Players stand in pairs across the court from each other. One player has two balls and starts by throwing one ball in the air for the other player to pass back. While this ball is in the air having been passed back, the player throws the other ball to be passed back.
This drill lets players warm up and prepare for passing during defensive and offensive actions. In addition, when two ball are in use reaction time to prepare for another pass is shortened.
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.