Have you ever wondered what it is like to be in the mind of every player on the court? Well, today you are going to find out what runs through the mind of a player who is skilled at their craft. I have also interviewed a hitter and a setter a little bit about their position and strategy to help you maybe learn and improve from.

Hitter
A volleyball hitter or attacker is someone on the court whose job is to hit/ spike a ball over the net to get a point. Their hit is typically following a setter’s set. Often hitters aim for a spot on the court where there is less of a percentage to get the ball to a pass which is ideal to getting a point or also a “kill”. A kill is where a hitter hits the ball, and the ball doesn’t get received on the other side of the net. Often a kill is followed by a cheer or chant to show your appreciation or excitement. As a hitter, you can also be an “outside”- left side, a Middle hitter, or a “Opposite”- Right side. The left hitter is often the person who can hit any set and is also known as the “go-to” hitter. The middle hitter is usually the tallest and fastest hitter and is known for quick sets. Finally, the right side is usually the strongest block to protect against the opposing team’s strongest outside hitter.

Setter
A setter is someone on the court who is the primary playmaker to set precise sets to the hitter. Their set is most often followed by the backrow’s pass. Setters often set to a hitter that is open and ready to get a hit off the setter. A setter has to memorize over 20 sets!! Which is crazy if you think about how it compares to normal gameplay. The setter is also known as the “ Quarterback” of the team and lifts their team’s spirits just as their own.

Libero
A libero is someone who specializes in the back row as a defensive player. Liberos wear a contrasting jersey to the team colors because it allows referees to easily enforce their own unique rules. Liberos are restricted to the back row, cannot play in the front row, or jump in front of the 10-foot line. In some divisions of volleyball, liberos cannot even serve. Liberos are also, on average, the shortest person on the team because their role requires very fast reflexes. A libero pass is followed by the opposing team’s serve, which is called “serve receive”.

“Success begins at the end of your comfort zone.” I hope you learned a little bit about the different positions of volleyball. One piece of advice I would give you is that even though you may not be “fit” or meet certain requirements for a certain position, don’t give up because a big part of volleyball is being in the right mindset, so set your mind to it.