Positions for Patriot Volleyball

Outside Hitters - 3 players all levels

Outside Hitter is the player who carries the serve receive responsibility along with the libero.

Outside hitter most often attacks the balls which the setter sets to the antenna to the left side of the
court. Therefore after the serve outside hitters place themselves to the left front position. Sometimes
setters run offensive plays in which outside hitters run to hit balls “inside” around the middle blockers.

Outside hitters play both the front row and the back row. In modern high level volleyball outside
hitters are responsible for hitting the 3 meter or 10 feet line attacks, usually from the middle back
position when playing in the back row.

Right Side Hitter/Blocker - 1 player

Right side hitter has the similar role than outside hitter, they play front row and back row and are
carrying pass, attack, block, serve and defense responsibilities.

Right side hitters aim to place themselves to the right front playing position.

When playing top level international volleyball on the back court right side hitters often have 3 meter
or 10 feet attack responsibility from the middle back position.

Setter - 2 players
The setter is the playmaker, point guard or the quarterback of the volleyball team. A setter’s
responsibility is to run the team’s offense and build up offensive scoring opportunities for the team.

The setter plays both front row and back row, therefore s/he needs to be able to block, serve and play
defense.
The setter needs to have good blocking skills because in front row position s/he plays against the
opponent’s outside hitter who often carries big load of the attacking responsibility for the team.

The setter plays the right front or the right back position
Middle Blocker (Center, Middle, Middle Hitter) - 3 players JV, Freshmen/ 2 players Varsity
Middle blockers main responsibility is to stop the opponent’s offense.

The middle blocker builds a block which stops the ball, or allows the team to dig the ball up.

Middle blockers' job is to stop the opponent’s middle hitters or wing hitters in co-operation with
teammates.

Middle blockers need to have great blocking, attacking and serving skills.

Middle Blockers in the Back Row:

In competitive volleyball middle blockers usually play defense only on one rotation - after an own
serve. After losing the rally after an own serving turn, a libero usually comes in and replaces the
middle blocker.

Libero - 1 player
The libero is fairly new position in volleyball. The libero is a back row specialist who is allowed to play
back court only.

The libero wears a different color shirt in the team and is allowed to enter and exit the game without
substitution request.

The libero can replace any player on the court and most often replaces middle blockers.

Since playing in the back court only, the libero needs to have the best passing and defensive skills in
the team. The libero need to have exceptional serve receive skills because often they pass a larger
area than other serve receivers in the team.

Libero most often plays the left back position.

Defensive Specialist - 2 players JV, Freshmen / 1 player Varsity

Defensive Specialist Most leagues in United States allow unlimited substitutions; therefore very often
in the team there are defensive specialists.

Defensive specialists in US enter the game to replace players who in international volleyball would be
playing both the front and the back row.

Defensive specialists carry a serve receive and defense responsibility in the back row.

Defensive specialists are allowed to serve and often play the full back row rotation before giving the
spot in the front row to the offensive player again.