Volleyball!

Nohebi Academy. Known for a style of play that emphasizes feints and beautiful blocking, other teams refer to them as "the snakes" behind their backs. Coach Kiyoshi Oomizuki and other members are often mentioned.

Players:

Suguru Daisho (No. 1) is a third-year student, team captain, and outside hitter. He uses the image of a snake as an analogy for his team's tactics: slowly enticing the opponent to self-destruction.

Yoshiya Takachiho (No. 2) is a third-year outside hitter.

Kazuma Numai (No. 4) is a third-year player, outside hitter, and the team's ace.

Koji Hiroo (No. 5) is a third-year middle blocker.

Izumi Sakijima (No. 7) - Third-year setter.

So Akama (No. 8) is a sophomore libero.

Akihiko Seguro (No. 10) is a sophomore middle blocker.

Naoyashi Kuguri (No. 12) - Freshman, wing spiker.

Trainer: Kiyoshi Oomizuki.

Key features of the team:

Mascot and name: "Nohebi" (Japanese: 戸美学園, Nohebi Gakuen) refers to the word hebi, meaning "snake." The gameplay style and player behavior are associated with this animal.

The color scheme of the uniform is dark green and yellow.

Play style: based on:

feints and deceptive movements;

precise serves;

competent blocking;

strong defense and consistency of actions;

psychological pressure on the opponent - the team provokes mistakes without directly forcing victory.

Behavior on the court: outwardly polite and courteous, which wins the favor of judges and spectators, but behind this mask lies a calculating tactic.

Itachiyama Academy. Long considered the strongest in Tokyo, one of its key players is ace Kiyomi Sakusa, one of Japan's top three players and a member of the junior national teams.

Players:

Tsukasa Iizuna (No. 1) – third-year student, team captain, setter. Winner of the best setter award at the Junior Olympic Cup.

Kiyomi Sakusa (No. 10) is a second-year outside hitter and the team's ace. He is one of the top three players in Japan and has been called up to the junior national teams.

Motoya Komori (No. 13) is a sophomore libero. He is recognized as the best high school libero in the country.

Player #2 is the middle blocker (name not revealed in the anime/manga).

Player #4 (name and position not revealed in anime/manga).

(These are not all the players, the rest are little known.)

Key features of the team:

Status: long-time Tokyo champion, one of the favorites in national tournaments.

Playing style: Powerful and balanced - relies on outstanding individual players and strong teamwork.

Achievements:

victory in the Tokyo qualifiers (2012) over the teams Nohebi and Fukurodani;

qualifying for the national tournament as the first seeded representative from Tokyo;

victory over Inarizaki in the Interhigh Championship (score 3:1).

The uniform's color scheme is green, white, yellow and black.

The difficulty of playing against Itachiyama: even taking one set from this team is considered a serious achievement for the opponents.

Inarizaki High School. This team has an unusual style: during matches, they are accompanied by a student orchestra, which sometimes throws opponents off-key. The team's core is the Miya twin brothers (Atsumu and Osamu), who attract a large fan base.

Players:

Shinsuke Kita (No. 1) - third-year student, team captain, outside hitter.

Ren Oomimi (No. 2) is a third-year middle blocker.

Aran Ojiro (No. 4) is a third-year player, an ace, and vice-captain. He was called up to the Japanese national team.

Hitoshi Ginjima (No. 5) - Sophomore, finishing player.

Atsumu Miya (No. 7) is a sophomore setter. One of the Miya twins, he was called up to the U18 national team.

Rintaro Suna (No. 10) is a sophomore middle blocker.

Osamu Miya (No. 11) is a sophomore outside hitter. The second of the Miya twins, he is called up to the U18 national team.

Yuto Kosaku (No. 13) is a sophomore outside hitter and pinch hitter.

Riseki Heisuke (No. 14) is a freshman outside hitter and pinch hitter.

Michinari Akagi (No. 15) is a third-year student and a libero. Key features of the team:

Mascot: fox (related to the name of the school - "Inari", the name of the Japanese kami fox).

The motto: “We don’t need (things like) memories” (“Omoide Nanka Iran”) emphasizes the readiness to face new challenges without regard for past achievements.

Playing style: risky, unconventional, with an emphasis on speed, clever combinations and psychological pressure.

