Protagonist School: Shiroshikata Gakuen
Sigil: Stag
Prefecture: Nara (Kansai Region)
Extended Synopsis:
Arakata Hiroaki, known to everyone else as Hiro, plays as a middle blocker for the Stags of Shiroshikata Gakuen Men's Volleyball team. He is a calculating person who hates it when he can't figure people out. When he was a freshman, he got invited to the National Youth Training Camp where Kageyama Tobio, Sakusa Kiyoomi, Hoshiumi Kourai, and Miya Atsumu, among others, were invited as well. He didn't particularly stand-out during that camp because he's the type of person who often slacks off and shows little to no determination when it comes to playing volleyball. He has innate talents and skills, he's just a bum.
One thing is certain though. He may be that lazy type, but he surely hates losing. Upon experiencing firsthand their terrible loss against Itachiyama in the last Spring Cup, an ambition burned so bright in Hiro's mind. He wanted to go further with his team, and win it all.
The next season came and their team got interesting rookies who joined their fray. So then begins their long journey towards the top of Japan's high school volleyball.
Other Team Members: (Those with * are regular players, changes in the line-up will be made soon as the story progresses)
<< Regulars >>
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S – Ginoza Kouen (2nd Year)* 183cm
OPP – Ginoza Kouha (3rd Year)* 186cm
OH – Sukiyata Maki (3rd Year, Captain)* 178cm
OH – Fukuzawa Toshiro (2nd Year)* 179cm
MB – Arakata Hiroaki (2nd Year)* 188cm
MB – Mamoru Shingen (3rd Year)* 183cm
L – Hiyorin Gaito (3rd Year)* 167cm
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<< Reserve Players >>
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OPP – Ebi Tomura (2nd Year) 182cm
OH – Nanao Furuya (3rd Year) 177cm
MB – Yagato Kokki (2nd Year) 185cm
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<< Freshmen >>
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OH – Asuma Genji (1st Year) 168cm
MB – Kakuzo Ryohei (1st Year) 191cm
S – Takumi Ikuya (1st Year) 176cm
L – Rikubami Sai (1st Year) 169cm
**
<< All About Volleyball >>
Many technical terms of volleyball will be widely used in the novel, so for better understanding of the game and its system, here are some basic rules and terms:
Volleyball is a sport where two teams, with six players each, is divided by a net between them. Three players in the front court, and three in the back court. When the ball is volleyed back and forth between them after a 'serve', it is called a 'rally'. The ball shouldn't be touching the floor, otherwise, it's a point. The ball shouldn't be held long too, that's a foul. With a limit of three touches, usually a 'receive', a 'set' and a 'spike', the ballgame is executed. An attack will be launched, and it will either connect to be returned, or hit the floor as a point.
In other words, its a game of constant motion. The first team to score 25 points wins a set. To win, the point difference should always be at least two points. Usually, in high school matches, two (2) sets are needed to win a match.
Below are other useful terms to know:
Regular players – There are seven (7) regular players in a team – the setter, the three wing spikers, two middle blockers and a libero. Only six (6) can play at a time for each team on the court. 'Switching' happens every now and then between the middle blockers and the libero. Bench or non-regular players are also often called for 'tactical and emergency substitutions.'
Setter (S) – This player is the one who tosses the ball to the spiker to facilitate an offense.
Wing Spikers (WS) – Divided into two – first, the single Opposite Hitter (OPP), who is positioned diagonal to the setter at the beginning of each rally. He usually fields the right side of the court when the ball is in motion. The second are the two Outside Hitters (OH), who are also positioned diagonal to each other at the start of a rally. They usually field the left side of the court.
Middle Blockers (MB) – These players are the ones who are primarily responsible for battles around the net. Their main job is to not allow any spike to cross the net for a point of their opponent. Since they can scamper around everywhere, they are also the go-to guys for quick attacks in the whole width of the court.
Libero (L) – This player specializes in defense. His main job is to dig and save, preventing any ball from hitting the floor and raising it up for an opportunity to his teammates. This player cannot serve and cannot spike. He has only very limited ways to participate on offense. He can switch with the middle blockers anytime as long as it's not during a rally. This usually happens when it is a middle blocker's turn to serve. The libero position is usually played by shorter individuals.
Pinch Server – This player usually substitutes any player when it's their team's turn to serve after a side out. This player usually comes in when the team is in a pinch, or in a dire need of a good serve to sway the momentum of the game.
Jump Floater Serve – a mellow serve with no ball rotation, meaning, the ball does not follow a fixed trajectory, where it unexpectedly curves at a moment's notice, making it difficult to receive.
Jump Serve – a strong, powerful serve, executed in a spiking motion from the service line. Although risky of being out or hitting the net, this serve is an ultimate offense that can rack up points for the team when done perfectly.
Normal Serve – a serve that just goes over the net.
Cross – a spike made at an angle, or a diagonal attack.
Straight – a spike made on a straight line.
Direct – a spike directly made just as the ball crossed the net from the opponent's side.
Blockout - a spiking technique of tooling the opponents' blockers where a point is scored by purposely making the blocker make contact with the ball before it goes out of bounds.
Joust – When two persons hustle for the ball that was positioned just above the net, both attempting to throw it down to their opponent's side.
Side Out – When a team who is receiving the ball during the start of a rally scores a point. Which makes it their turn next time to serve.
Break – When a team who is serving the ball makes consecutive points.
Deuce – a term used when the teams are tied after reaching at least 24 points. The set will not end until a team gets 2 consecutive points. (Example, 24 – 24, the set will end only if the score becomes 26 – 24. It does not matter how big the points get, as long as there is a 2-point margin)
Rotation System – This means when every time a team gets to serve again, everyone's positions on court shifts by one unit clockwise. What position the team starts with originally is determined at the start of each set, and a form is submitted to the umpire for review before beginning. The regular players will line up inside the court in determining their position – except the libero who positions just outside the sidelines of the court.
*
Other terminologies might also come up along the way and they will be described when used in their context.