For a Spiker with poor hang time, or during an offense where the ball's condition is not ideal, the Spiker will generally decide what kind of play to make based on the opponent's defensive positioning before jumping.
And the distinction between a Dump and a Power Spike can be analyzed during this process.
Because a spike requires enough time for arm extension to adjust and generate power, there is a noticeable pause at the moment of takeoff. A dump does not have this process, making the entire rhythm of the jump much smoother.
This point.. is actually the same when applied to a serve.
Asahina had been following him closely while he was studying the Jump Float Serve, the opponent had once told him that, when not yet proficient, one would generally try to control the toss of a Jump Float Serve to ensure the ball had as little spin as possible.
This is different from a Power Serve; a Power Serve usually results in a ball with spin.
Thinking back on it now.. this person did indeed have this tendency in his movement when performing a Serve, two of the suspected Jump Float Serves were just like this.
Takahashi's gaze gradually became more certain.
It would be no problem; even if the time for judgment was only the brief moment the opponent tossed the ball, it would be enough for him to make his subsequent reaction.
As long as he can be just a little bit faster—
In Takahashi's field of vision, Fukami, positioned behind Miya Osamu's arms, lowered his center of gravity before lifting his hands to toss the ball, then moved forward with a quick step.
It wasn't a low serve; it was an overhead serve.
With that spin, it's a Power Serve.
Takahashi's face crumpled, he looked as if he were about to grit his teeth to pieces.
His center of gravity was pressed very low, in order to defend against a Jump Float Serve landing near the front, ensuring that he could perform a Diving at any moment.
In the case of a low serve, whether it is a Ceiling Serve or a Jump Float Serve, as long as he doesn't prepare for an overhead receive, he can actually react to it.
But a jump serve.. the opponent will definitely, definitely exploit his positioning and hit a long ball to the baseline.
Damn, was he being too impatient?
Fukami's power serve was among the best in Inarizaki. The sound of the spike exploded across the court like a bullet being fired from a gun, so clear that even those in the very last row of the stands could hear it perfectly.
In less than the blink of an eye, the ball had already smashed down right in front of Takahashi.
He had just shifted his weight to move backward, but it was already too late.
In the heat of the moment, Hoshiumi's voice rang in his ears: "Don't move! I'll receive it!!"
Before the words had even finished falling, the sound of the touch rang out behind Takahashi.
Takahashi forced his body to a halt, preventing himself from stepping backward and tripping over Hoshiumi, who had already dove in.
The draft created by the ball appeared behind his head, as Takahashi looked up, the ball had already flown toward the outside of the court.
Fukami's starting position for the serve was behind Inarizaki's Position 5 and Position 6, he used a backhand to spike the ball toward this side, simultaneously adding a very tricky and difficult-to-handle spin.
Takahashi couldn't move, because behind him was Hoshiumi, who had not yet gotten up, to his side was Asahina, who was adjusting his position to move forward.
Norikura Isao's reaction was fast enough; amidst the chaos of the three players in the back row, he lunged forward, chasing after the ball.
His speed was incredible; just before the ball was about to hit the railing, he lunged forward and touched the ball with one hand.
The ball flew high into the air, falling toward the Inarizaki side.
Ginjima looked up to estimate the ball's trajectory, but he didn't move.
Hirugami had already come from under the Net, chasing after this ball that was about to go out of bounds.
The last touch was made by Norikura Isao; if this ball goes out of bounds, it will be a score for Inarizaki, no matter which side it lands on.
Watching Hirugami dive to save the ball, Miya Atsumu couldn't help but let out a "Whoa."
But it was no use; given Hirugami's speed and ball control, it was impossible to save that ball.
The sound of the ball hitting the ground reached Miya Atsumu's ears immediately after, confirming his judgment.
Fukami clenched his fists tightly: "Yes!!"
Even though Karasuno tried to save the ball, it was still his Serve!
Kumagai, waiting in the sidelines, couldn't help but clap his hands: "That was beautiful."
Rishia nodded in agreement: "Yeah, his backhand is also very good."
Kumagai gave a small smile. "It's because you're a good teacher."
When Hinata suggested using sharp crosses with spin to mess with the opponent's setter, Rishia asked if it would be possible to change the serve position, hitting from our Position 5 to the opponent's Position 5.
The spin generated from a backhand is different from a forehand; many players are unable to control that kind of spin.
As it turns out, Rishia's ideas are extremely constructive.
And in this regard.. Rishia himself actually plays better than Fukami, who learns from him.
However, Rishia did not learn the underhand serve, so the deceptive quality of his serves was indeed not quite sufficient. But his power level was progressing smoothly; in terms of the intensity of his power serves alone, Rishia was actually far superior to Fukami.
"Tsk." Hoshiumi let out a slightly irritated click of his tongue.
Takahashi hurriedly said, "My bad, my bad! I jumped to conclusions!"
