Top 18 Best Players In The Dumpster Battle (Haikyuu, 2024)

Fans are rejoicing now that Haikyuu!! is returning with a new movie featuring the much-awaited match between Karasuno and Nekoma in the Nationals. Nekoma has always been Karasuno’s biggest rival, with the history of their rivalry reaching back to the coaches. This fated match is also called the Dumpster Battle where the crows fight the cats. Let’s see who the best players of the Dumpster Battle are.

The movie, titled “Haikyuu!!: The Battle of the Garbage Dump”, picks up where the ending of Season 4 left off, with Karasuno defeating Inarizaki and being matched against Nekoma next. Since we’ll be discussing the events of the Dumpster Battle, this article will be full of spoilers. Now let’s see how each player fares in this important match:

Top 18 Best Players In The Dumpster Battle

18) Tamahiko Teshiro

While every player gives their best in their most-awaited match, the backup setter of Nekoma, Tamahiko Teshiro, gets considerably less time to show off his skills than his team members. Teshiro is put in the match as a pinch server and stuns everyone by doing a ceiling serve.

Despite this, he doesn’t get to stay in the match for much longer as Asahi soon cuts off his streak. Teshiro may not do much in the match but since it is his first match, we can forgive it.

17) Koshi Sugawara

Everyone’s adored Koshi Sugawara is a third-year student and the backup setter of Karasuno. But since Kageyama reigns as the team’s primary setter, Sugawara is frequently used as a pinch server. Unlike most other pinch servers, Sugawara doesn’t have a special serve. However, he makes up for it with the precision of his serves that easily break their opponent’s formation.

In the Dumpster Battle, Sugawara serves the same purpose. But unlike some of the other matches where his inclusion to the match brings a vital twist, he doesn’t get many flashy moments in the Karasuno vs. Nekoma match.

16) So Inuoka

Ever since their first practice match, some of the players from both teams have found their individual rivals from the opponent team. While Kenma serves as the primary adversary for Hinata, the redhead’s first rival from Nekoma is his opponent’s middle blocker So Inuoka.

Inuoka is no longer a part of the starting lineup for Nekoma, with Lev taking his place. However, he’s subbed in place of Kai in the second and third sets of the Dumpster Battle where he manages to block a few of Hinata’s spikes.

14) Tadashi Yamaguchi

One of the four first-years of the Karasuno team Tadashi Yamaguchi is the only one who isn’t part of the starting lineup. However, that’s not to say that he has no contribution to the team’s matches. Over time, he’s mastered jump floater serves and his serves now act as one of the most effective strategies for the team.

In the Dumpster Battle, Yamaguchi shows the same finesse and skill in his jump floaters. His serves, coupled with Tsukishima’s blocks, act as the shield and spear strategy for Karasuno.

13) Shohei Fukunaga

It’s not possible for every player of a team to stand out in every match. Some get more spotlight while some get less. Shohei Fukunaga from Nekoma is one of those less flashy players. He’s consistent in his performance as one of the main receivers and a wing spiker.

In the Dumpster Battle, Fukunaga is his usual reliable self, assisting his teammates in giving the most opportunity to Nekoma’s “brain.” But it’s during this match that we get a glimpse of how skillful a player Fukunaga is, even though he doesn’t stand out much.

13) Nobuyuki Kai

The most underrated player in Nekoma’s team has to be the third-year wing spiker Nobuyuki Kai. He’s one of the oldest members of the team and also one of its most level-headed ones. Kai doesn’t get a lot of spotlight in Nekoma’s matches but he consistently contributes to the tight defense of Nekoma.

In the Dumpster Battle, Kai gains a lot of focus by digging many of Kageyama’s powerful jump serves which are destined to be service aces if not for Kai’s expert receives. By doing so, he robs Karasuno of a lot of points in the match.

12) Lev Haiba

The tallest player in the Dumpster Battle is Nekoma’s first-year Russian middle blocker Lev Haiba. Standing at 6’5”, Lev is a cornerstone for Nekoma’s defense even though he isn’t good at digging and his spiking is also little more than average.

But what Lev has in his corner aside from him being so tall is his natural athleticism. While not on the same level as Hinata, Lev can move very quickly and adapt to a situation well. He shows his improvement in the Dumpster Battle the most, making him one of the best players in the match.

11) Daichi Sawamura

Daichi Sawamura is the captain and opposite hitter of Karasuno and he’s been in all of Karasuno’s matches. His primary role in the team is to receive spikes and strengthen the defense of the team. While Daichi isn’t the flashiest player on the team, he’s an invaluable member.

Without Daichi, Karasuno’s whole defense would crumble. In the Karasuno vs. Nekoma match, Daichi continues supporting the team by receiving a lot of tricky spikes and serves, and thus, we have to include him as one of the best players in the Dumpster Battle.

10) Ryuunosuke Tanaka

Karasuno is known for its aggressive offense strategy and one of the main pillars of that is the second-year wing spiker Ryuunosuke Tanaka. He’s one of the highest point-getters on the team and a very tenacious player, known as the other ace of Karasuno.

Tanaka found his equal in Nekoma’s Yamamoto during the first practice match between Karasuno and Nekoma. In the Dumpster Battle, Tanaka stays as a major offensive player and goes toe-to-toe with Yamamoto who’s also Nekoma’s ace.

9) Taketora Yamamoto

The ace of Nekoma, Taketora Yamamoto, also gives his all in the Nekoma vs. Karasuno match. Yamamoto is one of Nekoma’s most fierce and powerful players as well as its highest point-getter. His friendship with Kenma translates very well in the court as he and his setter are very coordinated.

