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.

Serving Volleyball Court Zones Score Points With These Serve Tactics

Understanding the different volleyball court zones and selecting the right serving strategy can greatly impact your success in serving points for your team.

Discover which volleyball court zones like Position 5, 3 and 6 to serve to in order to score more points and aces from the service line.

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.

Volleyball Court Zones and Serving Strategies

Understanding the different volleyball court zones and selecting the right serving strategy can greatly impact your success in the game.

Let's explore the specific characteristics of each court zone and how you can strategically serve to maximize your chances of scoring points.

1. Position 1 (Right Back):

This court zone is located in the back-right corner of the court. Serving to Position 1 can be effective in putting pressure on the setter, forcing them to make a difficult pass or limiting their options for setting up an attack. By serving deep into Position 1, you can disrupt the offensive flow and create opportunities for your team to counterattack.

2. Position 2 (Middle Back):

Positioned in the middle of the back row, serving to Position 2 can be advantageous for targeting the libero or weaker passers. A well-placed serve into Position 2 can force the libero to move quickly and make a tough pass, potentially resulting in an inaccurate or weak set. This can disrupt the opponent's offensive rhythm and give your team an advantage.

3. Position 3 (Left Back):

Serving to Position 3 can be particularly effective when taller players are in the front row. By serving short to the front row hitter in Position 3, you can limit their ability to execute a powerful attack. The shortened approach gives them less time to generate momentum and jump, reducing the effectiveness of their kill attempts. This strategy can neutralize the height advantage and disrupt the opponent's offense.

4. Position 4 (Middle Front):

Located in the middle of the front row, serving to Position 4 can target the middle blocker. By serving toward the head of the middle blocker, you can put pressure on their passing skills and force them to make a decision between passing or setting. Additionally, a well-placed serve in Position 4 can create confusion between the two back-row receivers, often causing them to hesitate and potentially resulting in a miscommunication or a weak pass.

5. Position 5 (Right Front):

Serving to Position 5 can be effective in limiting the options for the outside hitter. By serving deep or short to Position 5, you can disrupt the hitter's approach and timing, making it challenging for them to execute powerful spikes. This strategy forces them to adjust their attack or rely on other hitters, increasing the chances of defensive success for your team.

6. Position 6 (Left Front):

Finally, serving straight down the middle of the court to Position 6 can be a smart option. By standing in the middle of the baseline and serving towards the back line, you target both the left-back and right-back players in serve receive. This serves as a "divorce maker" ball, challenging both receivers to communicate and make a quick decision, increasing the chances of a miscommunication and creating an opportunity for your team to capitalize on weak passes.

Remember, when selecting your serving strategy, consider the strengths and weaknesses of your opponents, analyze their defensive patterns, and adapt your serve placement accordingly.

Practicing specific serving techniques for each court zone will enhance your ability to execute with precision, and ultimately, score valuable points for your team.

By understanding the characteristics of each volleyball court zone and strategically serving to exploit them, you can gain a significant advantage in the game and contribute to your team's success.

Volleyball Zones

Here's why serving to specific volleyball court zones like Position 5, 3 and 6 are important.

When coaching girl's volleyball I concentrate alot on the serving fundamentals because of this reason...

you are the only person who controls the effectiveness of YOUR serve and
its the one fundamental you can do without the intervention of anyone else to score a direct point with .

...that is very powerful and trust me even many elite players don't take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Volleyball Court Zones: Here's why serving to specific volleyball court zones like Position 5, 3 and 6 are important.

Volleyball Court Zones:
Why Serve To Position 3

Serve short while tall players are in the front row and they won't have time to back up and take their usual long approach. (JMR)

Serve Short to the Middle Front Position 3.

The short serve short to the front row hitter is very effective in girls volleyball.

Many players serve short because it's an option or because it happens by accident but elite volleyball players serve short because they know that the short serve is an equalizer especially when tall players are in the front row.

Like airplanes Tall volleyball players usually need longer runways to make their approach-in order to hit hard and inside the court.

If the "runway" is cut short...then that "plane" has a hard time taking off. So you the server need to "shorten" the runway way path.

