The Team

The game of volleyball is certainly unique in many ways, especially in the importance of the team.  Volleyball is one of the only sports that requires positive attitude and team togetherness to succeed.  Volleyball is a momentum sport.  If a player gets ten kills in the beginning of a game, it is very likely that the player may not miss a hit in the entire match.  That is because the player has a high momentum and positive attitude toward their playing.  If a player misses his or her first two hits, digs, or serves, they may be taken out of the game for the same reason.  They have a low momentum, and they need a break in order to pull themselves out of their bad rut.  Momentum not only applies to individual players but the entire team. A volleyball team must enter their gym with a positive attitude and confidence in their abilities. If they do not do this, then they do not stand a chance against their opponent.  For example, a volleyball team may contain the best players in the state, but they cannot compete at all if their attitudes towards each other and themselves is negative.  This has been evident thousands of times in volleyball history.  Teams must be able to attain a positive attitude and play in sync with one another in order to succeed.

The Right Side Hitter

There is one more hitting position in volleyball that my blog has not covered.  The right side hitter position is the last position I will cover, but it is certainly not least.  The right side hitter is, of course, located in the right side of the front row.  The right side hitter must be tall, have a high vertical jump, and be a great blocker because they are blocking against the other team's best hitter, the outside hitter.  The right side hitter may serve as the setter, but this is rarely seen in volleyball today because that takes away a hitter in the front row.  This position, nevertheless, must have great setting hands.  In case the setter has to take the first contact in a game, it is the right side hitter's job to take the second contact and set the other hitters.  Stereotypically, most right side hitters are left-handed because of their position in relation to the setter.  In offense, the setter is up at the net and the right side hitter is at the three yard line, standing behind them.  If the hitter is right handed, then the set to the right side would cross over the player's body to the right hand, making it harder to keep focus on the ball.  If the hitter is left handed, then the set is easier to keep track of.  The right side hitter position is a very demanding position because it not only asks for the player to hit and block, but it also asks for the player to set in emergencies.

The Middle Hitter

When watching volleyball, spectators may easily notice why the middle hitter position is so diverse from any other position in volleyball.  The middle hitter is commonly known as the tallest girl on a volleyball team, ideally because this player has to block all three opposing hitters on the other team.  The middle hitter is located in the middle of the front row.  Because of their excessive height, middle hitters are known to crush the ball straight down, making their attacks the hardest to defend.  Of course, this position may look easy to fans and spectators of the sport, but it is certainly a tough position to get used to.  Because the middle hitter is basically located in the middle of the court in offense, it is essential that they have extreme court awareness at all times.  They have to know where they are in relation to the other players so they do not get in the way of the passers or the setters.  Also, this player must be able to readily block on the left and right sides of the court.  It is important that they time their blocks perfectly in order to slow down and even stop the hitters on the other team from advancing the volleyball over the net.  In addition to the many things that middle hitters have to do, they must also be able to run multiple plays and different kinds of sets.  For example, the "one" set is a quick set, in which the volleyball is only set about a foot above the setters hands.  The "two" set is a set that is, obviously, set about two feet from the setters hands.  The middle hitter position is a very complex position that takes a lot of athletic ability and coordination.

The Outside Hitter

The outside hitter, also known as the left side hitter, is a very common position among volleyball players, and it usually contains some of the strongest hitters on a volleyball team.  This player hits and blocks on the left side of the front row.  Outside hitters are not always the tallest players on a team, but they often have a very high vertical jump and a strong arm.  Even though this is a front row position, it also requires some defensive skills, such as digging and covering blocks and tips.  Because of their talent in many fields in volleyball, outside hitters are the go-to hitters, and they are commonly set the most out of each of the three hitters on the court.  In most cases, when the pass to the setter is not perfect, the set goes to the outside hitter.  As a result, outside hitters must be both consistent and aggressive in their attacks.  They have to be able to work well with an out-of-system set, in which the setter gives a bad set or is unable to reach the volleyball in time.  Being an outside hitter requires court awareness and the ability to make smart decisions in a second's notice.  This player may be set or passed to at any time in the game.  The outside hitter is a very popular, impressive position in the game of volleyball. 

The Setter

The setter position is possibly one of the most important positions on the volleyball court.  When most people watch volleyball, they pay attention to the front row hitters that crush the volleyball over the net.  Most people pay little attention to the players that are responsible for giving the hitters this opportunity.  This player is the setter.  The setter's main job is to set their up their hitters for an attack.  It sounds easy to most people.  What people do not see is that the setter is in charge of a lot more.  Setters have to have a sense of leadership.  They are the ones that call the plays.  They must be absolutely aware of everything going on in the game.  It is vital for them to know what plays are necessary at a given time, as well as which player is the best person to set.  They are the only players that are guaranteed to touch the volleyball every time it comes over the net.  The setter position is the one position that does not require any certain heights.  If a setter is short, they can serve as a back row setter for their team.  If they are very tall, they can serve as a front row setter, in which they can block and attack when given the opportunity.  Setters are often not appreciated as much as they should be, but, without them, the game of volleyball would not be able to be played. Here's a video of a great setter that plays volleyball at my club:

The Libero

When people watch volleyball, new spectators of the sport may ask many questions.  Although the sport of volleyball may seem very simple, the game can get very complex when it comes to the positions and numerous rules.  One of the most frequently asked questions about volleyball is somewhere along the lines of, "Why is that player wearing a different colored jersey?".  This player is called a libero.  A libero is a defensive specialist who, obviously, wears a different colored jersey than the rest of his or her team.  A libero is often the best passer on the team.  This position allows a player to enter and exit the game at any time, as much as needed.  The libero often enters the game in place of the taller front row players that are not necessarily the best passers on the team.  Of course, a libero cannot enter the front row, and they could not even serve in a game until recently.  Liberos cannot play as the setter on their team, either.  Rules have been loosened over time.  Now there are allowed to be two liberos on a team at once.  Stereotypically, liberos are the shortest players on their team.  Unless a short player has a very high vertical jump, being a libero is probably the only option for them.  This position gives shorter players a chance to play volleyball.  Here is a video of an MVP libero playing: