Player 1, standing at the net, performs a block movement, and returns back to zone 1 behind the attack line.
Player 2 (standing close to the net in zone 4) then hits the ball to player one to mimic an opponents spike.
Player 1 then digs up the ball to player 3 (who is standing close to the net in the centre of the court), who then sets up player 1 to finish with a right side attack.
The drill is then repeated.
Using a fourth player the ball can be fed from a different position during the drill. So as player 1 returns to his zonal position, player 4 (standing near the centre of the base line) feeds the ball to player 3, who sets up the ball for player 1 to finish with a right side attack.
As roles in Zone 2 and 4 are similar this exercise should also be done on left side of half-court. You may also want to insist on accuracy from your players e.g. in digging what is difficult on strong kills.
Most teams win the dig and then hand the point straight back with a slow, predictable transition swing. The best 2026 sides treat the moment after the dig as their sharpest scoring chance, feeding the middle in transition and running first-tempo attacks off a defensive ball.
When the first pass breaks down, most teams collapse into a high ball straight into the opposing block. The best 2026 sides are building structured out-of-system offences that turn broken plays into scoring chances using libero sets, left-side options and disciplined hitter routes.
The modern pipe attack has evolved from a high middle-back set into a flat, fast weapon that arrives at quick tempo. Coaches at every level are now drilling it as a primary scoring option, forcing blockers into impossible decisions and unlocking four-hitter offences.
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