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.