"Trio" (Japanese:
Overview[]
Inarizaki continues to put the pressure on Karasuno by targeting Nishinoya with their serves. Karasuno calls for their first timeout of the set; however, they struggle to change the rhythm of the game. Nishinoya gets himself back into the zone and manages to receive Atsumu Miya's third serve; however, Karasuno fails to gain a point, leaving Atsumu ready for his fourth serve.
Plot[]
Karasuno takes their first timeout, which Nishinoya uses to get Ennoshita to tape his finger. The audience begins to note on how Inarizaki is targeting Karasuno's libero when it dawns on them, that: "if the libero can't receive it, there's no way I can." Inarizaki's tactic is to take down Nishinoya's chipper attitude, therefore affecting that of his teammates. Meanwhile, Atsumu begins to boast about scoring a service ace against powerful opponents to his team, and the timeout ends.
Atsumu and Nishinoya share a glare as the teams walk back onto the court, Atsumu holding the ball for his second serve. Daichi counts 4 steps as Atsumu runs up to serve, indicating that it will be a jump float. Nishinoya manages to make contact with the ball; however, he can't keep it up in the air, handing the point over to Inarizaki, meaning it's Atsumu's turn to serve a third time. The crowd begins to cheer for Atsumu for successfully scoring two service aces in a row against Karasuno's libero.
Lev comments on the game, saying how he was sure Nishinoya would be able to receive it. Shibayama, one of Nekoma's liberos, notes on the fact that even if the receive is a little bit off, it can cause the ball to project in any random direction. Lev says that he gets that, and Yaku smartly replies with: "I wonder about that," seeing as Lev is a repeat offender of messing up receives. Shimada notes on how he's never seen Nishinoya mess up two consecutive receives in a row.
Hinata, in a very serious tone, states that this is the Super Spiker (Atsumu) versus the Super Receiver (Nishinoya). This statement makes Sugawara laugh, before he nods in agreement. Meanwhile, Asahi is deep in thought, trying to think of something to say that can motivate Nishinoya, while thinking back on the countless times Nishinoya has managed to encourage him, but the fact that it's never been the other way around. Suddenly, Nishinoya drops to the ground and begins to do finger pushups, leaving the audience and opponents in confusion. Kinoshita notes on the fact that finger pushups were Nishinoya's penalty during practices, and by doing them now, Nishinoya was trying to replicate that feeling of being in practice, away from all the pressure of a serious match such as this.
Nishinoya jumps back up, a determined grin on his face. Atsumu smirks back and prepares himself for his third serve. Nishinoya manages to keep the ball in play, sending it up in the air, which Tanaka sends to Asahi. Asahi spikes the ball over, aiming it at Atsumu, the setter. Atsumu receives the ball, sending it up to his twin, Osamu. Osamu then sets the ball to Suna. Tsukishima manages to keep up and jumps to block it, shocking the Miya twins and audience with his fast reflexes. However, Suna manages to avoid the block, spiking the ball right down beside Tanaka, earning Inarizaki yet another point, creating a 10-point lead for Inarizaki.
The commentators note on the great ability of the Miya twins, and how they were able to pull off a first tempo attack, despite Osamu not actually being an official setter. Suna snarkily comments on the fact that Tsukishima is still good at blocking, at which Tsukishima tells him to p*ss off (censored). Atsumu prepares himself for his fourth serve, as the spirits of the Karasuno players begin to bleak.