Sakae Echigo (Japanese: 越後栄,Echigo Sakae) is a third-year student at Tsubakihara Academy. He plays as the setter and captain of the Boys' Volleyball Team.
Echigo has a shaved head, with thick, dark eyebrows, and narrow eyes. He's of an athletic build, standing at 183.2 cm.
Personality[]
As his team's captain, Echigo is a very composed individual and he knows how to easily get his teammates' spirits up. This trait of his seems to be admired by his teammates since Maruyama brings it up to motivate the team's second-years and Teradomari said that they could always count on Echigo to raise everyone's morals. Despite this, Echigo shows that he can also feel pressured during certain moments.
Background[]
Echigo was part of Tsubakihara's volleyball team as a second-year, and they were able to go to the Nationals. They were quickly defeated in the first round when it was stated that several of them succumbed to nerves. The team claims that they hadn't really done anything in the match and had just ruined the third-years' chance.
Plot[]
Tokyo Nationals Arc[]
As the match is about to start, Atema and Maiko observe Karasuno and comment on the fact that they beat Shiratorizawa and how intimidating some of them appear. Echigo approaches the team and asks if they would have rather wanted to play against Shiratorizawa and Ushijima in particular. When the team quickly answers that they much prefer their current opponent, Echigo does admit to Teradomari that they cannot ignore how Karasuno is still the team that managed to beat one of the best teams in the nation.
As the game starts, Kageyama serves first, but Echigo spots the serve heading out-of-bounds and calls it as going out. For most of the first set, he mostly sends sets to his teammates. When Yamaguchi is sent in as a pinch server, Echigo is made to get the last hit over but is ultimately blocked.
Midway into the set, it's revealed that Tsubakihara had secured a spot for the Nationals the previous year but lost in the first round due to the players succumbing to nerves[1]. As the set continues, Echigo starts to form a rivalry with Kageyama when he and Asahi team up to score. With Karasuno having gained that point and the rotation changing, Echigo becomes nervous at seeing Tsukishima now in the front row, knowing how tenacious the middle blocker is and that he was able to block Ushijima. His apprehension proves to be correct when Tsukishima quickly starts getting numerous one-touches on several of Tsubakihara's attacks. When Hinata is able to receive Maruyama's feint and the ball is returned, Echigo is able to make Kageyama get the first touch by setting the ball directly at the first-year.
Tsubakihara eventually calls for a timeout when Karasuno manages to take the lead at 20-18. Echigo tries to compliment Atema on getting closer and closer to reacting to Hinata's quick attack. Karasuno is soon able to reach the set point first, and it's at this time that Himekawa is sent in to serve. However, the serve does not go well, and the ball hits Teradomari. Although the ace is annoyed at having been hit, Echigo is unable to hold back his laughter from hearing the sound made by the ball hitting his head.
Halfway into the second set, Himekawa is sent back out to serve. This time his ceiling serve is successful and causes Daichi to miss making the receive. Echigo celebrates the point of gain and the continuation of its success. Karasuno soon puts the scores at 23-22. After Maruyama tries to keep everyone from panicking, Echigo is able to sneak in a setter dump to tie the score. Sugawara is brought into the game when Karasuno reaches match point. Despite their best efforts, Tsubakihara would not be able to withstand Karasuno's attacks and lose the match.
Along with Maruyama and Teradomari, Echigo leaves the court with a tearful expression[2].
Statistics[]
High School Statistics
Power
3/5
Jumping
4/5
Stamina
4/5
Game Sense
4/5
Technique
3/5
Speed
2/5
He seems to have good setting skills. It's shown that he gave a nice "shoot" set to Teradomari.
Tsubakihara Academy: As Tsubakihara's captain, Echigo knows how to raise his team in high spirits and help them see the more positive side of the given situation which causes him to be admired by many of his teammates.
Kazuki Maruyama and Motoki Teradomari: As a fellow third-year and team captain, Echigo knows and gets along with Maruyama and Teradomari quite well. Although he often doesn't mind when they express themselves, he is not afraid to put his foot down if need be. Similar to Maruyama, he knows how great their abilities are and does what he can to support them during a match.
(To Tsubakihara) "We watched the tape of their game against Shiratorizawa, remember? It wasn't like they crushed them or anything. Things like lucky breaks and flukes exist, you know?"[3]
(To Teradomari) "Seriously. I mean, did you hear that hollow thonk it made?!"[4]
