Pancake
A last-chance dig. You slide your hand flat on the floor, palm down, and the ball bounces off the back of your hand instead of the court. It counts as a legal touch. You use it when you cannot get your platform under the ball. If the pancake is your team's first contact, you still have two hits left.
Example
A sharp tip dies just past the attack line. The libero slides, pancakes, and the ball pops up. The setter gets a second touch and the team swings again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pancake in volleyball?
You put a flat hand between the ball and the floor so the ball bounces off the back of your hand. It is a save for when a normal dig will not get there in time.
Is a pancake legal in volleyball?
Yes, as long as the hand touches the ball before the floor does. It counts as one of your team's hits. If it was the first contact, two hits remain.