Is the opposite hitter in vollyball less important than the rest of the positions?

Question

Is the opposite hitter in vollyball less important than the rest of the positions?

Answer 1

All six positions on the court are equally important.  Obviously they all have different jobs, but each is important.  Actually I find opposite hitter is a harder position to play.  So a little more skill and coordination is involved.

Answer 2

I have to disagree with your gordonmorrison. I am a right side hitter and I hit the same as the outside hitter, it's incorrect to say that right-side is worse. (I take offense to that)

The right side hitter is usually a lefty, like me, and coaches LOVE when they get leftys on the team BECAUSE they can be used as kind of a "secret weapon" because we can get to the ball better.

So no, they are definitely not less important, if anything, they are valued.

Answer 3

All positions are important. If your the opposite hitter that doesn't mean you have the least importance in your team. All of you must help each other in order to win.

Answer 4

no, actually in pro and college opposite hitter is considered the most powerful... it's actually best for righties, contrary to popular belief. Karch Kiraly says so himself!

Answer 5

The opposite gets less sets than the outside hitter.  Part of the reason is that the outside is usually the best hitter.  Part of the reason is that it is harder to back set than the front set.  But they are not less important.  You have to keep the middle hitter honest.  If they cheat out to help the block against your outside hitter, your team will be in trouble.  

If the opposite learns to hit a line shot, they will get a lot of sets and will be effective.  Most opposite hitters hit cross court and further cross court.

Answer 6

I was an opposite hitter before being moved to middle hitter/blocker in college.

I would have to tell you the truth that in "most" teams, especially in those entry level teams, opposite hitter is no better than the "primary" hitter (or the left side hitter)... mainly because it is hard to find a player (especially a right-hand player) with such skills to hit better than left side hitter. It is also hard to find a good coach who can even teach players how to do a better approach as a right side hitter.

Having said that, I believe that the opposite hitter is more vital in a higher-level team than other positions, since this player's movement would decide the level of play. (S)he gets more involved in blocking (as most opponents would play the left-side hitter more frequently), more running if his team runs 6-2 or 5-1 and the setter calls for a slice after a "second quick hit" (he has to run to the middle and hit behind the middle hitter's fake shot), and more "secret kill" (like L B) when the opponent is focusing its defense against the left-side hitter... and more sets when the pass goes wild especially when he is in deeper back row.

Answer 7

Hi,

     It is a different skill than the other positions, but definitely not less important.

     Offensively, in a 5-1 offense, there will always be 2 other hitters (left side and middle) when the opposite is in the front row.  So the opposite doesn't have to carry a big hitting load but having a good opposite will make it harder on the other teams middle blocker and is a big advantage.

     Defensively, I think the opposite is the most important.  By playing on the right side you need to block the other teams "power" hitter - who typically gets a lot of sets.  From this perspective, an opposite who is a good blocker is very important.