Having played alongside some of the world’s best like Tine Urnaut, Rok Možič, and Klemen Čebulj, I know firsthand what qualities the volleyball position of the outside hitter has. What I can tell you in short is that this is the most versatile position, and it is the only position that requires all the skills! From Attack, reception, serving and even set.
Reception
2 Outside hitters are besides libero the team’s primary passers, playing in all receiving areas (zone 1, 6, 5). The outside hitter needs to pass the ball accurately to the setter so that the setter can set up a spike. If one of the two on the court possesses better passing skills, that one should cover more court space and alleviate pressure from the other outside hitter. However, both must be ready to transition seamlessly from passing to attacking, ensuring timely approaches for successful attacks, whether in the front row (zone 4 or 2) or back row (pipe attack)
defense
The main defensive position for outside hitter in the back-row is zone 6 while in front their position is in 4. It demands from the player more than simply standing stationary. Zone 6 defenders require constant movement, adapting their positioning based on the blocker’s movements and the opponent’s attack directions. For instance, if there is a hole between a double block, the outside hitter should stay in the seem to defend the balls spiked between both blockers. In case the block is set perfectly the outside hitter needs to slightly move. However, this is just one situation, the important thing is adaptation! The same applies to their defending and blocking in the front row!
Attack
The main attacking positions for the outside hitters are in front of zone 4 and zone 6, which is called pipe attack. The pipe attack, or BIC, is an attack with a fast tempo, and it is similar to a middle blocker’s Quick Attack only that is played from the back row behind 3m line. It also demands a perfect pass and a thorough understanding of the game, precise timing, and careful consideration of the setter position and tempo at which the pipe will be played. Outside hitter’s repertoire extends beyond just spikes, as they must tip and execute roll shots especially when in the front row (zone 4). These “finesse shots” involve gently placing the ball over or around the blockers to score or recycling the ball to either maintain possession and continue the play or scoring the ball.
Set
While the libero usually is the primary setter in instances where the main setter is unavailable, some highly skilled outside hitters have mastered setting while in mid-air, enabling them to initiate a pipe attack on second touch or set the ball to a teammate on the wings. The ability to set while in the air requires exceptional athleticism, coordination, and situational awareness. But to execute this perfectly the outside hitter needs to adjust the approach and jump and execute a controlled set on the wings, to deceive opponent blockers. It’s one of the hardest skills and the reason why is primarily seen only at the highest level of volleyball!
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