19 The Eagles 1
"The Shiratorizawa as of now is different from the Shiratorizawa that was before." Coach Soma said to his players. "They are a new team, but that doesn't change the fact that they are the same intense force who dominated Miyagi volleyball in the recent tournaments – well, except for the last Spring Cup, that is."
Shiratorizawa Gakuen is indeed relatively consisting of new components – given the fact that most of its starters from last season were seniors, the ones making up their current starting seven are mostly their reserve players from last year.
"After taking a look at their players, it seems that Coach Washijo still haven't changed his mantra – simple is best. Go out there and take down that powerhouse from Miyagi." The coach ended his speech on a high note.
Hiro didn't recognize anyone else from the team, since they never got the chance to play against the Eagles before. He only knew about their previous superstar – Ushijima Wakatoshi – and the guy now already entered the pros after graduating from high school. 'They look rather strong in their straight and dignified posture. They also have two players who are about as tall as me and Kakuzo, so they must've been packing in terms of height and build.'
The players from Shiratorizawa were eyeing them as well. Shirabu Kenjiro, it's current captain, tried to recall the games they've watched before featuring the team from Nara. "Hey, Goshiki." He called for the bowl-cut from the team, "Better watch out on that number 5 middle blocker. If you're careless, you'll get stuffed a lot."
"Hmph, don't worry Shirabu-san." Goshiki replied, but the captain only stared at him, as if his thoughts are telling him once more to be wary and cognizant about their opponents. Goshiki gulped and turned away, whistling nervously.
--
Shiroshikata Gakuen Silver Stags
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 – Kakuzo Ryohei (1st Year) 191cm
L – Hiyorin Gaito (3rd Year) 167cm
vs
Shiratorizawa Gakuen Eagles
S – Shirabu Kenjiro (3rd Year, Captain) 176cm
OPP – Tanaga Kusero (3rd Year) 186cm
OH – Goshiki Tsutomu (2nd Year) 183cm
OH – Oda Nagisa (3rd Year) 185cm
MB – Kawanishi Taichi (3rd Year) 189cm
MB – Mami Kentaro (2nd Year) 190cm
L – Yamagata Yaboku (1st Year) 173cm
--
The whistle sounded and that's a signal to wrap up on the warm ups. The game is about to start. The coin was tossed, and it's been decided that Shiroshikata will serve first.
Coach Soma started with the same formation they used when they faced Kurokumogi. In the back, Kouen, Gaito and Maki were positioned, while Toshiro, Hiro and Kouha were manning the front. Kouen served first and the ball contained probably his pent up frustrations in their loss last time, so the serve almost went out.
Shiratorizawa's libero was smart enough to doubt it's tricky trajectory of almost being out, so he dug it for a very high receive. Kouen's visible eye twitched when he failed to ace that serve.
"Alright, it's up!" The libero shouted. The ball went to their setter who tossed the ball to the right, where their ace was waiting in the wings.
Goshiki Tsutomu slapped the ball dead center, and its force would've scored them a point except that –
"One touch!" Hiro was there to touch it.
"Yus, nice one touch, Hiro!" Gaito said as he raised the ball and bumped it towards Toshiro, who jumped for a spike. It was lightly deflected too, by Kawanishi, the middle blocker. Shirabu got the next touch and he set it once more towards Goshiki, who again slammed the ball on in Shiroshikata's side. They were unsuccessful this time in stopping it and the first point of this game went to the Eagles.
"Nice kill, Goshiki!" His teammates cheered on him.
Meanwhile, the spunky redhead, Asuma, was scowling from our bench after that point. "Hmp." He muttered under his pout. "That looked really sharp from here."
The score now reads 3 – 4 after the last score by Maki. Hiro served while Gaito went out in exchange for Kakuzo. The ball was raised by the opponent rather shakily. Coach let out a little smile.
"There it is." I don't know what he meant and why he smiled, but the next thing I saw when I looked at the game, Kakuzo was able to block one of Shiratorizawa's hitters. Now, the coach is grinning.