Popularity: One of the most famous teams among neutral spectators due to their brilliant play and the charisma of their players.

Support at matches: the team is accompanied by a student orchestra, which disrupts the opponents' rhythm by adjusting to the tempo of their serves and attacks.

Achievements: Qualified for national competitions three years in a row; won silver medals last season.

Shiratorizawa Academy. An elite school in Miyagi Prefecture. A key figure is Wakatoshi Ushijima (ace, captain), who is among the best players in the country at his age. Another outstanding player is Tooru Oikawa (setter), who knows how to bring out the potential of his teammates.

Players:

Wakatoshi Ushijima (No. 1) is a third-year student, team captain, outside hitter, and ace. Considered one of the best players in the country at his age, he plays for the Japan U18 team. He is symbolized by the "eagle," the team's mascot.

Jin Soekawa (No. 2) - Third year, vice-captain.

Semi Eita (No. 3) is a third-year setter and pinch-hitter.

Reon Ohira (No. 4) is a third-year outside hitter.

Satori Tendo (No. 5) is a third-year middle blocker. He is known for his flamboyant, aggressive playstyle and quirky sense of humor.

Yuushou Sagae (No. 6) - First-year, wing spiker.

Yunohama (No. 7) is a freshman and a pinch hitter.

Tsutomu Goshiki (No. 8) - First-year student, outside hitter.

Yuu Shibata (No. 9) - Freshman, wing spiker.

Kenjiro Shirabu (No. 10) is a second-year setter.

Taiichi Kawanishi (No. 12) is a sophomore middle blocker.

Kai Akakura (No. 13) - Freshman, libero.

Hayato Yamagata (No. 14) is a third-year libero.

Trainers:

Tanji Washijō; Akira Saitou;

Key features of the team:

Mascot: Eagle (associated with Ushijima), although the name "Shiratorizawa" literally translates to "white bird" or "swan".

Playing style: Emphasizes brute force and individual player qualities; often built around Ushijima's attacks.

Status: Winner of a ticket to national competitions representing Miyagi Prefecture for many years in a row. One of the strongest schools in Japan.

They're often referred to as the "Fallen Crows" or "Flightless Crows" because they were once a strong team but then declined. Their style is built on fast attacks and teamwork.

Fukurōdani Academy. One of the strongest teams in the Kanto region. Their symbol is an owl (a reference to ace Bokuto). The team consists of Bokuto Kotaro (ace, captain), Akaashi Keiji (setter, vice-captain), Takayuki Yamiji (coach), Kaori Suzumeda and Yukie Shirofuku (managers). Players:

Bokuto Kotaro (No. 4) – captain, outside hitter, and team ace. One of the top five aces in the country.

Akaashi Keiji (No. 5) - Vice-captain, setter.

Tatsuki Washio (No. 2) - middle blocker.

Sarukui Yamato (No. 3) is a wing spiker (often called "Saru" by his teammates).

Konoha Akinori (No. 7) - outside hitter (opposite forward).

Shkhuichi Anahora (No. 10) - setter.

Haruki Komi (#11) - libero.

Onaga Wataru (No. 12) - middle blocker.

Staff: Takayuki Yamiji is the coach.

Yukie Shirofuku and Kaori Suzumeda are managers.

Nekoma High School. A team from Tokyo. The nickname "Cats" refers to their flexibility and fluidity of play. Members include: Tetsuro Kuroo (captain, middle blocker), Nobuyuki Kai (vice-captain, wing spiker), Morisuke Yaku (libero), Taketoro Yamamoto (wing spiker, ace), and Kenma Kozume (setter). Players:

Tetsuro Kuroo (No. 1) is a third-year student, team captain, and middle blocker. Nicknamed the "Master of Provocation" for his ability to provoke opponents during games.

Nobuyuki Kai (No. 2) is a third-year student, vice-captain, and outside hitter. He excels at receiving the ball.

Morisuke Yaku (No. 3) is a third-year student and the main libero. His receiving ability is comparable to Karasuno's Nishinoya. He stands 166 cm tall.

Taketora Yamamoto (No. 4) is a sophomore and the team's ace outside hitter. He trains diligently and values ​​fortitude. Nickname: "Tora."

