Players work in pairs with a ball between them, starting in a squat position. They pass the ball high, jump, and set it to their teammate who repeats this.
Jumping works the leg muscles and this drill helps players learn to jump at the right moment to reach the ball at the highest spot.
For professionals, when they jump they could spin in the air so they would set the ball backwards.
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.