Haruichi Furudate's Haikyuu!! emulates the classic underdog story. The Karasuno High School volleyball team began as a squad that has fallen from their glory days. Now the team is determined to rise to the top and restore Karasuno's reputation of being volleyball champions.
The players have their own demons and setbacks to deal with, the most famous one being Hinata's short height in a sport where this is a disadvantage. However, he is not even the shortest player on the team. At 5'3.2", Yū Nishinoya, Karasuno's libero, is the shortest member. This does not stop him, however, from being an unstoppable force on the court.
Young Nishinoya
As a little boy, Noya was shy and fearful of everything around him, from bugs to ghosts. His grandfather Mineo soon taught him that it was a waste of time to be scared. He believed that there is always a reason to be scared of something, but this holds a person back. To him, it is a waste to let up a chance to learn something new. When Noya asked him what to do when you are genuinely frightened, Mineo advised to seek help from others.
As Noya got older, his approach to life changed to one more in sync with his grandfather's. He said that while he though he could only pull of underhand receives, it is no fun to ignore trying the other options. In middle school, he was awarded as the best libero in the intermiddle competition. His talent as a libero naturally secured him a spot on the Karasuno High volleyball team in the same position. He also carried his fearless spirit into his high school volleyball career, as is evident in the anime.
What Does the Libero Do?
Liberos are the teams' defense specialists. They are not allowed to do moves such as serving, spiking the ball, completing an attack, or blocking a hit from a point higher than the net. Liberos never move to the front row and are in the game at all times.
They wear a different colored uniform in comparison to their teammates so that their movements are easier to track. The libero essentially connects everyone with their receives, keeping the ball in play for the rest of the team to handle as they see fit.
Nishinoya's Height and the Libero Position
Shorter players do not automatically become suited for the role of libero, being good at receives fulfills this position. Team captain Daichi Sawamura comments that despite his small size, Noya's presence on the team is "different than having a sense of security". Noya describes the libero's job as the one that excites crowds the most, because of the thrill that comes from receiving a powerful spike.
Realistically, Noya knows that volleyball can be a game of heights. He says that the libero position is the only one where being short is advantageous. With that being said, Noya loves being the libero. Even if he was really tall, he would stil be the libero of the team. The libero ensures that the ball does not touch the ground, regardless of whether the ball is spiked or blocked or not. The ball is kept in play by the libero, and Noya does that job flawlessly.
Being shorter means that it is easier for him to be closer to the ground to do this job. Throughout the anime, Noya has been seen constantly low to the floor in his moves, which would be hard to do if he was as tall as characters like Tsukishima or Asahi. His advantageous height enhances his raw skill as a libero. He is a very reliable member of the team, and his performance in every match proves that.