Kenma Kozume (No. 5) is a second-year setter and the team's "brain" and "heart." He manages the pace and strategy of the match and analyzes opponents during breaks.

Shohei Fukunaga (No. 6) is a second-year outside hitter. He tries to prevent conflicts, follows match strategy, and attacks effectively when served well.

Lev Khaiba (No. 11) is a freshman middle blocker who considers himself the team's ace. Half Russian and half Japanese, he grew up in Japan. He's 196 cm tall and cheerful, but makes mistakes due to his inexperience.

Sou Inuoka is a team player.

Tamahiko Teshiro is a team player.

Yuki Shibayama is a team player.

Trainers:

Yasufumi Nekomata - Head Coach;

Manabu Naoi is a coach.

The coach of the Karasuno High School boys' volleyball club. He was a former setter for the team. Ukai has dyed blond hair, which he usually wears in a headband. He has brown eyes. He wears two earrings on his left ear, which he removes during practices and games. He is 31 years old, although he looks no more than 24. He is 178 cm tall and prefers red and white clothing. Ukai's behavior is typical of a man in his twenties: he smokes, drinks alcohol, and talks about it casually even with minors. Keishin Ukai is quite competitive. He only agreed to coach Karasuno so he could defeat the Nekoma team in a practice match, and later stayed on because he challenged Nekoma's coaches. On the outside, Ukai can appear lazy and irritable. In the past, Ukai excelled at mentoring younger players in high school and college, and was also noted for his astute analysis of opponents. However, he admitted to not being a strong academic student.

She is the manager of the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club. Hitoka is a petite girl with light, chin-length hair. She usually wears part of her hair in a ponytail on the left side with a bright star-shaped clip. She has light brown eyes and a cheerful expression. She is 22 years old and 157 cm tall. Hitoka has a rich imagination, which often leads her to worry about imaginary fears. She often apologizes for judging others by appearances or first impressions. She is timid and innocent: for example, when the volleyball team changes uniforms, Hitoka blushes and closes her eyes. She has low self-esteem: she underestimates her own importance and downplays her abilities, despite having many positive qualities. Hitoka is clumsy and often nervous, but she always cares for others and tries to cheer them up when they are down. She is inquisitive, neat, and well-organized. She takes notes in class so that others can use them, and she also asks for help studying for exams. Over time, Hitoka learns to better manage her nerves and vocalizes the fact that she is nervous.

Favorite food: fluffy buns with cinnamon and apple.

A reserve (all-round) player for the Karasuno High School volleyball team. Yamaguchi is a young man of average build. He has short, brown hair with a green tint; it's tousled and sticks out in all directions. He has large, amber-colored eyes with small pupils. Before entering middle school, he was bullied for his freckles and thinness, but later he grew up and stopped worrying about it. He is 23 years old and 180 cm tall. During games, Yamaguchi wears the black, orange, and white Karasuno uniform with the number 12 on the back, knee pads, and white volleyball shoes with black accents. Outside of matches and practices, he wears a black gakuran—the school uniform of Karasuno High. Initially, Yamaguchi was quite insecure and often relied on others. This likely stems from being bullied for his appearance in elementary school. However, over time, he gained confidence thanks to the support of his teammates and the mentorship of Makoto Shimada. Yamaguchi is a hard worker: he asks for extra training and continues to practice separately from the team, recognizing that he is weaker than the other Karasuno players. He is a loyal friend and supportive teammate. Yamaguchi sometimes defends Tsukishima from what he considers insults directed at him. Despite his generally kind nature, Yamaguchi sometimes joins Tsukishima in teasing others, especially Kageyama and Hinata.

Favorite food: crispy French fries.

Libero of the Karasuno High School volleyball team. Yuu has tousled dark hair, which he regularly styles, tousling most of it upward. This visually adds about 10 centimeters to his height. The strand of hair falling over his forehead is bleached. He has brown eyes. He is 21 years old and 162 cm tall. In-game, Yuu wears a libero uniform: an orange shirt and shorts with black panels on the sides, white sneakers with red stripes, black knee pads, and a single black elbow pad on his right arm. In everyday life, he prefers red shirts under a white short-sleeved shirt, as well as white shirts with slogans like "One-Man Army" or "Three-Point Headstand." Yuu is an energetic, cheerful, and emotional person. His boisterous nature and impulsive behavior often draw attention to him. He rarely considers the consequences of his actions, yet he is surprisingly tactful and considerate of his friends' feelings, supporting them in any situation. During the game, Yuu becomes incredibly focused and serious. He remains calm and does everything he can to support the team. Yuu has a habit of spontaneously coming up with ridiculous names for the moves he's practicing. He's also surprisingly shy when it comes to talking to unfamiliar girls. As a child, Yu was very timid and had many fears. His grandfather taught him to overcome them, telling him that behind every fear lies a wasted experience, and advising him not to be afraid to ask for help when fear persists.

