Various Volleyball Terminology and Definitions
Ace-A serve that results directly in a point,
usually when the ball hits the floor untouched on the receiving team’s side of
the court
Free ball- Returning the ball to the opponent
without the intent to get a kill (slow, arcing, pass rather than a spike)
Kill- An attack that results directly in a point
or sideout
Assist- Passing or setting the ball to a
teammate who attacks the ball for a kill
Tandem – A combination in which one player
attacks immediately behind another
Six Pack- When a defending player gets hit in
the face with the ball either from an attack or by a deflection off the block
Tool- When an attacker hits the ball off an
opposing blockers arms when out of bounds
Roof- To block a spike, usually straight down
for a point
Pancake- one-hand floor defensive technique
where the hand is extended and slid along the floor palm down while the player
dives or extension rolls, so that the ball bounces off the back of the hand.
This above player is demonstrating a pancake.
