Volleyball Vocabulary

Underhand Volley (Bump/Forearm Pass): The act of passing volleyball with the forearms.

Setter: A player who is responsible for getting the second ball to the hitter by setting it with the hands or bump setting with the forearms.

Overhead Pass (Set): When a receiver passes the ball with her hands over her head. A set is a type of overhand pass, but a serve can be received with an overhand pass as well.

Hitter: The player that hits/spikes/attacks the ball.

Spike/Attack/Hit:   An attack or spike usually utilized on a team's third contact. A player approaches, jumps, and swings striking the ball downward and across the net to the other team.

Block: An action where a hitters spike is deflected back into his/her court by blocking the ball.

Underhand Serve A type of serve in which the player holds the ball in one hand, swings the other hand in an arc motion below the waist and strikes the ball from the bottom with a fist to put it in play.

Overhand Serve: A serve in which the player tosses the ball with one hand and strikes the ball in the air above her/his head.

Reverse Bump: When a player on offense, with her back to the net, passes the ball with her forearms over her head.

Serve Receive: Preventing a serve from hitting the floor by passing it so that it is retrievable by a teammate.

Side-out: When the receiving team wins the rally to get the serve.

End-line: The serving line or back line of the volleyball court.

In the direction of the rotation of the Clockwise: In the direction of the rotation of the hands of a clock. When a team earns a side-out, players rotate clockwise to a new position before the ball is served.