Outside hitter and team ace. Asahi is a tall guy with a strong, athletic build. He has long brown hair, which he wears pulled back. He later started wearing a hair tie to keep it out of his way while playing. Sometimes he ties his hair up in a bun, but more often he wears a headband. He has large brown eyes and a goatee. His appearance makes him look older than his age, which sometimes intimidates others, but he is actually kind and even sensitive. He is 23 years old and 188 cm tall. Despite his menacing appearance, Asahi is very kind and quiet by nature. He finds it difficult to accept that he's Karasuno's ace because he doesn't feel like one. Asahi has a "fragile heart": he takes everything personally and easily becomes depressed. He lacks self-confidence in many things and sometimes appears cowardly. With the help of his teammates, he recognizes himself as Karasuno's ace and gains confidence. Asahi dislikes being called weak, but sometimes he doubts his own strength. He also dislikes being feared or avoided because of his appearance.

Favorite food: tonkotsu ramen (broth cooked with pork bones, fat and cartilage).

Middle blocker for the Karasuno High School volleyball team. Tsukishima has short, slightly tousled blond hair, golden eyes, and pale skin. He is the only player on the Karasuno team who wears glasses. During games, he wears a Karasuno uniform with the number 11, black knee pads, and white sneakers with green stripes. Off the court, Tsukishima usually wears a black gakuran (the Karasuno men's uniform) and often wears headphones around his neck. He can sometimes be seen wearing shirts with crescent moons, a play on his name "Tsukishima" (tsuki means "moon"). He is 23 years old and 195 cm tall. Tsukishima is a conservative Japanese man of traditional upbringing. He is reserved and calm, with an analytical mind and a calculating manner. When interacting with his elders, he shows respect consistent with traditional upbringing. Tsukishima doesn't rely on intuition and trusts only facts and information he receives in the moment. He quickly processes player data and predicts shot directions, making him an exceptional shot blocker. He has the ability to maintain composure even in tense situations. He often frowns or wears a sly grin on his face. Tsukishima dislikes temperamental people like Kageyama and Hinata, and sometimes provokes them to get under their skin. On the day of the 3-on-3 game, Daichi noted that Tsukishima has a bad temper. Favorite food is strawberry cake.

A wing spiker at Karasuno High School, Tanaka has a shaved head with a receding hairline. During his first year at Karasuno, he had short, fluffy hair dyed blond. His eyes are blue-gray with a sharp gaze, often causing strangers to mistake him for a criminal. He is 178 cm tall, muscular, lean, but strong. He often makes strange facial expressions to intimidate others, which Daichi constantly scolds him for. Ryunosuke is loud, impulsive, hot-tempered, and easily irritated, not averse to starting fights. He's something of a slacker: he has a poor work ethic at school and is often late for practice. Despite this, he's caring and supportive of his teammates, defending the younger students.

He has a high level of mental fortitude: even when cornered, he doesn't lose his cool and continues to play consistently. When he gets fired up, he's usually unstoppable on the court, becoming uncontrollably loud. Sometimes, every six months, he starts to think he's just mediocre, but tells himself such thoughts are a waste of time.

Tanaka doesn't like people who put others down.

Vice-captain of the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club, reserve setter. A guy of average height and build. He has light gray (ash) hair, brown eyes, and a mole under his left eye. He is usually seen with a gentle smile on his face. He is 24 years old and 174 cm tall. Koshi is a kind and compassionate person who understands the club members' feelings well. He acts as a support and encouragement for the team, calming his teammates and helping them persevere even in difficult situations. Sugawara is dedicated to volleyball: he decides to continue club activities even when most third-years leave to focus on their studies and the future. He's perceptive and intelligent: he can accurately read his teammates' intentions and come up with tactical moves right during a match. Sometimes, when he's overly nervous, he'll tease and rib the team in an attempt to cheer them up. Sugawara is a good strategist. He pays attention to his opponent's play and can often offer advice to the team on how to beat them. However, he quickly becomes nervous in the heat of the game and begins to overthink things.

