15 club volleyball tryout tips from a Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee and elite club coach who's helped hundreds of athletes navigate tryouts successfully.

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball How To Dig A Step By Step Guide

A defensive specialist in volleyball can learn to dig a ball with my step by step volleyball tutorial for diggers playing in the backcourt in defense.

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball: Keep an attacked ball off your court floor by extending your arms and hands under the ball to deflect it back in the air before it hits the floor. (Al Case)

If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

Struggling with passing consistency?

I help talented passers tired of getting pulled from games because of inconsistent serve receive skills BUILD passing confidence without expensive private lessons using the same 3-step system that's helped dozens of my athletes get recruited.

Download my eBook for $7.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.

What is a dig in volleyball?

The volleyball dig is the last line of defense for a team to keep an opposing team's attack hits from scoring points by keep the ball off the floor.

Volleyball Passing Form: When Passing Face The Net, Drop The Inside Shoulder and Angle Your Platform

Passing in Volleyball: When Passing Avoid Turning To Face Your Target When You Bump A Volleyball

Passing in Volleyball: When Passing Beat The Ball Dont Time The Ball

Passing Don'ts in Volleyball: When Passing Dont Turn To Face The Target Just Angle Your Platform

Passing in Volleyball: When Passing Dont Turn To Face The Target Keep Shoulders Parallel To The Net

Passing in Volleyball: When Passing Track The Ball When Its In the Opposing Server's Hands Slo Mo

To dig a volleyball up in defense you keep an attacked ball by the opposing team off your court floor by extending your arms and hands under the ball to deflect it back in the air before it hits the floor.

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball:

How to Dig

The Volleyball Dig
Volleyball Tutorial

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball: The dig is the last line of defense for a team to keep an opposing team's attack hits from scoring points by keep the ball off the floor. (Michael E, Johnston)

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball: The volleyball dig is the last line of defense for a team to keep an opposing team's attack hits from scoring points by keep the ball off the floor. (Michael E, Johnston)

The Volleyball Digger Ready Position

In the backrow you should be in an athletic stance with

knees slightly bent
leaning slightly forward so your shoulders are in front of your knees
with hands and arms extended in front of you 3-4 inches in front of your knees

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball: To dig, keep your hands apart so you can run, shuffle step or move quickly to the ball once you know where the ball is going to possibly land (Matt Pendleton)

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball: To dig a ball, keep your hands apart so you can run, shuffle step or move quickly to the ball once you know where the ball is going to possibly land (Matt Pendleton)

To dig a ball, keep your hands apart so you can run, shuffle step or move quickly to the ball once you know where the ball is going to possibly land

Quickly clasp hands together using the same hand grip as you do when you pass...one fist placed inside the palm of the other hand, both thumbs side by side together then pointed towards the ground

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball: How To Dig

Quickly clasp hands together using the same hand grip as you do when you pass...one fist placed inside the palm of the other hand, both thumbs side by side together then pointed towards the ground

During the dig the volleyball digger should keep thumbs pointed to the floor which

keeps your arms straight and
creates a nice flat platform which you use to dig the ball up into the air

Before contacting the ball your hips have to be below the level of the oncoming ball.

This is what helps lift the ball up into the air and increases the chances of it staying on your side.

Before contacting the ball your hips have to be below the level of the oncoming ball. This is what helps lift the ball up into the air and increases the chances of it staying on your side. (Al Case)

When contacting the ball, do not swing your arms to meet the ball. The attack hit is hard enough and you don't need to add additional movement to get the ball up.

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball: How To Dig

When contacting the ball, do not swing your arms to meet the ball. The attack hit is hard enough and you don't need to add additional movement to get the ball up.

With practice reps and plenty of volleyball defensive drills you will learn how to use your arms so they absorb the impact of hard hit balls.

Thanks for visiting. Be sure to check out more of my volleyball passing articles by clicking one of the links below! (April Chapple)

Do You Follow Me on Instagram?

