Shouyou Hinata is enamored with volleyball; he is in the 3rd year of middle-school, and will not be discouraged by the fact that he has no teammates to play with. He finally scrapes together a team to enter his first and last official tournament.

Hinata and Kageyama are challenged to a match against fellow first-years, with the aid of second-year Tanaka. While they practice for the match early one morning, Hinata demands Kageyama to give him a toss, to which Kageyama responds: “I don't think you're essential in winning,” and refuses to toss him the ball.

The Miyagi Prefecture Qualifier finals of the Spring High School Volleyball Tournament. The ones to stand before Karasuno High School are the undefeated champions, Shiratorizawa Academy. Do they have a chance to win against the ultimate spiker, Ushijima? Their battle towards the nationals finally begins...

The battle goes well beyond 15, as the fifth set for both teams enters the 20's. Shiratorizawa shows off individual strengths, and Karasuno continues to show the strength as a team. In a battle of volleyball philosophy, Karasuno and Shiratorizawa fight for who moves on to Nationals.