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Register TODAY! for my
Coach April's
May 16 -17 and 30 -31
Spiking and Hitting clinics

COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today

Email: info@improveyourvolley.com for info or to register for this weekend's clinics! 


The Volleyball Outside Hitter: How To Be The Smart Spiker On Your Team

The volleyball outside hitter has options for scoring against opponents to score points including tipping the ball deep or short in the court to mix up your attack.

Oregon State volleyball hitter attacks the seam of the NC State double blockers. (Ralph Arvensen)Oregon State volleyball outside hitter attacks the seam of the NC State double blockers. (Ralph Arvensen).

As a volleyball outside hitter one of the smartest things you can do is.....to mix up your attack and NOT hit the ball hard every time you go up for a spike.

Sounds weird, right?



After all, the whole idea behind spiking a ball, is to hit the ball hard right? Wrong. You want to pick the right moments. Check this out. 




The Successful Volleyball Outside Hitter Knows How To Mix Up Their Attack


Yes, I know that sounds contradictory...a hitter who doesn't hit the ball, what is that?.






Well, as funny as it sounds, this strategy may be the one that turns you into one of the savviest point scoring players on your team.

Here's how.

Mixing up your shots is one of the smartest things you as a volleyball outside hitter can do to improve your hitting efficiency.



The smart volleyball outside hitter will mix up shots so that it forces the opposing team's block to keep guessing about what's  going to happen next. 

Blockers will have to keep figuring out what kind of defense they need to use against the hitter.


The Volleyball Outside Hitter:
What Does 'Mixing Up Your Shots' Mean?

I was a left side outside volleyball hitter and for years I spent many hours learning how to spike the ball....hard. (Laura Sassi)I was a left side outside volleyball hitter and for years I spent many hours learning how to spike the ball....hard. (Laura Sassi)


I was a left side outside volleyball hitter and for years I spent many hours learning how to spike the ball....hard. 

That's all I did for hours in practice. Hit, hit, hit and hit some more.


But a smart player who I looked up to, taught me the importance of creating a variety of different shots to use in different situations.

Because, as she explained to me, there will  be that day when for whatever reason my volleyball spikes just wouldn't get past a particular block. 


Because, as she explained to me, there will be that day when for whatever reason my volleyball spikes just wouldn't get past a particular block. (Ralph Arvesen)The Volleyball Outside Hitter: How To Be The Smart Spiker On Your Team: Because, as she explained to me, there will be that day when for whatever reason my volleyball spikes just wouldn't get past a particular block. (Ralph Arvesen)


Sooner or later it happens to every outside hitter.




Sooner or later against one particular team your spikes just won't work.

Your

  • legs may be tired so you aren't jumping as high, or
  • your shoulder may be sore so your armswing may not be fast enough, or
  • their defense just finally figured you out..

...anything can happen.

So you need a plan B. 



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When that day comes and your normally hard hits aren't working for you, how are you going to be effective?

How are you going to score the points that your team expects you to?


That's why in practice during spike training, you should do a lot of drills that teach you how to hit the ball hard, but you should also practice 



When I say "mix up your shots" that means you develop a "bag of tools" or a variety of ways to attack the ball.

So that when the block stops your power game, or you want to really keep the opposing team guessing, you have the option of using your finesse game to still score points against the opposing team.

The best way to decide when to start mixing up your shots, is to get in the habit just before you spike the ball of looking to see where the opposing team's defensive players are positioned in their court.


Volleyball Highlights
USA Olympic Volleyball Outside Hitter, Kim Hill


You should identify how far back their defensive players are when your other teammates are hitting or better yet, ask your defensive players to tell you how far back the other team's defensive players are playing or if any of them are playing defense right behind their blockers.





This is a fast way that you can get clues. Use your teammates to help you.

Get them to indicate to you when is the best time and where is the best location to tip, roll shot or to softly place the ball into the opposing team's court.  


When I say "mix up your shots" that means you develop a "bag of tools" or a variety of ways to attack the ball.The Volleyball Outside Hitter: How To Be The Smart Spiker On Your Team: When I say "mix up your shots" that means you develop a "bag of tools" or a variety of ways to attack the ball.


Get them to be your eyes since your back row will see the opposing team's court easier than you will. 


Communicate with your back row players by asking them "what's open?" 

This is how you can have your back row players help you develop effective attack strategies as an outside hitter in volleyball.


Use them to ask questions about the other team's defense. They aren't there just to dig.

They can help you out as you rotate through the front row.


Find out more about volleyball communication on the court.


You don't have to rely on just your coach to tell you where to hit the ball or what spaces are open.

You can use your back row players as your "seeing-eye" people to help you identify where your tips or roll shots will fall.





So remember, if you've been blocked a couple of times in a row, as an outside volleyball hitter feel free to ask your back row players for some feedback on where to attack the ball.

This is a way to help you decide on which spiking strategies to use as an outside hitter in volleyball.


Watch as the Canisius Griffs volleyball team explain the important role and the responsibilities of the volleyball hitter on a team.