Follow me on Instagram @coach_apchap to improve your game even faster!

I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list.

Defensive Specialist in Volleyball:
Where Do You Go Now?

Okay here's where you need to go now! There are three options:

Learn more about Digging and Defense by clicking the Related Links below. .
Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
Or visit the pages in the How to Play Volleyball section in the drop down menu at the top of the page to get started.
Before leaving this page Say "Hi" to Miss O.I Gotchu the Octopus wearing the #8 jersey below. Miss O.I. is the libero for the All Beast VolleyBragSwag All Star team.

You might like these pages about volleyball digging and defense.

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Libero Volleyball Player Responsibilities, Roles, Qualities and Rules
The libero volleyball player has specific qualities and specialized responsibilities in their defensive roles along with special rules created just for them.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Libero Position In Volleyball
Check out the answers to these frequently asked questions about the libero position in volleyball.
The Opposite Hitter In Volleyball: Right-Side Skills Strategies Tips
What you should know about the opposite hitter in volleyball position from blocking to attacking strategies to help you understand this versatile position.
Playing The Opposite Position in Volleyball: Tips, Skills and Strategy
Everything you need to know about playing the opposite position in volleyball discover essential tips, skills, and strategies for mastering this crucial role.
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Discover what makes volleyball opposite hitters unique. Learn key skills, essential responsibilities, and training tips for excelling in this dynamic position
Setter Position in Volleyball: My Expert Guide & Setting Training Tips
Learn the setter position in volleyball from an expert coach. Master essential techniques, court positioning, and winning strategies to become a great setter.
The Setter Volleyball Position Five Traits Good Setters Always Have
The player in the setter volleyball position gets to every second ball in a rally to set that ball to a hitter who attacks it for a point or sideout.
A Setter in Volleyball: A Step-by-Step Guide to Proper Technique
Be a setter in volleyball who knows how to run an effective offensive attack with two or three front row hitters to beat the block and opposing defense.
Left Side Hitter Volleyball Mastery Of The Outside Hitting Position
Discover what makes the left side hitter volleyball position essential with responsibilities, training tips and strategies for mastering this dynamic position.
Right Side Hitter Volleyball Stuff The Strength Of The Opposite Side
Discover what makes the right side hitter volleyball position essential with responsibilities, training tips and strategies for mastering this dynamic position.
Setters Volleyball Player Roles, Rules and Responsibilities Explained
Setters volleyball player responsibilities are to run her team's offense and they call the plays hitters run against blockers like a quarterback in football.
The Middle Blocker Volleyball Position Offensive and Defensive Duties
A middle blocker is the team's primary defensive presence at the net, responsible for blocking opponent attacks and running fast and quick offensive plays.
Being A Left Handed Volleyball Setter in the Front Row Has Advantages
For a left handed volleyball setter who receives a good pass, the ball will get to your dominant hand first, which means that you can dump the ball faster.

If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

Struggling with passing consistency?

Download my eBook for $7.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend

Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.

utkaprilcollegepiconneylandstadiumvideoboard

Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee, Coach April Chapple is

the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
former USA National team member
one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist

April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match

Coach April's 2025 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training

Pre-Registration now open for 2025 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!

Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2025.

Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.

Email me right now to register or for more information.

info@improveyourvolley.com

Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.

Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2

There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with

the same toss height and same toss location
the same armswing speed
the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.

kamiminerpac12setteroftheyearformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

Tommi Stockham All Big West Conference sophomore former Coach April Chapple private client 3 years

katepriorallwestcoastconferencebyufreshmanformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

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Dear Vegas Parent

Read my open letter to Las Vegas Jr high/high school volleyball parents about my predictions on individual and small group volleyball training trends for 2019/2021

Tennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?

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Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!

A-1 Vegas Volley VBC

In It To Win It Tournament

May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament

Gold Medalists

18s Premier Division

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Making A-1 Vegas Volleyball history as the very first TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In the In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament, A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division