It was his fault; he hadn't reacted in time, he had given the opponent an opportunity.
Hirugami shook his head: "It's okay, next ball."
Once they know how the opponent will play, the rest will be easy to handle.
In short.. they won't keep making the same mistake over and over; they should have learned their lesson by now.
Hinata shouted loudly, "One more point! Subaru!"
Fukami responded decisively, "Alright!"
Chapter 533: The Five Hundred and Thirty-Third Fox
Subaru Fukami bounced the ball in his hands with full confidence.
In terms of scoring rate alone, Ceiling Serves and Jump Float Serves are actually more effective than scoring with a simple Power Serve. After all, during the high school stage, few Liberos have the experience to handle these two types of serves.
But Takahashi's positioning just now really made it impossible for him to hold back; that low center of gravity was undoubtedly the perfect moment to deliver a Power Serve.
And now, Takahashi, who had just endured a round of Power Serves from him, no longer dared to maintain that same stance, which meant he had even more opportunities to execute a low Serve.
——Very good.
Fukami licked his lips, waiting for the referee's whistle.
Hirugami made a hand gesture to the Coach behind him, signaling that if this play failed to break Inarizaki's Service Turn, he would request a Time-out.
The whistle sounded in his ears, Hirugami focused his attention on Fukami on the opposite side.
In yesterday's match, Fukami had already proven that he had the ability to play scrape balls, even in the front row, he could not completely avoid the work of receiving the first receive.
As the serve time limit reached its halfway point, Fukami took a step back while tossing the ball upward.
Takahashi made a quick judgment.
The ball had no obvious spin and was tossed almost straight up; it was a Jump Float Serve.
In the next second, a deafening thud rang out, the ball vanished from everyone's sight in an instant.
While trying to find the ball's position, Takahashi's expression grew even more unsightly.
A Jump Float Serve usually requires the toss to have no obvious spin, but a Ceiling Serve is relatively much more free.
Even if the toss itself has no significant rotation, as long as it is thrown with enough height, the ball will naturally develop a difficult-to-handle rotation angle under the influence of gravity.
Where.. where is the ball—
The ball, which had become a black dot, gradually became clear in his field of vision; the landing spot was not on his side, but near Hoshiumi's side.
Although it was clear that Fukami had tried his best to position himself between the two of them, when it came to the responsibility of the first receive for a ball like this, Karasuno's Hoshiumi, who does not act as the setter for cover, would handle it.
No.. was it because the ball control was slightly off, causing it to hit slightly off-target?
Hoshiumi lowered his center of gravity, raising his hands to find the ball's position.
The moment his hands made contact with the ball, Hoshiumi did his best to stabilize his body, using his arms and back to absorb the force of the ball.
BANG!!
The ball soared high once again, falling toward Inarizaki's side.
Hoshiumi couldn't help but let out a small click of his tongue.
It had been too long since he received a ball like this, he lost a bit of control over the angle.
"Opportunity Ball!" Ginjima shouted, his eyes briefly sweeping over Miya Atsumu in front of him to confirm that Miya Atsumu hadn't made any hand signals before he moved in to follow the ball for the pass.
He used an underhand pass to set the ball perfectly, ensuring that Miya Atsumu would have the best possible setting conditions.
Hinata had already retreated outside the sideline of Position 2, preparing to take a running start toward the net.
Miya Osamu suddenly raised his hand: "Left Wing!"
His presence was exceptionally strong, making Hirugami unable to help but cast a glance toward him.
But right now, Karasuno hasn't adjusted their blocking positions yet; the ones near Miya Osamu are him and Hakuma, so there's no reason for Inarizaki to choose to let Miya Osamu spike through them.
Plus, Hinata's jumping rhythm on the other side.. there is an eighty percent chance that Miya Osamu is a decoy.
While Miya Atsumu was preparing to set, Norikura Isao and Hakuma on Karasuno's side also completed their switch.
All three people were close to the center line; after all, Miya Osamu's approach rhythm was not preparing for a Quick Attack, so at this stage, they had to focus more of their attention on Hinata.
In Hirugami's field of vision, Miya Atsumu's body leaned slightly backward.
Such an overly obvious movement was undoubtedly a redundant, useless motion for Miya Atsumu, existing solely to serve as a decoy.
Norikura Isao made the same judgment.
His center of gravity and Hirugami's center of gravity shifted toward Inarizaki's Position 4 at this moment, as the two of them prepared to dive in front of Miya Osamu.
Hakuma didn't react in time, but Norikura Isao and the others weren't prepared to move toward him, he was also prepared to move in the opposite direction.
But in that split second, the ball in Miya Atsumu's hands was sent straight out, a long pass following the direction of his Back Arch to land right in front of Hinata.
Hakuma, who hadn't left yet, rushed over and jumped alone to block in front of Hinata.
Miya Atsumu's ball sought extreme speed, since the distance was quite far, he gave a Flat Ball.