Volleyball Vocabulary

A soft, off-speed attack executed with the fingertips.

Successive (and illegal) hits or contacts by the same player.

A defensive play where a player deflects a spiked ball back into the opponent’s court by jumping in front of the ball with their hands above the net.

A wild and unplayable pass.

A serve that a player should have been able to return, but that results in an ace (and only in the case of an ace).

A ball that is spiked right down the opposing sideline.

A situation that occurs when the receiving team successfully puts the ball away against the serving team, or when the serving team commits an unforced error, and the receiving team thus gains the right to serve.

A spike from the hitter’s strong side that travels at a sharp angle across the net.

Any ball spiked with less than maximum force, but with spin.

A cross-court hit traveling away from the spiker to the farthest point of the court.

The area from the endline to the attack line.

A type of dig that occurs when a player extends his or her hand flat on the floor, and lets the ball bounce off the back of his or her hand.

Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball.

The act of stepping over the line while serving, which results in a point for the opposing team.

A ball that falls on the floor and is surrounded by two or more players.

A serve that is not returned, resulting in a point.

An offensive play during which a hitter makes contact underneath the ball and moves their arm upwards.

An attempted hit that only results in the hitter slightly grazing the ball with their middle and ring fingers.

A serve which does not spin or rotate and therefore moves in an erratic path.

A serve in which the ball hits the net on the side of the court served on, but still makes it over the net and onto the opposing side's floor, resulting in a point.

Simultaneous attempts by two opposing players to play a ball directly above the net.

A type of serve executed by tossing the ball into the air, jumping, and hitting the ball when it is in its downward motion.

A legal push of the ball around or over blockers.

Passing or setting the ball to a player who attacks the ball for a point.

A legal, point-scoring play arising from a from a spike attack, tip or dump.

An attack on the ball by an offensive player executed with an overhead, one-armed motion.

An unsuccessful serve resulting from the ball landing out of bounds or failing to clear the net, or from a foot fault by the server.