However, unlike Fukurodani, Mujinzaka High School's main players are all very tall nationally. Except for one second-year Ace who is only 179cm, all remaining main players, excluding the Libero, are all above 180cm.
"Among them, the two Middle Blockers, Yunnan Keisuke and Tanuki Nozomu, are particularly noteworthy. Both of them are 190cm tall, and for any team, their blocks are a huge threat."
Speaking of this.
Without Irihata Nobuteru needing to remind them, the Aoba Johsai members immediately noticed something was off.
It felt like the description of this team was very similar to them!
Everyone subconsciously looked at Iwaizumi Hajime first: "A 179cm Ace."
Iwaizumi Hajime: "(￣ー￣)..."
Are you being polite?
Why are you staring at me? I'm not a second-year.
Seeing the veins on Iwaizumi Hajime's forehead gradually bulging, everyone quickly shifted their gaze to Matsukawa Issei and Kindaichi Yutaro: "Two Middle Blockers with astonishing height."
Finally, adding to that, all players, except for the Libero and the 179cm Ace, are over 180cm tall.
"Do you feel that Mujinzaka High School's setup is very familiar?" Just then, Irihata Nobuterusuddenly spoke.
"Exactly!"
Everyone subconsciously nodded.
Unexpectedly, in the very next second, Irihata Nobuteru actually agreed with them and spoke.
"You're right, and it's not just that."
"Compared to their two super-tall Blockers, the player at Mujinzaka High School who garners even more attention is their 'Ace'."
"Fukurodani Academy's 'Ace' Motoyasu Kotarois ranked in the top five nationally, but Mujinzaka High School's 'Ace' — Kiryu Hachi — is an 'Ace' ranked in the top three nationally, just like Shiratorizawa's Ushijima Wakatoshi."
"That means, in the next match, we will not only face blocks that might be as strong as our own, but also a super Ace as powerful as Ushijima Wakatoshi."
After Irihata Nobuteru finished speaking, he expected a chorus of wails, but surprisingly, none of the players in front of the tactics board were surprised.
Of course, this wasn't because Aoba Johsai's players had particularly strong mental fortitude; it was mainly because they were already a bit numb.
In other words.
They had already given up.
Goodness.
What kind of match schedule is this?
It's simply like a joke.
In the second round of the playoffs, they faced a national top-five 'Ace', and right after that, without even a moment to catch their breath, they were immediately scheduled to face a national top-three 'Ace'.
What now?
If Aoba Johsai wins the next match, are they planning to arrange the last national top-three 'Ace' for Aoba Johsai in the fourth round, so they can defeat all the national top-three 'Aces'?
And looking at the opponent for the next round, what kind of monstrous lineup is this? From the Ace to the blocks, Aoba Johsai is almost completely outmatched. The entire Mujinzaka High School looks like a high-spec version of Aoba Johsai!
Even Akashi Asuka couldn't help but be stunned after seeing Mujinzaka High School's detailed information.
Because Mujinzaka High School didn't appear much in the original work, Akashi Asuka only had a rough understanding of it in his mind. After being transmigrated for so long, he had mostly forgotten the specific details.
Now, after thinking back, Akashi Asuka suddenly realized, how does this Mujinzaka High Schoolhave a bit of Aoba Johsai plus Shiratorizawa's setup flavor?
"Alright, don't be discouraged. Don't forget, after defeating Fukurodani Academy, we are already a national top-16 team, and it's impossible for any team ranked in the national top 16 to be an easy opponent."
"No matter which team we encounter, the next match will undoubtedly be a tough battle."
Iwaizumi Hajime's words made everyone suddenly snap back to reality. It wasn't his comfort that worked, but rather a certain word in Iwaizumi Hajime's speech that made everyone realize something at once.
That's right!
We are already in the national top 16.
Having reached this point, what more could they ask for?
Irihata Nobuteru, seeing everyone regain their spirits, then began to arrange tactics again.
If the current Aoba Johsai were to directly clash with Mujinzaka High School, they would most likely lose. After all, setting aside blocking and Defense for a moment, even Irihata Nobuterudidn't believe that the current Akashi Asukacould truly contend head-on with a national top-three 'Ace'.
Therefore, according to Irihata Nobuteru's arrangements, in the upcoming match against Mujinzaka High School, Aoba Johsai's main core would still be Oikawa Tooru.
Because this is the only advantage Aoba Johsai High School currently has compared to Mujinzaka High School.
After all, Setters like Oikawa Tooru are rare even nationwide.
Additionally, what made everyone feel a little relieved was that, from the current data, although Mujinzaka High School's players are all tall, their main blockers still rely on their two Middle Blockers and cannot achieve what Aoba Johsai does, truly having all players act as blockers.
Because not every Setter is as versatile as Oikawa Tooru.
Nor does every Ace have such high Defensestats as Akashi Asuka.
Like Ushijima Wakatoshi and Motoyasu Kotaro, whom they faced before, as Aces, they actually possess some blocking skills, but their primary focus is still on offense.
During blocking and Defense, they generally only rely on height and Rebound, setting up rough, tall, but not refined blocks.
After all tactics were explained.
The Aoba Johsai members also dispersed.
...
The next day.
The match between Aoba Johsai High Schooland Mujinzaka High School officially began.
The commentators on the high platform, as usual, introduced the starting players of both sides. After everyone entered the court one by one, both teams officially began their warm-ups.
Akashi Asuka took advantage of the warm-up period to observe Mujinzaka High School's players.
The first conclusion he drew was — professionalism.
You see.
No matter how strong or powerful the players in teams like Aoba Johsai High School, Shiratorizawa Academy, Fukurodani Academy, etc., are, at the end of the day, they, including Akashi Asuka, are ultimately just High Schoolstudents.
And since they are High School students, they will more or less have a bit of childishness, or rather, a 'youthful feel' about them.
To put it less politely, no matter which team it is, the players within it cannot be perfectly behaved; there will always be a few oddballs who don't quite fit the overall team's demeanor.
However, Akashi Asuka found no such anomaly among Mujinzaka High School's players.
Every single one of their players had a very strong and standard physique.
At the same time, from their expressions, it was almost impossible to discern the individual characteristics of these players, as if each person had completely integrated themselves into the team.