Is it my fault...or the setters?

Question

So im super tall...and i can jump. I play middle blocker. Given the oppertunity i can hit over the majority of blocks at the 18's & under level (club) but i always hit into the block because i am forced to drop my arm because all of my sets are right above the tape. I hate always blaming my setters and I feel that I am doing something wrong. Most teams we play against put up a triple block against me...so i can always score by tipping the ball, but i rarely get a chance to get a good swing at the ball. I have pretty good distance and timing on the quick set...but is there more i can do to manipulate a low set so that I can actually hit the ball without getting blocked?

Answer 1

OK so I am a setter and I understand what you are saying, so me being a setter if I was your setter I would want you to tell me what you would like, because personally I would want to win so therefore I would want to set a set where you can make the other team eat it!!! So take the setter over to the side and show her exactly how high you want it a where so that she knows that!!! And I would practice it with her too that way she can get the hang of where you want it!!!

Good Luck and I hope I was helpful

Answer 2

It sounds as though the sets are too tight leaving you with few options.  It's okay if the other teams are weak blockers, but with you getting triple blocked, that doesn't sound like the case.

Talk with your setter and coach and practice.

Something else you can try is tooling the blockers.  Instead of hitting down, try to hit the ball off the block and out of bounds.  With a tight set, I've seen many guys basically aim out knowing the blockers will have the last touch.

Answer 3

It might take longer for a setter to adjust to each MH, but definitely the setter should take the responsibility... I know this from my experience as a starting MH on a championship team.

In my college days, I always told everyone that I was spoiled by my setter, as I could always get the ball where I wanted it to be, and my setter could just listen to my approach and decide whether to set me higher or lower (and "where"). The bitter part of being spoiled is that I had some bad years after graduation because I could not find a similar setter that plays at the similar level, and eventually I decided to pick up some OH work.

Back to your question, it is 90% of the setter's job to make sure MH can have a good swing. You need to practice together on a daily basis to get acquainted to each other, as close friends besides as teammates. It takes time.

Typically 1-ball should be set right off the net. If you can jump higher and hit higher, you should practice with your setter in order to get you hit 1 but not 2-ball when you mean to hit 1-ball. With three blockers running towards you, you should feel very proud of yourself, and at the same time try your best not to throw any attitude :) You may also do a fake 1 and jump for a 2-ball, or play a slide so that you can get less blocker in your face. You may also run other plays, such as X in your OH to hit middle and you go to the left side for a shoot-ball... all these would have to be called by the setter and you two need to "practice and practice".

From your standpoint, getting a point from tip is not bad. I had left hand tip and right hand tip (mixed with 1's) that saved me lots of energy. You might also want to know how to hit off blocker's nails, and how to bounce the ball off your blocker out-of-bound (there are some times me as a blocker could see that coming and took my arms back if I squared against a seasoned "flat-hitter", but I would have to make a guess). If you can mix those hits, your opponents would get confused big time. Best yet, you are the one who makes the call regarding how to hit the ball (flat, bounce out, or straight down). I have seen a hitter twisting his wrist and sent the ball into the ceiling off blockers hands (and out)... just imagine how fun it could be.

So work hard, practice more frequently with your setter, and have fun. You will enjoy the friendship as well as your season.

Answer 4

Just tell your setter. I have a similar problem...so I just constantly ask the setter. She may get annoyed, but if your as good as you say shes going to have to set you anyways. Plus tell the coach in secret if it comes down to it. Don't exploit the setter in front of everyone or she may be mad. Hopefully the coach will see the problem and get on her case. If you tell her to set it higher, if shes a decent setter she should be able to.

Answer 5

well. it doesnt sound like your fault but if you arent up to talking to the setter than try a roll. if you dont know what a roll is than all you need to do it this:

1. go up for the swing

2. when hand hits the ball hit on the edge of your palm.

3. roll your hand up.

........this will go right over the blockers with a lil bit of spin on it to make sure the diggers in back are gonna have to think fast!

i hope this helps.

good luck!!!!

xD

Answer 6

Just talk to your coaches about it maybe the setter is struggling with some things (volleyball wise) ----- but you can always go in earlier like before the ball touches the setters hand and then if that does not work just talk to the setter and say "I know that I have asked you this before but I really need you too set the ball higher."  If you talk to your coaches then the will probably just keep reminding her to push it higher.  A one ball right?  If it's not a one ball then definitely tell the setter to set higher.

