LF1189: Volleyball – Midterm Review

A-M Vocabulary + Positions

ace

A serve that is not passable and scores an immediate point.

antenna

The vertical rod at each sideline on the net. They are 3 feet above the net. The play ends if the ball hits them or the ball crosses the net outside of them.

approach

The quick and fast running motion of the attacker. This is usually three or four steps that get the spiker to the ball to jump and hit.

assist

Set or pass to a hitter that results in an immediate point.

attacker

The hitter. This is the player who is attempting to terminate play by getting a kill.

attack line or 10 foot line

the line is 3 meters from and parallel to the net. A backrow player must jump from behind the attack line for her attack to be legal.

backcourt

The area of the court behind the attack line, in front of the baseline and between the sidelines.

backrow attack

an attack by a back-row player who must attack from behind the 10 ft line for it to be legal

back-set

A ball that is set behind the setter opposite the direction she is facing.

block

A combination of one, two, or three players getting in front of their opponent's spiker and stopping or slowing down the attack with their hands.

blockers

Players who are attempting to stop or slow down their opponent's attack.

centerline

The line that divides the court in half underneath the net.

combination

A play run by the offensive team in which two or more players run routes in unison.

dig

A defensive technique used when the defender gets under and passes the ball after an attack.

dive

a defensive technique in which the player extends for a ball to make a defensive save and then catches herself with both hands and slides through on her stomach and thighs.

double block

Two frontcourt players working together to block an opposing hitter.

double contact

a ball that is hit twice by the same player. This is only legal on the first contact of the ball.

doubles

a type of game in which each team has only two players on its side. This is a very popular game played both indoors and outdoors.

down ball

An attacked ball from the opponent that is not considered a hard-driven spike or a free ball.

end line

Also known as the baseline. This is the back line of the court, which is 30 feet (9 meters) from the net and parallel to the net on both sides of the court.

error

A mistake by a player that results in a point for the opponent. This can be a service error, hitting error, ball-handling error, receiving error, or blocking error.

Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB)

The international governing body of volleyball. FIVB represents all of the international Olympic committees.

float serve

A serve that moves like a knuckleball with no spin. Solid contact and no follow-through can cause this.

forearm pass or bump

A fundamental ball-handling skill in which a player contacts the ball below the waist by using her forearms.

four-step approach

The basic attack approach pattern. These are the four steps the attacker uses to get to the ball to jump and hit. Right-handed hitters step right, left, then right-left. A left-handed hitter steps left, right, then left-right.

free ball

A slow, easy ball crossing the net that the team should counterattack very easily.

game

A part of the match. Games are played to 25 points, except the deciding game is played to 15 points, and teams must win games by 2 points. Most matches consist of two out of three or three out of five games.

held ball

An illegal contact that occurs when the ball comes to rest during contact.

hit, spike, attack

This is an offensive skill that a player uses to put the ball to the floor on the opponent's side of the net.

hitter

A spiker or attacker. This is the player who hits the ball.

hitting efficiency

A stat used to figure out how effective a hitter is. Calculate hitting efficiency by subtracting errors from kills and then dividing by total attempts. For example, if an attacker has 15 kills and 3 errors and has taken 35 attempts, her hitting efficiency is 0.343 (15 - 3 = 12 ÷ 35).

joust

Two opposing players making contact with the ball above the net. Usually the person who touches the ball second wins the battle.

jump serve

A serve in which the server jumps and attacks the ball as if she were spiking from behind the baseline.

kill

A ball that is overhead attacked to the opponent's side of the net and scores a point.

libero

A defensive player who wears a different-coloured jersey and is not allowed to set the ball in front of the attack line or jump and attack the ball above the top of the net. Some rules (women's NCAA) allow the libero to serve, and some do not allow them to serve (USAV).

lift

An illegal contact caused by holding the ball.

lineup

A team's serving order that reflects their starting location on the court.

match

A series of games that determines the outcome. Usually volleyball matches are two out of three or three out of five.

mintonette

The original name of the game created by William Morgan

1

Setter (S)

2

Opposite (OPP)

3

Middle (M)

4

Outside Hitter (OH)

5

Left Back (LB)

6

Libero (Lib)