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Serve Receive Strategy: Are Your Good Passers Still Losing Games?

Good passers still losing games? Your serve receive strategy needs work. Here's the team plan, my serve receive checklist that beats better individual talent.

Games aren't won by the best passers—they're won by teams that work together and have a plan. (Shots by Shanty)

I spent years watching my teams lose to worse passers.

Here's the serve receive strategy that changed everything:

Your players can pass when the ball comes right to them. They know the basics and can handle easy serves.

But when you play teams with smart servers, everything falls apart.

Here's the truth:

Games aren't won by the best passers—they're won by teams that work together and have a plan.

The best serve receive strategy isn't about perfect individual technique. It's about teamwork, communication, and having a plan that works under pressure.

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 $17.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.

Every time you get aced because two players thought it was the other person's ball, every time the other team finds the holes in your passing, every time your passing breaks down when the game gets tight—these aren't because your players can't pass.

It's because you don't have a serve receive strategy that brings your team together.

The best serve receive strategy isn't about perfect individual technique. It's about teamwork, communication, and having a plan that works under pressure.

Stop hoping individual players will save you. Start using a serve receive strategy that wins games.

Are You Tired of Losing to Worse Teams?

Your players work hard on passing.
You practice and focus on the basics.

But teams with worse passers keep beating you because they're smarter about it.

Here's what I learned coaching championship teams:

Good passing gets you in the game—"smart teamwork" wins games

A good passer in volleyball watches as a ball coming over the net towards them decides early which side they will open up to ...getting their belly button out of the way, like you do when you play dodgeball, while creating their passing platform so they make contact with the ball when its outside of the body's midline. (Shots by Shanty)

...while creating their passing platform so they make contact with the ball when its outside of the body's midline. (Shots by Shanty)

Does this sound like your team?

Good passers who get confused about who takes which ball
Easy aces because players don't talk
Other teams find your weak spots every time
Your passing falls apart when the game gets close
Watching worse teams beat you because they work better together

The missing piece is teamwork—and it changes everything fast.

Meet the Coach Who Won 3 Championships Through Smart Teamwork

2024 In It To Win It Tournament Champions I was the only player to start every game for 3 championship teams in 4 years. I learned that winning isn't about being the best passer—it's about the whole team working together.

Hi, I'm April Chapple—and my championship teams won through teamwork, not just good passing.

I was the only player to start every game for 3 championship teams in 4 years. I learned that winning isn't about being the best passer—it's about the whole team working together.

Struggling with passing consistency?

I help talented volleyball players who've been told they're 'not college material' reignite their recruitment dreams... without accepting that crushing verdict... using the same system that just revived my last 18s club libero an opportunity to play for her dream college team in New York.

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.

Buy It Now!

My background:

Won 3 championships--through smart teamwork
Started every game--so I had to learn everything
Made USA National Team--where teamwork is everything
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Hall of Fame--for complete team play

My philosophy:

Great teams don't just handle serves—they control the whole game through teamwork.

USA National Team players outside hitter April Chapple with 4-time Olympian, Silver and Bronze medalist middle blocker Paula Weishoff and Italian National Team member opposite hitter Cristina Boselli, during the A-1 Division I championship finals (finale dello scudetto) playing for Braglia Cucina Reggio Emilia against 5-time champion Teodora Ravenna. All of us in a serve receive ready position with right foot slightly forward, shoulders over knees and knees slightly bent ready to move in any direction

The 5 Serve Receive Strategy Elements That Win Games

I like to work on this 3 person "Dodgeball" drill where the person in the middle has to choose which side to get their midsection out of the way of the oncoming ball that's being tossed at their chest before they present their passing platform with an angled shoulder positioned towards the target.

✅ #1: Know Your Opponent

Figure out where each server likes to serve and get ready for it.

Quick check: Do you know where their best server always aims?

✅ #2: Talk to Each Other

No more "I thought you had it!" Make it clear who takes each ball.

Quick check: Do your players call the ball every time?

✅ #3: Move When You Need To

Don't stand in the same spots all game. Move to stop their best serves.

Quick check: Do you move your players based on who's serving?

✅ #4: Stay Strong When It Matters

Have a plan for the big points so you don't fall apart.

Quick check: Does your passing get better or worse in close games?

✅ #5: Adjust When They Change

When they try something new, be ready to change too.

Quick check: Can your team handle it when opponents switch their plan?

Watch as my client college middle blocker Ariana Robinson in a passer vs server drill working on freezing her platform after making contact with the ball.

Why Serve Receive Strategy Beats Individual Talent Every Time

When you only work on individual passing:

- You get good passers but not good teams
- You react instead of having a plan
- You hope your best player saves you
- You fall apart when the pressure is on

When teams work together:

- Everyone knows the plan
- You're ready for what's coming
- You stay calm under pressure
- You can beat better individual players

I tell my teams:

"Good passing gets you there. Teamwork wins it."

Real Teams, Real Results

"Coach April showed us how to work together instead of just hoping our best passer would save us. We went from losing close games to winning championships."

— Coach Martinez

The numbers prove it works:

Teams with worse individual players winning through teamwork
Way fewer aces against teams that work together
Beating better teams through smart planning
Championships won through teamwork, not just talent

Get My Winning
Serve Receive Strategy System

Stop hoping. Start planning.

What You Get:
✅ How to scout opponents and make a plan
✅ Communication that stops confusion
✅ How to move players to stop their best serves
✅ What to do when the game gets tight
✅ How to adjust when opponents change their plan
✅ Easy-to-use checklist guide your whole team can understand

Your Team Gets Better in 3 Steps:

Step 1: Get the system and learn the plan
Step 2: Practice working together instead of just individual skills
Step 3: Use the plan in games to start winning

Most teams see big improvements in 2-3 weeks.

Stop Losing Games You Should Win

Your players work too hard to lose because you don't have a team plan.

Every game you play without teamwork, you're making it harder than it needs to be.

The choice is yours:

- Keep hoping your best passer saves you
- Or give your whole team a plan to win

Your team deserves to win through teamwork, not just hope.

Ready to stop losing games you should win? Get the serve receive strategy team checklist plan that turns good passers into championship winners.

Ready to stop losing games you should win?

Get the serve receive strategy team checklist plan that turns good passers into championship winners.

Contact: info@improveyourvolley.com

Get More Help: improveYourVolley.com

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Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!

Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag 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.

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