A spike follows a downward flight path.
So in volleyball, even though the blocking jump from a stationary position can't compare in height to a spiker's jump with a running approach, blocks still often manage to stop spikes.
Moreover, the so-called "highest contact point" is just theoretical.
In real matches, due to factors like the attacker's physical condition, jump timing, and coordination with the setter... most attackers rarely spike exactly from their absolute highest contact point.
Of course, if the difference in jump height between the blocker and the attacker is too large, even if the attacker doesn't reach their highest point, they can still easily smash through the block.
And that's roughly the situation between Akashi Asuka and the opponents right now.
The dyed-hair university students on Akashi's side were all amateur volleyball enthusiasts. Whether in high school or university clubs, they were mostly substitutes.
If they were main players, they wouldn't be stuck playing at these casual "street court" matches all year round.
They really liked volleyball, but only as a hobby.
So when they realized their blocks couldn't completely stop Akashi's attacks, they made a small adjustment.
The two blockers slightly increased the distance between themselves and the net.
Since spikes travel downward, the further the blockers are from the net, the lower the height they need to block the spike.
This tactic naturally comes with risks.
For example, the ball might bounce off the block and hit the net, falling back onto their own side.
Or the gaps between blockers might be larger, giving attackers more chances to find openings.
But they were betting on the fact that Akashi hadn't yet mastered advanced attacking techniques.
After all, having good physical ability might be talent, but if a ninth grader not only has great physical skills but also advanced techniques, then that's not talent, it's a monster.
They had to admit: their gamble paid off.
With this increased distance, any attacker who could hit sharp cross-court spikes could easily break through, even with minimal angle, as long as they had decent accuracy.
But Akashi didn't know how to do that yet.
Before, Akashi had relied mainly on power and height to break through blocks.
His power was enough against fellow Junior Highers, but against fully grown university students and adults, it was less effective.
Not useless, but it mostly just made opponents' hands sore, it wasn't enough to smash through.
If this were an official match, Akashi could try techniques like tipping or hitting the ball out of bounds to score.
But this wasn't that.
Besides, Akashi wasn't here just to win matches.
His real goal at the "street court" was to sharpen his advanced techniques through real combat.
So this was the perfect time.
After another block from the opponents, the dyed-hair university student quickly organized the offense again, with Akashi still as the main spiker.
Though the distant block limited Akashi's attacks in these rounds, his earlier violent spikes had already earned him some trust in the dyed-hair student's mind.
Seeing the high ball from the setter, the two blockers quickly positioned themselves and stepped back a little.
Akashi jumped into the air and, seeing their familiar blocking positions, recalled the advanced spiking techniques he had researched online.
Volleyball attacking techniques are generally divided into cross-court spikes, line spikes, tips (or "super hands"), and hitting the ball out of bounds, among others.
The tip, spiking from the highest contact point over the block, requires high coordination with the setter.
Hitting out of bounds depends on the attacker's skill as well as the blocker's height, hand positioning, and arm angles.
Therefore, the techniques that most directly show an attacker's skill level are cross-court and line spikes.
Line spikes, also called sideline spikes, are done from extreme court positions near the 4 or 6 spots, close to the boundary line, usually as a last resort.
Cross-court spikes are divided into three types: the deep cross-court, the short cross-court, and the mid cross-court (or "waistline").
The deep cross-court targets the back corners.
The short cross-court is a spike close to the three-meter line on the front sides.
The mid cross-court, the most common, is usually the go-to technique.
Against a single or double block, the most frequently used spike is the mid cross-court.
Bang!
Mid-air, Akashi twisted his core, forcibly changing the angle of his swing, with his palm slightly tilted.
He smashed the ball down hard.
The two blockers felt as if a breeze had passed by, only to see the ball suddenly vanish.
By the time they realized what happened, the volleyball had sailed past them and smashed onto the floor.
"Out of bounds!" one opponent shouted loudly.
Akashi landed without expression, because mid-air, he had already seen that his spike had gone about twenty or thirty centimeters beyond the sideline.
"Don't worry, don't worry. Great spike! That was a beautiful cross-court shot. Keep it up next time." the dyed-hair student behind Akashi encouraged loudly.
The mid cross-court spike is the most common type of cross-court spike in matches.
Firstly, it's less technically demanding than the other two types.
Secondly, it's one of the most effective ways to break through single or double blocks.
Keep in mind:
In official matches, attackers rarely face a triple block.
More often, they face one or two blockers.
Because this spike is so common, most volleyball players referring to "cross-court spikes" usually mean this mid cross-court style.
Encouragement between players during volleyball matches is very common.
When the dyed-hair student saw Akashi's spike miss, he just said it out of habit.
But he didn't yet understand what that phrase "keep it up next time" really meant to Akashi.
Thus,
The dyed-hair student's nightmare began.
Because learning new techniques?
Mistakes are a very common thing, aren't they?
...
"Out of bounds!"
"Out of bounds!"
"Out of bounds!"
"Good ball!"
"Out of bounds!"
Time passed little by little as the two teams exchanged offense and defense.
The gym's ceiling lights remained bright.
The two blockers' defense stayed tight.
Akashi's spikes stayed strong.
Only the dyed-hair student's gaze grew increasingly vacant, and the voice of the one shouting commands gradually grew hoarse...
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