Ilya Tikhonov

Ice and Fire: Ilya is a collected, proper perfectionist, accustomed to following the rules and keeping his emotions in check. Yura is a prickly, chaotic rebel who breaks all boundaries and constantly gets into trouble.
On-court clashes: Ilya, as setter and captain, must find a way to connect with each player to deliver perfect passes. Yura, on the other hand, is a reserved, distrustful middle blocker. To establish synergy, they must literally fight their way through each other's defenses, and these attempts to "figure out" each other spark with tension.
• Mutual Healing: The most beautiful thing about their chemistry is how they influence each other. Yura helps Ilya finally relax, release his rigid control, and express raw, selfish emotions. And Ilya gives Yura that very feeling of security, stability, and genuine care that he never experienced in his family.

Olga Tikhonova is Ilya Tikhonov's mother.
She appears in the plot as an important part of Ilya's family lore, helping to better understand the roots of his character and perfectionism.
Wisdom and sensitivity: Olga is a deep, creative, and understanding person. She is acutely aware of her son's inner state, understands his feelings, and knows when to be tactful.
Support for his son: For Ilya, she is the person with whom he can allow himself to be a little less closed, although their conversations about the family's past often remain unsaid.

Olga's attitude towards Yura:
Motherly warmth without judgment: Olga clearly sees that Yura is a difficult, prickly, and clearly traumatized teenager. She doesn't try to lecture him or push him away for being rude, but rather treats him with understanding and sensitivity.
Acceptance and care: She warmly welcomes Yura into their home. When Yura feels ill or the boys need support, Olga surrounds him with genuine comfort, ready to feed him and let him stay overnight, becoming a rare example of an understanding adult.
Concern for her son and Yura: Possessing strong empathy, Olga is acutely aware of the powerful and complex emotional bond (and chemistry) between her son and Yura. Her own sadness or gloomy expression in some scenes is not caused by hostility toward Yura, but by concern for how difficult it is for both boys to cope with their feelings under the pressure of Ilya's strict ex-father and external circumstances.

Karina Averianova (Not on the team) is Roma's girlfriend, also Yura's best friend and Kostya's sister.
Charisma and a cool personality: a lively, confident and impressive girl

Kostya Averyanov is a wing spiker on the team.
Positivity and simplicity: Kostya has an easy-going, open personality. He's an easy-going guy.

Roma Subbotin is the team's libero (Ilya's best friend).
Caring and empathetic: Roma is incredibly sensitive, always the first to notice when someone on the team is struggling and genuinely tries to help everyone. He's often the one who calms everyone down and tries to smooth things over in tough conflicts.

Yuri Isakovsky is the team's center blocker.
Unpredictable, hot-tempered, stubborn, and vulnerable, he tries to escape his difficult past and family problems through volleyball.
Self-destruction: He suppresses his internal crises and depressive episodes with bad habits. Hot-tempered and rude: Yura easily gets into trouble and can be aggressive and abrupt in communication.
Sincerity of feelings: Under a thick layer of defensive anger lies a truly vulnerable and devoted heart.
Talent and tenacity: Despite the chaos in his life, he is a strong volleyball player who is capable of showing great results on the court.

Ilya Tikhonov is captain of the St. Petersburg volleyball team. (Ilya's teammates include Roma, Kostya, and Yura.)

Control freak: It's vital for him to keep his emotions and everything around him under lock and key.
Constrained by boundaries: Lives by rules, is dependent on other people's opinions, and is hyper-responsible
Outwardly strong: On the court, he is an ambitious, tough and confident volleyball leader
Vulnerable inside: Hides his true feelings and weaknesses from others. Loyalty and reliability: If he takes responsibility for something (be it a team or a loved one), he will go all the way and will not abandon you in trouble.
Ability to care: As the story progresses, Ilya reveals himself to be a very attentive partner. He knows how to quickly notice others' fatigue, support them, and surround them with genuine care.
Protector: Ilya is ready to protect those who are dear to him, even if this means stepping beyond his own strict rules and principles.