line.
But it didn't matter.
Hinata got into position, jumped off one foot, reached out to touch the ball.
His speed was fast enough that no matter where the ball was sent, as long as it was high enough, he would definitely be able to keep up.
Miya Atsumu stopped at the net, lowering his center of gravity in preparation to jump, his overall running rhythm being that of a Quick Attack.
His positioning was excellent, since he and Hinata were familiar enough with each other and shared great chemistry, Hinata would naturally favor setting the ball to him if his own setting conditions weren't ideal.
Kageyama, playing Position 1 under Hinata's direction, had also rushed behind the Three-meter Line, ready to jump at any moment to perform a Spike.
Hakuma Mebuki watched both Miya Atsumu's and Kageyama's movements at the same time; at this moment, acting as a blocker, he was ready to react to Hinata's setting motion.
Hinata was about to touch the ball in mid-air, his entire body showed no sign of arching.
Therefore, eighty percent of this set's target is Kageyama, twenty percent is Bai Ze, who could jump at any moment.
With this assessment, Hakuma decisively moved toward Position 4 in the direction of Kageyama.
But in that split second, mid-air, Hinata relied on his terrifying sense of balance to suddenly twist his body, using one hand to spike the ball into the opponent's court.
Even though he missed the net, Hinata's state during the spike was enough to break through the opponent's block.
Chongtian's reaction speed was a bit slow, in the end, he failed to touch the ball.
The whistle blew, the referee signaled a score for Hinata's team.
Hinata landed on the ground, his smile turning incredibly sinister at that moment.
Sakusa, on the other side of the net, remained silent, Hoshiumi's expression also became contorted.
Hoshiumi spoke frantically, "Shoyo, what are you doing! Don't go imitating every disgusting thing you see!"
He wasn't referring to the technique! He meant Hinata's expression!
Hinata gave Hoshiumi a cheeky grin, then turned his head toward Miya Atsumu and raised his hand, signaling him to come over for a high five. "Atsumu-senpai! Great cover!"
Looking at Hinata's smug smile, Miya Atsumu sensed a feeling that "Hinata had wanted to do this for a long time."
Considering he wasn't the only one fooled by that little liar Hinata, he managed to keep his dignity by not showing that he had been deceived.
Miya Atsumu responded with a smile, "Well played, you've truly mastered my technique."
Hinata bounced over to Kageyama to give him a high five.
So this is what it feels like when Atsumu-senpai plays volleyball—that feeling of having everyone on both sides of the net playing right in the palm of your hand.. it really is incredibly exhilarating!
Kageyama, who had been forced into a high-five by Hinata, looked at his own hand and then at Hinata, his face filled with shock and suspicion.