Answer 7

First of all you need to talk to your setter..  if she already knows, you have to practice it on the side..  but if you're being triple blocked, the only way you're going to hit through it is if a) they mistime their jump or b) if there's holes in the block ..  if the block is solid and timely, you have to consider the holes behind them ...  both the outside and the weak side are open, not to mention the ten foot line behind the block ...  this is where your setter comes in...  if the set isn't high enough, you can't dink the ball or you'll be called for a carry, but any chance possible, if you're being triple blocked, utilize the open spaces in the court ...  one of my former teammates would have five or six kills a game on dinks ...  also, consider using the block to your advantage...  if you hit straight into the block at it's peak, you're very unlikely to beat it ..  however, if you set the ball or dink it very lightly into the block, the blockers will be descending when the ball reaches their fingertips and 2 things will happen: 1) the velocity of the hit will not be enough to block the ball back on your side of the net and 2) they'll take the ball down with them ...

Just like home runs, kills are pretty s**y, but sometimes you gotta play small ball to keep the defense off balance...

I'd still speak with your setter about where you want the set ...  it sounds to me like she's setting you a quick and the defense is anticipating it ..  if you have the height advantage, you want to be hitting the ball at your peak

Answer 8

You're problem could also be that you're just a bit late and you have a slow armswing.  You need to make sure that as a middle blocker, you crop your arm swing and don't pull your arms all the way behind you (this will make you late every time and you'll have a low ball to deal with).  If you're getting a triple block put up against you, have your setter move you around...she should be able to see the block.  If it's closer to her, she needs to push you out a bit, if its further, pull you in.  As a hitter, you'll naturally chase the ball down.  Also, you should be running more than just a quick (a 1 maybe?).  Try some 31's, 3'3's(shoots) 7'2's and slides.  These will confuse your blockers.  Your other hitters also need to be selling their positions.  If they're not going in hard, you're pretty much screwed.  Everyone in the gym will know you're getting set and that's why you're getting the triple block.  Another thing you can try instead of tipping (I hate tipping) is using the block.  Go in and hit off the tops of their fingers or push it into their hands and throw it out on their side.  It takes a lot of practice to get these things down, but once you do, it works like a charm every time.

Answer 9

You can only say - "I'm tall - see --- so I need a very high set..." then show where exactly you want your set, in relation with the net.  I know that younger players, like the shorter set - with no waiting, maybe that is what your setter is use to?

You might as well try to make the most of what you are given - in that, you know you have to get there early enough so as to be confident with your spiking, even if meeting a triple block?

Be sure you adding spin to your spikes (using your extra wrist movement, upon contact with the ball) - just do a hold up the ball, and spike it to the top of the net, if it goes over, you know you got it working - as a trial for your serves.

If you are making contact with the blockers, just follow through and expect the block contact - so that you don't let the ball drop onto your side.  If the blockers win on the confrontation, you can adjust your timing, so that you'll be on the winning combination.

A good thing about the spin, is that it will find it's own way through the blockers - and it's always fun to see what does happen...

Another thing to take note of - that if the setter digs for the 'set' then it will automatically be high.  Setting the ball using the normal set fingering technique may require too much effort for some setters?  If that is the case, then using the 'dig' to set would be much more easier for them.  They won't tire out, this way.

Answer 10

it isn't your fault that the set is bad, you need to talk to your setter about that one. what you should say is "hey, i need the set to be a little higher." when the setter is setting a one, they have to see your hand and put the ball in front of your hand. it is really hard to do, so setters don't mind you giving them input so that they can improve their setting.

as a middle, i loved the fact that i had enough hang time that i could jump before the setter even set the ball, and still be at the peak of my jump when i hit it. i almost literally took the ball out of the setters hands, and many times, they were sets not meant for me, but for the outside (whoops!). other middles run the one in a way where the setter sets the ball to a predetermined hight and the middle jumps and hits the ball. that is more of a "one-and-a-half." the point is you may be late to the ball, so the setter sees your hand a lot lower than it would be if you were in the air. try leaving a tiny bit earlier for the one, you may see that the sets will be a bit higher.

calling out for the set is really important too. the setter uses the noise to track where you are, so they can tell if you are late. you may not be calling loud enough, so the setter may be surprised when you suddenly explode into their field of vision. screaming your head off works great, because then the setter can tell if you will be in a perfect position to smash the ball.

if you try all of this and the set is still low, you can try tipping the ball, but may be called on a lift (this could be a good time to complain about the set height). what i do when the set is low when i play middle is i make a fist, stick you pointer and middle finger out and curl them around so it is similar to the sign language letter "X" but with two fingers. this gives you a nice little platform to pop a low tip over the net. on a triple block, always tip left when the opposing setter is back row and always tip right when they are front. or tip into the area behind the block. if none of this is working at all, sit down with your setter and say, "look, i know setting is hard and you need to worry about getting called for doubles and lifts and stuff, but with the way the middle sets are going right now, there so low that i always have to tip and will probably get called for a lift sooner or later. can you bring the sets up 1'/2'/6"? that would really help me run an effective one because i can see the ten foot line over their blocks. thanks." good luck with working this out, and have fun at middle.