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

Volleyball Positions on the Court: Backrow Rotations in Volleyball

Learn the descriptions and the different backrow volleyball positions on the court and how the rotation in volleyball works in the backrow player positions.

When a team, usually composed of at least one setter, two hitters, middle blockers and a libero wins a rally, they rotate clockwise one position on the court.

Volleyball Positions on the Court

If you're In the back row here's where you go on offense and/or defense if you're an

outside hitter
opposite hitter
middle blocker
setter

Volleyball Positions on the Court: Back Row Rotations in Offense and Defense

Volleyball Positions on the Court - for Zone 1

If you're In volleyball rotational Position 1/Zone 1 here's where you go on defense and/or offense if you're an

outside hitter
opposite hitter
6 position middle blocker
libero
setter

If you are a left side hitter/blocker

if serving - after completing your serve you run into the court to get into base defensive position in Rotational position 5, (left back, LB, Zone 5) If you win the rally, your team earns a point and you go back to serve again.
in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely when your team is served, as the libero you'd pass from RB (Position 1, P1, Zone 1) and when the ball goes over the net you'd switch to Position 5 to continue the rally digging, playing defense and possibly hitting from backrow* until the rally is completed.
*many teams, depending on their offensive strategies will place left side hitter in the MB position (P6) so they can dig and hit backrow

Positions on the Volleyball Court: If you're a libero in serve receive, depending on the offense you run when your team is served, you'd pass from RB (Position 1, P1, Zone 1).

Positions on the Volleyball Court: If you're a libero in serve receive, depending on the offense you run when your team is served, you'd pass from RB (Volleyball Rotation 1, P1)

If you are a libero/middle hitter/blocker

if serving - after completing your serve you run into the court to get into base defensive position in Rotational Position 6, (middle back, MB, Zone 6) If you win the rally, your team earns a point and you go back to serve again.
in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely as the libero, when your team is served, you'd pass from RB (Position 1, P1, Zone 1) taking as much court responsibility as possible and when the ball goes over the net you'd switch to Position 6 to continue the rally digging, playing defense from backrow* until the rally is completed.
*many teams, depending on their offensive strategies will place liberos in the LB position (P5) so they can dig the cross court attacks and set when necessary from the backrow.

If you are a setter or right side hitter/blocker

if serving - after completing your serve you run into the court to get into base defensive position in Rotational position 1, (right back, RB, Zone 1) If you win the rally, your team earns a point and you go back to serve again.
In serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely when your team is served, as the setter you'd stand behind the right front player who is passing. Once the ball is served you sprint to go to the net to Position 2/3 to be the setter target your passers pass the ball to. Once you run the offense and set one of your hitters and the ball goes over the net you return backrow to your base position to play defense.
in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely as the right side hitter, when your team is served, you'd pass from RB (Position 1, P1, Zone 1) taking as much court responsibility as possible alongside the libero in P6 and the left side hitter in P5/P4 and when the ball goes over the net you'd stay in Position 1 to continue the rally, digging, playing defense from backrow* until the rally is completed.

Positions on the Volleyball Court: If you're a libero in volleyball rotation P6: in serve receive, depending on the offense you run when your team is served, you'd pass from MB

Volleyball Positions on the Court - for Zone 6

If you're In volleyball rotational Position 6/Zone 6 here's where you go on defense and/or offense if you're an

outside hitter
opposite hitter
6 position middle blocker
libero
setter

If You're In Volleyball Rotation Position 6/Zone 6 where do you go on offense or defense?

If you are a left side hitter/blocker

on defense - you start in Rotational Position 6 and after your team serves, you switch going to your base defensive position in Rotational position 5, (left back, LB, Zone 5) to continue the rally digging, playing defense and possibly hitting from backrow* until the rally is completed.
in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely when your team is served, you'd pass from MB (Position 6, P6, Zone 6) and when the ball goes over the net you'd switch to Position 5 to continue the rally digging, playing defense and possibly hitting from backrow* until the rally is completed.
*many teams, depending on their offensive strategies will place left side hitter in the MB position (P6) so they can dig and hit backrow

If you are a libero/middle hitter/blocker

on defense - you start in your base defensive position in Rotational Position 6 and stay there after your team serves, to continue the rally, digging, playing defense until the rally is completed.
in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely as the libero, when your team is served, you'd pass from MB (Position 6, P6, Zone 6) taking as much court responsibility as possible and when the ball goes over the net you'd stay in Position 6 to continue the rally digging, playing defense from backrow* until the rally is completed.
*many teams, depending on their offensive strategies will place liberos in the LB position (P5) so they can dig the cross court attacks and set when necessary from the backrow.

Positions on the Volleyball Court: In serve receive, depending on the offense you run, as libero, when your team is served, you'd pass from MB (Position 6) taking as much court as possible

If you are a setter or right side hitter/blocker

on defense - you start in Rotational Position 6 and after your team serves, you switch going to your base defensive position in Rotational position 1, (right back, RB, Zone 1) to continue the rally digging, playing defense and possibly until the rally is completed.
In serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely when your team is served, as the setter you'd stand behind the middle front player who may or may not be passing. Once the ball is served you sprint to go to the net to Position 2/3 to be the setter target your passers pass the ball to. Once you run the offense and set one of your hitters and the ball goes over the net you return backrow to your base position (P1) to play defense.
in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely as the right side hitter, when your team is served, you'd pass from MB (Position 6, P6, Zone 6) and when the ball goes over the net you'd switch to your base defensive position in Position 1 to continue the rally, digging, playing defense from backrow* on the right side of the court until the rally is completed.

