Defense
I know I have to dig the next ball. It is game point for the other team. I know who they will set--their outside hitter. He has hit most of his shots deep corner right by me. I cheat a little deeper before the setter touches the ball. He sets the outside. I move to the deep corner knowing that a perfect dig is not what we need--we need a dig that simply stays on our side of the net. I get low, I am expecting the ball--I know it's coming to me. I'm ready to react to the ball. He hits it just to my left, a little shorter than I had expected. But I am low, and I move toward the balls destination leading with my head. My arms are outstretched in front of me, my hands slightly apart, my platform forming to face upward and toward the center of the court. I contact the ball with my hands together, arms outstretched and just a few inches above the floor. As the ball leaves my platform, my body moves through my point of contact, and I slide a bit on my stomach and spring up to see where the ball went. The setter calls our outside hitter's name as he sets the ball from the center of the court right on the ten foot line.and our outside hitter in the backrow jumps and puts the ball away to save game point. More later... |