Yamamoto’s rivalry with Tanaka and the need to earn an official win from Karasuno result in some pretty great plays from the wing spiker.

8) Asahi Azumane

Aside from Hinata, the one whom the team can always trust to earn points is Karasuno’s ace, Asahi Azumane. Thanks to his strong build and height, Asahi is a great weapon for his setter to utilize. He consistently scores throughout the whole and contributes to some major blocks.

But that’s not all. In the Karasuno vs. Nekoma match, Asahi scores the highest number of service aces and his serves become one of the greatest strengths for Karasuno. Thus, he’s undoubtedly one of the best players in the Dumpster Battle.

7) Morisuke Yaku

Nekoma’s libero, Morisuke Yaku, is undoubtedly their most skilled player and one of the biggest contributors to their tight-knit defense. In every match that he’s played, Yaku has displayed immense skill at digging and reacting, making him someone whom even a top ace like Bokuto is wary of.

Ever since their first practice match, Yaku has found his rival in Karasuno’s libero, Nishinoya. He admires Nishinoya’s impressive skills and how quickly he improves. In the Dumpster Battle, Yaku goes and beyond with crazy receives that spares Nekoma a lot of points.

6) Yu Nishinoya

There isn’t a single player in Karasuno’s team who’d argue that their coolest player is none other than their super libero Yu Nishinoya. Also called the guardian deity of Karasuno by himself and his teammates, Nishinoya is a force to be reckoned with in every match he plays.

In the Karasuno vs. Nekoma match in the Nationals, Nishinoya shows his worth once again by saving tricky spikes and receiving Kuroo’s powerful jump serves. His rivalry with Yaku only pushes him further.

5) Kei Tsukishima

Karasuno is an aggressively offensive team but that’s not to say that their defense is weak. And the credit for that goes to their first-year middle blocker Kei Tsukishima. Ever since the training camp in Tokyo and the match against Shiratorizawa, Tsukishima has become a wonderful player as engrossed in the sport as his fellow players.

In the Dumpster Battle, Tsukishima fights against his most dangerous opponent: the one who mentored him about read blocking in the first place. In an epic showdown, Tsukishima and Kuroo showcase their master blocking, making scoring difficult for each other’s team.

4) Tetsuro Kuroo

Nekoma’s captain Tetsuro Kuroo is known for his abysmal hairstyle and crafty nature. But that isn’t all he’s good for. Being a middle-blocker, Kuroo is one of the most important pillars of Nekoma’s defense. He’s a master at read blocking and even though he usually doesn’t stand out much, his contribution is invaluable to the team.

However, when Nekoma faces Karasuno in the Nationals, Kuroo shows why he’s a force to be reckoned with on the court. Not only does he excels at blocking but he also scores plenty of points with his powerful jump serves and even manages to give Tsukishima a few tips in between. No doubt he’s considered as one of the best players in the Dumpster Battle.

3) Shoyo Hinata

When it comes to flashy players, nobody steals the limelight as brilliantly as Karasuno’s tiny middle blocker, Shoyo Hinata. Using his natural athleticism as his weapon, Hinata is one player that his opponents also have to look out for.

The Dumpster Battle is a culmination of a lot of rivalries but the most important one has to be between Hinata and Kenma. Hinata’s promise to give Kenma a match which will make the setter say that it was fun finally come true in the Nationals. 

As usual, Hinata scores plenty of points for his team despite his exhaustion and being targeted specifically by Nekoma. When Kenma uses Hinata’s athleticism against him and causes him to be unable to fly anymore, Hinata perseveres and soars once again, solidifying his position as one of the best players in the Dumpster Battle.

2) Kenma Kozume

Nekoma is a team that uses all its player to get the ball safely and nicely to their “brain” to score points and the brain of Nekoma is their setter Kenma Kozume. A wickedly intelligent player, Kenma beats everyone at strategizing and is a major contributor to Nekoma’s strength.

While Kenma is amazing at tossing at strategizing, he isn’t one to move very much in matches, causing his teammates to get the ball to him as nicely as possible. But in the Dumpster Battle, Kenma shows his true potential when he’s actually excited in a match and reaches his peak by systematically limiting the movements of Hinata and other Karasuno players.

1) Tobio Kageyama

It’s usually Hinata who usually gets the most amount of spotlight in a match or sometimes players like Tsukishima or Asahi whose moves are flashy. However, there is no doubt who the most skilled and fearsome player of Karasuno is and it’s none other than their brilliant setter Tobio Kageyama.

The thing about Kageyama is that he’s so consistently good that it remains barely worth mentioning. But in Karasuno’s match against Nekoma in the finals, Kageyama shows why he’s considered to be a genius and a “monster.”

His partnership with Hinata reaches a new height in this match and his toss to give Hinata the time to spike is the highlight of the match. Aside from his awesome sets, Kageyama also strikes fear in his opponents with his very intense jump serves. 

With this, we conclude our ranking of the 18 best players in the Dumpster Battle. The Dumpster Battle is very important for both Karasuno and Nekoma as it is a conclusion to the decades-old rivalry between Coach Ukai and Coach Nekomata as well as between the new players. Haikyuu!!: The Battle of the Garbage Dump premieres today in Japan and will soon be available in other countries. Catch the movie when it’s available and for more anime content, follow Otakus’ Notes.

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Anamika Das

Anamika loves words and stories and putting them to pages. She also loves anime, manga, books, movies and everything fantasy. She has been a fan of anime since childhood and her admiration for it only grew with years. Her passion for writing is even more elevated by writing about the things she loves.