Serve them short while they are in the front row and they won't have time to back up and take their usual long approach.

If they still DO Get the set...they usually don't have the time or the strength to hit as hard or as high as they would if they weren't passing so YOU have effectively helped YOUR team by serving the BIG girl (excuse me TALL girl...I hate when people call me BIG) in the front row...and YOU have intelligently taken her out of the offense.

Volleyball Court Zones:
Why Serve To Position 6

Why should girls who play volleyball always remember this next smart option which is to serve straight down the middle of the court to Position 6? (Neon Tommy)

Why should girls who play volleyball always remember this next smart option which is to serve straight down the middle of the court to Position 6?

Instead of serving from either corner of the volleyball court try standing right in the middle of the baseline and serve straight down the middle to the opposite end line.

Usually in the backrow there are two people in serve receive.

Aim for the head of the middle blocker in the front row and serve right towards the back line. Both the left back and right back receivers are forced to decide on or fight over the "divorce maker" ball that goes right down the middle between the two of them.

If done right, the ball will fall right between the two passers and you the server are a HERO not a ZERO!

Don't just go through the motions...remember to practice your individual skill because the ball is in Your hands!

When coaching girl's volleyball I concentrate alot on the serving fundamentals because of this reason... you are the only person who controls the effectiveness of YOUR serve and its the one fundamental you can do without the intervention of anyone else to score a direct point with . ...that is very powerful and trust me even many elite players don't take advantage of this unique opportunity.

This has been an important message by your favorite volleyball coach! That's me!!

Thanks for visiting.

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

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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.

Serving Volleyball Court Zones:
Where Do You Go From Here?

Good times! Where do you need to go now? Here are three options:

Learn more about the Court Size.
Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
Or visit the pages in the Volleyball Rules section in the drop down menu at the top of the page.

Learn more from these volleyball plays and strategy pages!

Overhand Float Serve Volleyball Tips Score More Aces In Volleyball
With these overhand float serve volleyball tips discover two specific court zones you can serve to in order to increase the chances of scoring more aces.
10 Frequently Asked Questions On The Float Serve Volleyball Technique
I answer ten of the most frequently asked questions that I get about standing and jump float serve volleyball skill, technique and strategy used to score aces.
How to Float Serve in Volleyball: 6 Ace Scoring Tips And Strategies
Learn 6 tips on how to float serve to exploit opposing team weaknesses target weak passers or spot best court placement to increase your chances of scoring aces
Tactics for Volleyball: Go From JV To Varsity With Smart Serving Tips
Discover the tactics for volleyball serving that coaches don't teach. If smart serving could earn you more playing time, wouldn't you master these 6 strategies?
Volleyball Defensive Strategies How Does Blocking and Digging Work?
Volleyball defensive strategies are used between the front row blockers whose job it is to stop an attacker and diggers dig anything that gets past the block.
5 Hot Offensive Volleyball Strategies For Tipping the Ball For Points
5 offensive volleyball strategies on tipping: push the tip in the block, in a joust be last to touch the ball, tip deep, tip on a good set, tip over the middle.
Volleyball Back Row Attack: An Offensive Strategy For Setters To Use
These volleyball back row attack rules explain what can happen when your setter decides to set one of her back row hitters during a rally. What can or can't happen.
Volleyball Hand Signal: Fast Plays Setters Run To Zone 4, Z3, and Z2
Learn the volleyball hand signal used by setters to call fast offensive sets to run plays to their left, middle and right front hitters in zone 4, z3, and z2.
Volleyball Offense Strategies For The Various Sets That Setters Run
Learn different types of sets and the volleyball offense strategies that beginner players learn about how to attack balls in volleyball games and matches.
Volleyball Hand Signals: How A Setter Calls Offensive Volleyball Plays
Setters use volleyball hand signals to call the volleyball plays which are sets delivered at different speeds and locations to hitters to hit along the net.
Volleyball Offensive Plays: Set Combinations Setters Use in Offense
Learn the volleyball offensive plays and strategies the setters call so her hitters know what different types of sets she plans to run when she calls the plays.

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