A team is allowed to touch an incoming ball three times, a block (even with multiple touches) not counted, ideally in this way: reception (typically bump), set (typically overhand pass) and attack (spike).
Common terms related to hitting the ball:
serve: the first hit, to enter the opponents' court side
bump: reception of a hard or low incoming ball, hit with both hands together
overhand pass: most common to "set" the ball for an attack, ball hit with the fingertips
spike: an attack hit with one hand, above the head
backspike: attack by a back-row player, behind the 3 m line
kill: a spike hit that scores a point, e.g. touching the opponents court
tandem: two hitters jump together to deceive the blockers
off-speed hit: fooling defence by changing hitting speed
block: stopping an incoming ball after a spike hit
roof: a block that directs the ball towards the hitters floor
block-abuse: light hit to opponents block, causing it to fly away
dig: receiving a ball close to the floor after a spike hit
hitter: a player specialised in spike attacks
blocker: a defensor standing opposite the hitter, blocking the attack
setter: passes the ball to the hitter in order to prepare a perfect attack
You can hit a "down" ball which means hitting it hard in a downward motion.
Or, you can "tip" ("dip") the ball which is usually used to mess us the defense on the other side, or to get the ball over the blocker on the other side. When you tip the ball, you are using the tips of yours fingers to move the ball either up above the blocker and over the net, or you are pushing it down with your finger tips as close to the net as possible.
But, if you want to hit a down ball, you need a good set from the setter, and usually players will tip the ball when they get a bad set.
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cannot go over three hits. back row people cannot hit over the ten-foot line.
when serving, you must be behind the line.
bump the ball to the setter, setter sets the ball to the hitter who spikes it over the net.
To serve or bump a volley ball you must put one hand in a fist and gently place the other one on top of it