Volleyball Positions on the Court: II you're a libero in rotational position 5 in serve receive, depending on the offense you run, when your team is served, you'd pass from LB.

Volleyball Positions on the Court - for Zone 5

If you're In volleyball rotational Position 5/Zone 5 here's where you go on defense and/or offense if you're an

outside hitter
opposite hitter
6 position middle blocker
libero
setter

If you are a left side hitter/blocker

on defense - you start in Rotational Position 5 and after your team serves, you stay in your base defensive position in Rotational position 5, (left back, LB, Zone 5) to continue the rally digging, playing defense and possibly hitting from backrow* until the rally is completed.

in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely when your team is served, you'd pass from LB (Position 5, P5, Zone 5) and when the ball goes over the net you'd stay in Position 5 to continue the rally digging, playing defense and possibly hitting from backrow* until the rally is completed.

*many teams, depending on their offensive strategies will place left side hitter in the MB position (P6) so they can dig and hit backrow

If you are a libero/middle hitter/blocker

on defense - you start in Rotational Position 5 and after your team serves, you switch going to your base defensive position in Rotational position 6, (middle back, MB, Zone 6) to continue the rally digging, playing defense and possibly hitting from backrow* until the rally is completed.

in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely as the libero, when your team is served, you'd pass from LB (Position 5, P5, Zone 5) taking as much court responsibility as possible and when the ball goes over the net you'd switch back to your base defensive position in Rotational Position 6 to continue the rally digging, playing defense from backrow* until the rally is completed.

If you are a libero/middle hitter/blocker on defense you start in Rotational Position 5 and after your team serves, you switch going to your base defensive position in Rotational position 6

*many teams, depending on their offensive strategies will place liberos in the LB position (P5) so they can dig the cross court attacks and set when necessary from the backrow.

If you are a setter or right side hitter/blocker

on defense - you start in Rotational Position 5 and after your team serves, you switch going to your base defensive position in Rotational position 1, (right back, RB, Zone 1) to continue the rally digging, playing defense and possibly until the rally is completed.

In serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely when your team is served, as the setter you'd stand behind and to the left of the left front player who may or may not be passing. Once the ball is served you sprint to go to the net to Position 2/3 to be the setter target your passers pass the ball to. Once you run the offense and set one of your hitters and the ball goes over the net you return backrow to your base position (P1) to play defense.

in serve receive, depending on your coach and the offense you run, most likely as the right side hitter, when your team is served, you'd pass from LB (Position 5, P5, Zone 5) and when the ball goes over the net you'd switch to your base defensive position in Position 1 to continue the rally, digging, playing defense from backrow* on the right side of the court until the rally is completed.

Volleyball Positions:
Where Do You Go From Here?

Good times! Here's where you need to go now? Here are three options:

Learn more about volleyball positions and rotations and in the Related Links below.
Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
Or visit the pages in the Positions section in the drop down menu at the top of the page.

Learn more about volleyball positions on the court on the pages below!

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.
Volleyball Setter Position: What Makes A Good Setter And Team Leader?
Like quarterbacks in football, the volleyball setter position requires the setter to run the offense by deciding the volleyball plays her offense will run.
Volleyball Positions and Rotations 3 Front Row Positions in Volleyball
Learn the descriptions and what the different volleyball positions and rotations work for each of these front row player positions.
Volleyball Positions: What Are The Six Volleyball Roles On The Court?
Here's an extensive breakdown of the volleyball positions on the court you can pick to specialize in.including setter, hitter, opposite, middle blocker libero.
The Volleyball Outside Hitter: How To Be The Smart Spiker On Your Team
A volleyball outside hitter has options for scoring against opponents to score points including tipping deep or short in the court to mix up your attack hits.
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 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.
The Setter In Volleyball: How and Why You Set The Ball To Your Hitters
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.
6 Positions in Volleyball: Setter Libero Hitters Middle Blocker, D.S.
Setters, liberos, middle blockers, defensive specialists or spikers are the 6 positions in volleyball that players specialize in on varsity high school teams.
Each Player Position in Volleyball And The Court Zones They Play In
There are specialized areas that each player position in volleyball plays in. Learn where setters, opposites, middle blockers, liberos and outside hitters play.
Outside Hitter Volleyball Position What Is The Left Side Hitter's Job?
Outside hitter volleyball position. The left side hitter usually receives the most sets during a game and are required to pass well and hit to score points.
The Middle Blocker Position in Volleyball Rules and Responsibilities
For the middle blocker position in volleyball what're the requirements and skills needed? Learn what the middle volleyball blocker rules and requirements are.
A Middle Blocker in Volleyball What Makes A Good Middle In Volleyball?
A middle blocker in volleyball needs to have good upper body technique including hand positioning, shoulder penetration and full arm extension over the net.

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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

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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