DS needs help reading the hitter!

Question
Can you please give me tips on reading where the hitter will hit the volleyball? I was reading one of the questions and answers and it said you would give her some tips on rhis if her coach wouldnt ! Can you give me some tips please! Thanks so much

Answer
Good morning Nastassja!
Welcome to www.allexperts.com.  It's great to hear from you.

Reading the hitter in high school isn't all the complicated.
* She will almost always hit the ball where she's facing.  So if her shoulders and hip bones are facing cross, that's where she'll be almost always be hitting.  
* You can also get a early read on where an opponent will hit by noticing the direction her FEET are pointed.  Really.  Most right handed girls who approach the net with their feet facing the net will hit straight ahead or to their left.    

Most high school girls do not:
* turn their hand at the moment of contact so that the ball deflects another direction.  This is very hard to do, requires unusual athleticism, and months/years of repetitions.
* twist after they've jumped so that they turn the ball to their left (if they're right-handed).

When a high school opponent tips, 99% of them:   
* Will give it away early, so you'll see it coming. Watch for it, then react!
* Will tip short.  I coach 15's and 16's club ball and take my teams to BigSouth, NEQ, Capitol Hill, etc. and maybe once a year do we see a girl tip over the defense's head and onto the back line.  

Now, a roll shot is harder to read.  However:
* 99% of high school girls who have been trained will be trying to roll into the middle of your defense, trying to hit that open hole.  
* If they miss that spot, the dig is easy.
* If they aren't aiming for that spot, then the dig is easy.  
I do not allow my girls to use a roll shot when playing 6's UNLESS they are going up for the perfect set, and are then trying to trick the opponents by dropping a roll shot into the middle of the opponent's defense.  Why?  B/c any other roll shot is pretty much a free ball.  

You will dig more balls if you:
* Stand where you can see the opponent's hitters.  Sound obvious?  It's not.  Many girls just stand in the back row and hope a ball comes to them.  In fact, many high school coaches aren't even aware that this is important (I didn't used to be aware of it either).  Well, if a digger can't see the opponent's body as the opponent is ready to swing at the ball, then how is the hitter going to hit a ball at the digger?  Am I being clear with my explanation?  Let me say it another way:  If there's a blocker or a digging teammate between you and the opponent, you will dig fewer balls.  In my defense, there is no "screening" of diggers.  I want my diggers to have a clear look at the opponents.  

I think this will help some.  If other readers of this post have other suggestions, please jump in.  I was talking to a libero Sunday night, and she said, "Reading hitters is what I do."  Yep, sure is.  

For all this typing, can you do one thing for me?  Please visit us at www.coachhouser.com!  I think the smiling faces will make your day!  

Tom Houser
Roanoke, Va