A Set For The Ace picks up where the previous episode left off as Ukai Kenshin agrees to coach the team until after the Nekoma match because the rivalry between the teams was at its height when he was a player on the Karasuno team but I didn’t have him pegged as a setter. The team are obviously hyped about having a coach that actually knows the game well unlike Takeda, although he has his uses and I am a firm believer in the theory that he is actually the Little Giant.
The first thing Ukai does is arrange a match with his neighbour team, The Neighbourhood Association in order to see the state of the team as they currently are. However, something interesting happens here as Hinata spots Asahi passing the gym and Ukai pulls him into the games as his team are short a few players. Nishinoya is also put on this team as their libero is stuck at work and the tension between them is heavy. The team are also missing a setter and Sugawara volunteers. Kageyama opposes this being a new member to the team but Sugawara gives a really passionate speech about wanting to set for the ace again which sparks something in Asahi although he doesn’t voice it.
As the match begins we see Asahi’s insecurities coming into play as he doesn’t want to call for a set and when he does for the first time he is shut out brining back some bad memories for him. Through him we get a full flashback on what happened during that match and why the team fractured so badly afterwards. However, Asahi realises when Nishinoya picks up an almost impossible ball that he has been training so hard in order to stop a repeat of the previous match where they lost. Sugawara also says they need to push hard so that all the responsibility doesn’t fall on Asahi again.
Asahi has a revelation here as he has forgotten the most important thing in volleyball, he isn’t fighting alone. After realising this he calls for a toss from Sugawara who happily sets him a toss that he finds the easiest to hit. With Nishinoya watching his back, Asahi finally has the confidence to give it his all without worrying about being shut out and he manages to blow Kageyama, Tsukishima and Tanaka away with his incredible power which Hinata is in awe of.
A Set For The Ace was a great episode as we see the makings of a great team with a competent coach in control. However, I have to mention the humour moments in this episode, Asahi running away from Daichi because he is scared of him when he is mad, Daichi calling Asahi a wimp in a giant’s body. Ukai’s face when he sees Hinata and Kageyama’s quick attack for the first time, Tanaka crying his eyes out as he goes up against Asahi. There are so many great moments to mention. I also wanted to mention that the intermission sequences between the two halves of the episodes are really funny and add something extra to the character’s personalities and we get to see characters from many different teams as the series progresses.
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