Sugawara shares a particularly close relationship with captain Daichi Sawamura: he's the only one who can correct him. At the same time, he respects Daichi greatly as the team's leader.

Favorite food: super spicy mapo tofu.

The captain of the Karasuno High School volleyball club, Daichi plays as a wing spiker. He has short dark hair, dark brown eyes, and tanned skin. He has a large, muscular build. Many people comment that he appears "big" up close, leading Daichi to sometimes believe he's being called fat. He usually has a gentle smile, but when he's angry, his eyes become alarmingly glassy. He is 24 years old and 176 cm tall. Daichi is a caring and responsible captain who always puts the team first. He is patient and understanding of his teammates, but becomes very strict and intimidating when they overstep their bounds or test his patience. Despite his maturity and leadership qualities, Daichi sometimes displays childish traits. Daichi is respected but also slightly feared within the team. He commands respect due to his dedication to the team and his ability to motivate his teammates. He was one of the captains who also served as coach. Daichi doesn't come across as a schoolboy due to his responsibility. He became a leader early on within the Karasuno team, suggesting ways to improve and bringing in Kiyoko as manager even when the team was without a coach. Daichi's favorite food is ramen with soy sauce (shoyu ramen).

He is known as the setter and one of the key players on the volleyball team. Kageyama has a slender build. His black hair is cut short, with his bangs hanging just above his dark blue eyes. He is 21 years old and 188 cm tall. Initially, Kageyama appears to be a perpetually sullen, arrogant, and short-tempered individual. He is a typical domineering perfectionist who cares only about winning and completely disregards the opinions and well-being of his teammates. His habit of complaining about others' performances and barking orders led to him being nicknamed "King of the Court" at Kitagawa Daiichi Middle School, a reference to his domineering and egocentric attitude. However, behind this facade lies a more sensitive and childish nature that few are aware of. Kageyama is unable to control his frustration, and therefore expresses his thoughts and emotions inappropriately. Over time, particularly after joining the Karasuno High School team and meeting Hinata Shoyo, Kageyama begins to reconsider his selfish playing style. Under the influence of his new teammates, he becomes more tolerant and open-minded, rediscovering the meaning of teamwork. Other character traits include: excellent memory, although he often pretends not to remember something (for example, English); envy of Hinata's physical abilities and reflexes; love for milk and yogurt.

A middle blocker on the Karasuno volleyball team, Hinata has unruly red (or orange) hair and brown eyes. He is relatively thin, standing 172 cm tall and 22 years old. Due to his short stature and thin frame, he is sometimes mistaken for a junior high school student, and sometimes even an elementary school student. He can display an intimidating expression when people underestimate him. He's afraid of larger and stronger opponents, sometimes hiding behind his teammates. But he quickly recovers and confidently confronts his opponents. Nervous before matches due to lack of experience - may suffer from an upset stomach or constantly go to the toilet, becomes clumsy.

In everyday life, Hinata usually wears the Karasuno school uniform: a black jacket and black pants, with a beige or brown sweatshirt underneath. During matches, he wears a black tank top and shorts with white and orange stripes on the sides. On the back of the tank top is his number (10) and the school's name in kanji. On the court, he also wears knee pads and white volleyball shoes with red stripes. Hinata has a cheerful and energetic personality. He's a happy and easy-going guy. He's mostly naive, which sometimes leads him to make rash decisions. Hinata is straightforward, empathetic, and sociable, able to make friends with anyone and find the right words to support a friend. He's an incredibly fast player with excellent reflexes and agility. He possesses seemingly unlimited stamina, which he develops by cycling thirty minutes through the mountains to get to school. Hinata isn't known as a strong player, but rather as someone who uses his speed and stamina to his advantage. His greatest strengths are his tenacity and determination to win. He strives to become stronger and achieve his goal of becoming the ace of the Karasuno volleyball club. Hinata is a quick learner by observing others and copying their movements, although he doesn't always succeed on the first try.