Chapter 12: Entering a Tug-of-War
On Yukigaoka's side, they launched a true high-set, high-attack play, guided by Ichise Guren's double-handed set that tested the edge of violations. The volleyball flew straight toward Hyakuzawa Yudai's hitting point in the air.
He didn't play any fancy passing tricks, like a back set to Suzuki or anything like that.
Because with Ichise Guren's current passing level, he absolutely couldn't execute that kind of passing technique.
Being able to jump up smoothly and accurately pass the ball to Hyakuzawa Yudai for an attack without mistakes. Making this kind of high-set, high-attack coordination was already a challenge to his own passing technique, in Ichise Guren's view.
The safest approach would actually be for Ichise Guren to use an underhand dig to give Hyakuzawa Yudai a high ball assist.
But when Ichise Guren caught a glimpse of the opposing block also taking a small step back, he knew.
Now was the time for a real technical showdown. Earlier, they had successfully seized the initiative and scored several points by taking advantage of Kitagawa Daiichi's unfamiliarity with them and the formidable individual abilities of Ichise Guren and Hyakuzawa Yudai.
But Kitagawa Daiichi was, after all, a championship candidate. Their tactical awareness and physical foundation couldn't be matched by Yukigaoka.
Facing a blocking standard with an average height of around 180cm, plus without Mori as the setter, Hyakuzawa Yudai's hitting height couldn't reach its maximum in actual combat.
Additionally, the opponents had seen through Hyakuzawa Yudai's extremely weak aerial technique compared to his height, so they chose to take a small step back with soft blocking, using team defense to limit Hyakuzawa Yudai.
When Yukigaoka compared overall team strength with Kitagawa Daiichi, Yukigaoka was undoubtedly behind.
Whether in team coordination ability, comprehensive quality, or average technical level, Yukigaoka lagged significantly behind Kitagawa Daiichi.
Although Yukigaoka had two extremely strong attack points, they also had five specialists with glaring weaknesses, including Hyakuzawa Yudai who had trained with Ichise Guren the longest.
Under Ichise Guren's deliberate cultivation, Hyakuzawa Yudai's receiving ability was no longer a weakness, but other aspects were truly beyond his capabilities.
After all, with his height and weight, crouching and standing up was indeed somewhat exhausting and inconvenient for a tall middle blocker.
Bang!
This quick attack coordination, from set to spike, a parallel pass with extremely fast transmission speed between two points, was blasted toward Kitagawa Daiichi's half court by this cousin combination.
But on Kitagawa Daiichi's side, the soft blocking deployed under Kageyama Tobio's command solidly completed a touch.
"One touch!"
Kageyama Tobio whipped his head around and shouted, urging his teammates to dig quickly.
The number 1 captain in the back row, with extremely quick feet, ran to the ball's landing point with his long legs and easily sent the volleyball back with a swing of his arm.
Facing this extremely high-quality first touch from the captain, Kageyama Tobio's eyes began searching for passing targets.
Seeing that Kindaichi and number 3 had gotten into position, Kageyama Tobio understood in his heart that the battle for this ball had begun.
He glanced at the net and Yukigaoka's blocking situation.
Understanding clearly, Ichise Guren stood in the middle, while Hyakuzawa Yudai and Suzuki stood on either side.
This way, Ichise Guren would use his superior jumping ability and physical attributes to defend Kageyama Tobio one-on-one, and if Kageyama Tobio passed, he would use his speed to help block.
Kageyama Tobio didn't hesitate, jumping and making the motion for a second attack.
But his core muscles were tensed, waiting to change his action based on Ichise Guren's reaction to break through the defense.
If Ichise Guren didn't jump, he would spike this ball directly.
If Ichise Guren jumped, he would change his posture in midair and use both hands to pass to the attacker on Suzuki's side. This would achieve the goal of exploiting Yukigaoka's blocking weakness and attacking it relentlessly.
As the ball was about to reach his hands, he still hadn't seen any sign of Ichise Guren jumping.
Kageyama Tobio frowned slightly because he couldn't figure out Ichise Guren's thinking. Against this unfamiliar team, the information gap had already put them behind from the opening.
Having to chase points from the beginning, he really didn't like this feeling, but he also wasn't afraid of chasing points because he had strong confidence that he could defeat Yukigaoka and keep standing on the volleyball court.
The ball had reached his hands, and Ichise Guren still hadn't jumped.
Kageyama Tobio relaxed mentally. Whatever Ichise Guren was trying to do now, it was too late. He didn't think that Ichise Guren, who jumped high, could instantly leap up and block his spike when he was about to attack.
