Lev Haiba, a first-year at Nekoma High and the boys' volleyball team's middle blocker, was born on October 30, 1996. Half-Japanese and half-Russian but raised entirely in Japan without speaking Russian, he possesses a striking appearance: light grey hair, catlike green eyes, and exceptionally long limbs. Standing 194.3 cm (later 196 cm), his imposing stature often leads others to misjudge him as intimidating. His older sister is Alisa Haiba; together they became models in 2021, appearing on a perfume billboard in Shibuya. Lev began playing volleyball only in high school, demonstrating minimal experience. His early skills were notably underdeveloped, particularly in serving, receiving, and synchronizing with sets, prompting Kenma Kozume to observe he was "worse than Hinata" in fundamentals. Despite this, he confidently declared himself Nekoma’s "ace," arguing the title belonged to whoever scored the most points. His raw athleticism, including a high vertical jump (345 cm reach) and long strides, enabled a distinctive "whip-like spike" bypassing blockers and the development of a "broad attack" exploiting his speed to spike before blocks formed. Introduced in the OVA *The Arrival of Haiba Lev*, Lev struggled to integrate, arriving late to practice and failing to connect with Kenma’s tosses. Coach Nekomata insisted he play in a practice match against Kunihira High to foster growth, pairing him with Kenma for intensive training. After repeated failures, Kenma adjusted his sets to Lev’s unpredictable jump timing, culminating in their first successful spike, highlighting Lev’s persistence and willingness to practice relentlessly. Cheerful and energetic, Lev’s personality is marked by bluntness, sometimes unintentionally offending teammates, like commenting on Morisuke Yaku’s height or Hinata Shoyo’s stature. He exhibits confidence bordering on arrogance after successful plays yet remains receptive to criticism. His rivalry with Hinata began at a training camp, competing over jumping height and blocking. Initially dismissing teamwork, Lev’s evolution started when Kuroo Tetsurou explained its importance after Nekoma’s loss to Fukurōdani; he acknowledged his shortcomings, vowing to improve defensively and "connect" with the team. His growth intensified during the Tokyo qualifiers. Taunted by Nohebi Academy for ineffective blocking, he refined his "read blocking" under Kuroo’s guidance, learning to close gaps. When Yaku was injured, Lev partnered with substitute libero Shibayama Yuki, developing unspoken strategies to direct spikes toward defensive coverage, solidifying his understanding of Nekoma’s teamwork philosophy. By the series’ end, he became a reliable blocker, using his height to pressure setters and funnel attacks to receivers. Lev shares a competitive yet respectful dynamic with Hinata, mutual admiration for Kenma’s strategic mind, and frequent clashes with Yaku that evolved into grudging trust, reflecting his maturation from a self-focused rookie to a team-oriented player. Post-high school, he pursued modeling while retaining ties to volleyball. His favorite food is Oinarisan, his star sign is Scorpio, and his name "Lev" translates to "lion" in Russian. His height increased by 2 mm over two weeks during high school, making him one of the series' tallest players.