"Serve-and-block." Both Asuma and the new manager of Shiroshikata muttered.
"That's right, that was a serve-and-block combo. Break the formation of the opponent with a strong serve, and finish off the rally with a block. During that play, Hiroaki let out a powerful southpaw serve which was received so badly by the opponent. As a result, the pass received by the setter is not of good quality, which also affected the quality of his toss, so the spiker who hit it must've struggled to keep the ball in play, and his path became easy enough to be predictable. That's where Kakuzo entered for the block." The coach explained, though he really didn't need to since they already got what happened.
Shirabu gritted his teeth after that block. 'I knew it.' His mind is working 120kph now. 'This team has some sick blocking game.'
"Goshiki, Kawanishi" He called the ace and their blocker. "Try to hit straights near the antenna where blockers don't usually flock. We'll avoid the middle for now."
Hiro's next serve was neatly received this time and the ball went to Shirabu, who tossed to the guy in the right for a quick attack. When Kouha and Maki jumped for the block, the ball hit their palm and landed with a thud on the opponent's floor.
"That wasn't a perfect serve-and-block, but still, another well-executed play, good enough to give us the lead." Kayo commented from the bench. 5 - 4, Shiroshikata.
Another serve by Hiro was gotten up by Shiratorizawa's libero. "Follow!"
Kawanishi bumped it next and yelled, "Last one!"
Tanaga spiked it towards the opponent but it was received by Maki, who shouted, "Alright!"
Kouen got it up and he tossed the ball to Kakuzo, who aimed his spike at Shirabu. The setter dodge he ball, and correctly judged that the spike was out. Score tied at 5 – all.
Hiro went out in exchange for Gaito. From the bench, he looked at the action of the game.
Kawanishi served from the other end and it was Gaito who made the serve receive. Kouen went after the ball, got it, and tossed it towards Kouha. Two blockers tried to block him but he crushed the block with his sheer force. 6 – 5, Shiroshikata.
Kouen went back to the service line and launched his nasty jumper aimed at Goshiki. Surprisingly, his receive made a nice arc towards Shirabu, who smiled at the a-pass he got from his teammate with the bowl cut.
Goshiki surprised them some more when he made a run-up for a spike.
'What? He just received the ball.' Hiro thought, but Goshiki continued to betray his expectations.
He looked like he was going for a cross. Toshiro, Kakuzo and Kouha jumped at the direction of the cross but Goshiki hit it straight.
'Dammit, bowl-cut's good. Must be a hustler.' Hiro was impressed.
"Deymmmm." Kouha mutter towards his. "If he were any other player, that would've been a block point for me. But that guy is good at feinting his movements, making him unpredictable, quite the strategy to fool me."
"Yer a fool already." Kouen answered. Before Kouha can launch a kick, Maki radiated his aura, and their argument was settled.
Shiratorizawa's libero switched with their other MB and the Goshiki made the next serve. Maki cleanly raised it. "Get the next one!" he yelled to no one in particular as he was facing backwards.
Kouen made the toss. "Toshiro!" Toshiro jumped from the left. Kawanishi and Shirabu jumped for the block, but Toshiro scored a blockout. 7 – 6, Shiroshikata.
Gaito went out and Hiro returned in the front row while Kakuzo served. The ball went over and Goshiki made the first touch.
"Alright, Taichi!" Shirabu called for Kawanishi from the sides but they were stuffed by Hiro.
"You're thinking about hitting more from the sides right?" He said to Shirabu, who only scowled in response.
"Nice block, Hiro!" Kouha patted his back.
The next serve by Kakuzo was targeted towards Shirabu, who received it but the ball went back directly to Shiroshikata' side. Hiro made the first touch, and Kouen followed with a high pass towards Kouha, who already leaped from the center and spiked the ball to the other side.
However, after a blur of purple and orange, the ball suddenly hit the floor on their of the court. Kouha got blocked too by Kawanishi on that play.
"Huhhhh?!" Kouha said, annoyed by the blocker's expression.
8 – 7, Shiroshikata.