But when he saw the eager expression filling Ichise Guren's face, his body instinctively bristled with alertness, and he forcibly changed his posture in midair, using one hand to tap the ball to the number 3 player.
It must be said, this was an extremely powerful pass. Kageyama Tobio, relying on his solid fundamentals and strong physical attributes, delivered this pass that repeatedly tested the edge of error.
The moment the volleyball left his hand, Ichise Guren reacted, with a somewhat disappointed expression.
He burst out with tremendous lateral speed, reaching the already-jumping Suzuki's side in one step and jumping up with incredibly quick reflexes.
Coming from behind, he completely suppressed the number 3 player's cross-court spike route.
Suzuki also desperately straightened his arms in midair, every hair on his face expressing his desire to shut down this ball.
But Kitagawa's number 3 wasn't stupid either. Since they were clearly trying to exploit their team's weakness, how could he possibly try to break through on the ace's side?
He completely ignored the cross-court option, aiming directly at Suzuki's arms, who was blocking desperately but still had gaps. He spiked powerfully, and the struck volleyball directly broke through Suzuki's blocking defense.
With Mori in the back row unable to dig in time, the ball hit the ground directly.
6:3
Kitagawa Daiichi was working hard on their comeback trail.
The audience might find it boring, but Kitagawa's number 4 completely didn't care about the audience's opinion.
For him, since they had discovered the opposing team's weakness, they had to exploit that weakness relentlessly.
Ichise Guren was somewhat surprised by this ball. He hadn't expected Kageyama Tobio to give up his own spike and pass instead.
Looking at his fourth badge that had just lit up.
[Net Quick Rise Expert] - Slightly increases the jump speed for blocking and spiking.
He looked at Kageyama Tobio, who had successfully assisted.
Kageyama Tobio also keenly noticed the staring gaze and wasn't intimidated at all, staring straight back.
"Heh. This brat is pretty arrogant."
Ichise Guren chuckled softly but was the first to withdraw his gaze.
On Kitagawa's side, just as number 4 was preparing to continue targeting Mori's running path with his serve, he discovered that Mori, who had been exploited twice in a row, wasn't stupid, and his teammates obviously weren't stupid either.
Yukigaoka's libero, Hoshino Masaru, very naturally positioned himself in front of Mori, indicating that he would guard both his own area and Mori's area alone.
He had to both protect his team's setter from being disrupted by first touches and ensure that his defensive area wouldn't become a breakthrough point for the opponents.
Just as Mori hesitated, preparing to say something.
"If you're preparing to apologize, then forget about it."
Hoshino Masaru's eyes were fixed intently on the server across the net.
"I've experienced this many times before, protecting the team's wing spiker, setter, and so on."
"When I joined the club, I said I would become your strong support."
"But if you also need a shield in front of you, I can help you block all the balls flying your way!"
Hoshino Masaru spoke calm words in a flat tone, but these words hit like a heavy punch, almost stunning Mori.
'Hoshino-senpai! That's so cool!'
Before Mori could express his amazement.
The opponent's serve came flying at high speed.
Heading straight for the gap in Yukigaoka's back row left empty due to Hoshino Masaru's absence from his position.
"As expected of championship candidates, even their standing serves are this fast..."
"Smack!"
A crisp sound.
Hoshino Masaru received the ball with an extremely well-executed side receive.
"But thinking you can score off me with just a standing serve??"
"That's way too naive!"
Mori, who had been saved by Hoshino Masaru, didn't say much. He knew that only by properly completing his setting duties and winning this point for the team would be the greatest thanks to Hoshino-senpai.
So looking at the volleyball in the air, he constantly adjusted his positioning and orientation with his feet, striving to use this ball to let his team's attackers severely dampen the opponents' comeback momentum.
Perfect! Just set it to Ichise-senpai or Hyakuzawa-senpai like this! Expand the score to 7:3!
An accurate pass flew toward Hyakuzawa Yudai's overhead.
No feints, not a quick attack either. Just a pure, accurate, and high pass.
"Nice ball! Mori!"
Looking at the unremarkable pass, Hyakuzawa Yudai praised.
'Higher, slower, that's enough.'
'Guren-nii and I will break through this high wall blocking our path and advance to nationals together!'
A condensed aura slightly manifested around Hyakuzawa Yudai.
Approach, jump.
Without any concealment, and the opposing three blockers hurriedly got into position, jumping with full effort, trying to overwhelm this ball and continue their comeback momentum.
"Your comeback, stops right here!"
Hyakuzawa Yudai roared, his raised hand carrying an unstoppable momentum as he swung down.
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