Volleyball Positions: Where You Should Go From Here


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

  1. Learn more about Hitters and Spiking by exploring the Related Links below. 
  2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
  3. Or visit the pages in the Volleyball Positions section in the drop down menu at the top of the page. 
  4. Reintroduce yourself to Mr. TT. MUGB, #7 , the left side outside hitter and for the All Beast VolleyBragSwag All Star Team. 

Meet T.T. Mugb, aka "Things That Make U Go Boom"
Lion and Ouside Hitter on VolleyBragSwag's All Beast Team

You might like these hitter volleyball pages!


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.

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Volleyball Player Whisperer in Vegas Restoring Power + Peace + Passion To Burnt Out Players, High Performance Volleyball Coach, ImproveYourVolley Web Author, Peace Love Volleyball CollectionVolleyball Player Whisperer in Vegas Restoring Power + Peace + Passion To Burnt Out Players, High Performance Volleyball Coach, ImproveYourVolley Web Author, Peace Love Volleyball Collection

AUTHOR BIO

April Chapple is an elite private volleyball trainer, former USA National Team member, and University of Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee who has coached in Las Vegas for 15+ years, training hundreds of athletes and helping numerous players reach college volleyball, including Division I standouts.

She's also the head coach for girls and boys 18s at Squad VBC and offers coaches consulting on technical teaching and player development. Connect with April on LinkedIn or at ImproveYourVolley.com, where her eye for overlooked talent sets her apart.


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

What Are You Looking For?

Click to Download Your Pre Serving Ritual Mastery Checklist pdf:

🎯Volleyball Pre Serving Ritual Guide -

Players! Learn How To Transform Your Serve from Weak to Weapon

Click to Download Your Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist pdf

🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist Guide

Parents! Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves (Even If You've Never Played)


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Hi there!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.

Be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you can learn more each week!

Stay strong! Stay motivated!

-Coach April


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as seen as on USA News InfluencerTennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements
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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! In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!

A-1 Vegas Volley VBC

    In It To Win It      Tournament   

May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament

Gold Medalists

18s Premier Division


Improve Your Spike Hit

Volleyball Workout Training Flyer. Workout with coach April weekly.Click To Learn How To Train Weekly with Coach April


Vegas Volleyball's Unsung Heroes: Celebrating Moms with Peace Love Volleyball Shirts

In the city that never sleeps, my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are your 24/7 support system. Las Vegas pulses with endless energy, and as a volleyball mom, you're the powerhouse behind your player's non-stop journey.In the city that never sleeps, my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are your 24/7 support system.
More than just clothing, my shirts are a tribute to the tireless spirit of Vegas volleyball moms.More than just clothing, my shirts are a tribute to the tireless spirit of Vegas volleyball moms.
With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.
In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.

Ready to energize your volleyball mom journey?

Subscribe to my 'Producing Powerful Passionate Peaceful Players' email list above on ImproveYourVolley.com.

You'll receive energy-boosting tips, exclusive insights from me,        Coach April Chapple on maintaining momentum in volleyball.

Let's power up the Vegas volleyball scene together!


Struggling with the unique demands of being a volleyball mom in the desert? My Peace Love Volleyball shirts offer both comfort and inspiration for the challenges you face. From dealing with intense heat during outdoor practices to long drives across the valley for tournaments, Vegas volleyball moms face obstacles that others might not understand.Dear Vegas Volleyball Mom, I know that balancing Vegas life with volleyball commitments can feel like walking a tightrope, but my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are here to support you every step of the way.
As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.
In a city known for its high energy, finding moments of calm can be challenging, especially when juggling the demands of volleyball life.In a city known for its high energy, finding moments of calm can be challenging, especially when juggling the demands of volleyball life.
My volleyball mom shirts aren't just about looking good - they're about feeling good too.My volleyball mom shirts aren't just about looking good - they're about feeling good too.
With messages that promote mindfulness and positivity, they serve as a wearable reminder to breathe, center yourself, and approach each volleyball challenge with a peaceful mindset.With messages that promote mindfulness and positivity, they serve as a wearable reminder to breathe, center yourself, and approach each volleyball challenge with a peaceful mindset.
In the fast-paced world of Vegas volleyball, these moments of zen can make all the difference.In the fast-paced world of Vegas volleyball, these moments of zen can make all the difference.

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Volleyball Hitter Tips Just For you!

Adopt a fearless attitude about hitting. Great hitters have confidence in their ability to hit against any block.
Exploit the holes in the block. Look for holes between the middle blocker and the outside blocker in front of you. Aim your spike fearlessly right for that “seam.”
Exploit the holes in the block. Look for holes between the middle blocker and the outside blocker in front of you. Aim your spike fearlessly right for that “seam.”
Exploit the holes in the block. Look for holes between the middle blocker and the outside blocker in front of you. Aim your spike fearlessly right for that “seam.”
Ask your back row players, between plays, to tell you whether the middle blocker is late closing the block. They are perfectly positioned to help you see what is going on in the front row.
Use your back row players to help when you are in the front row. Ask them to tell what they see is open and what the other team is or is not doing.
Hit the ball hard so it comes back off her arm and outside the sideline. Hitting like this keeps the defense from covering the ball, makes points, creates sideouts, keeps you in the game,