The Serve Receive & Defense Small Group is designed for back row athletes looking to sharpen all skills related to serve receive and floor defense in their respective positions. Great defenders rely on solid fundamentals—quick and efficient footwork, consistent platform angles, sharp court awareness, and the ability to read and react to the game in real time. They also possess advanced skills like tracking, court vision, smart decision-making, and vocal leadership.

In this small group, TVI trainers provide targeted, high-rep training that builds confidence, consistency, and control. Athletes will improve both their technical ability and their in-game instincts, with the overarching goal of carryover into the competitive team environment.

Defense Principles

• Great diggers are able to move efficiently to the flight path of attacks

• Great diggers are able to use a variety of ‘floor moves’ to extend their range and dig more balls

• Great diggers are able to dig with both their platform and hands — as well as to the left and right of their bodies

• Great diggers prioritize tips/rolls/positive block-touches over hard-driven balls

• Great diggers use a reverse-dodgeball step to maximize surface area behind the ball and reduce ‘shankability’

• Great diggers are also able to set up attackers with the 2nd contact if the setter is unavailable