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Opposite Hitter
Right Side Attacker
Provides offense balance from the right side, being a very specialized hitter with strong blocking abilities.
Right Side Attacker
Provides offense balance from the right side, being a very specialized hitter with strong blocking abilities.
Attack from the right side - You're a specialized offensive hitter, and often the team's go-to scorer in high-pressure situations. Your attacks come from Zone 2 in the front row and from behind the 3-meter line when you're in the back row.
Block the opposing outside hitter - When you're in the front row, you're matched up against the other team's outside hitter. Your block needs to be disciplined and well-timed. Take away an angle, hold your position, and trust your back-row defenders to cover what you leave open.
Provide offensive balance - A strong opposite keeps the defense honest. If the other team can load their block and defense toward the left side because your right-side attack isn't a threat, your outside hitter and middle pay the price. Your ability to score from Zone 2 spreads the opposing block and creates space for everyone else.
Score in transition - Great opposite hitters convert chaotic plays into points. After a scramble dig, when the pass is off, or when the setter can only put up a high ball, you need to find a way to produce. Since you're typically out of serve receive, you have more time to prepare for the attack and should be available nearly every play.
Hitting from the right side is a different challenge than attacking from the left. The angles feel different, the set arrives from a different direction, and right-handed hitters have to work harder to generate clean contact because the ball crosses the body.
Your approach comes from outside the court on the right and angles in toward the net. This opens up the cross-court shot to the left and the line shot down the right sideline. Shot variety matters here. Cross-court power, sharp angles, line shots, tips, and wipe-offs (using the block) all need to be part of your toolbox.
You'll hit from multiple situations:
You're mainly responsible for blocking the opponent's outside hitter. Your block is the first layer of your team's defense, and when it's working, it changes what the opposing hitter is willing to attempt.
Work with your middle blocker to close the double block. Your job as the right-side blocker is to set the block by taking away the line or the cross-court angle depending on your team's scheme, then hold that position. Read the opposing setter to anticipate where the ball is going, then get there before the hitter swings.
Most opposite hitters have the size and power to develop a strong jump serve or a heavy float serve that puts immediate pressure on the opponent's passers.
Whether you favor power or placement, the goal is the same: make the other team uncomfortable before the rally starts. Target weak passers, hit seams between receivers, and force broken passes that limit their offensive options.
While opposite hitters typically don't participate in serve receive depending on the rotation system, you still play defense in the back row. When the opponent attacks, you need to be positioned, ready, and capable of making a dig.
Your defensive responsibilities depend on the rotation and your team's system. You'll dig hard-driven attacks, cover tips that drop short, and chase down balls that deflect off the block. After making the dig, you need to transition immediately because there's a good chance the next set is coming to you.
| Level | Men's Average | Women's Average |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic | 6'8" (207 cm) | 6'1" (186 cm) |
| D1 | 6'4" to 6'8" (195 to 207 cm) | 6'1" (186 cm) |
Opposite hitters are usually the second-tallest player on the team behind the middle blocker. Being taller translates to a higher contact point on attacks, especially back-row attacks where you're further from the net.
Power - You're expected to score against set blocks, from the back row, and on out-of-system balls. Raw hitting strength combined with control gives you the ability to produce when the team needs it most.
Vertical jump - A high contact point means more shot options and a harder ball for the defense to handle. It's also what makes back-row attacks viable. If you can't get above the net from behind the 3-meter line, the D-ball isn't a realistic weapon.
Explosiveness - Blocking the opposing outside hitter means repeated max-effort jumps at the net, and transitioning from blocking to attacking requires quick recovery and fast footwork off the net.
Mental toughness - You'll take a high volume of swings and face constant pressure to produce. Bad stretches happen: shanked swings, blocked attacks, missed serves. The ability to reset and stay aggressive after errors is what keeps you reliable.
Score against set blocks from both front and back row
Shut down the opponent's strongest hitter with timing and positioning
Stay aggressive and confident through high-pressure scoring situations
These two positions share the net but play fundamentally different roles. Understanding the distinction clarifies what each position demands.
The biggest difference: outside hitters need to do everything well. Opposite hitters get to specialize. You trade passing responsibilities for a heavier scoring load and the task of neutralizing the other team's most dangerous attacker at the net.
Left-handed opposite hitters have a natural mechanical advantage. When hitting from the right side, a lefty's arm swing doesn't cross the body, so the ball is already on the correct side for a clean, powerful contact. It's the same reason right-handed hitters feel comfortable on the left side.
This gives left-handed opposites:
That said, hand dominance isn't the deciding factor. The current top opposite hitters at the international level are overwhelmingly right-handed. Height, jumping ability, and overall athleticism outweigh the lefty advantage. Right-handed opposites develop strong wrist control and adjusted approach angles to compensate, and they produce at the highest level.
The mechanics of hitting from Zone 2 are different enough from the left side that they require dedicated practice. Spend time hitting with a setter who can deliver sets to the right, both front-row and back-row attacks.
Work through your shot menu deliberately: cross-court, line, sharp angle, roll shot, tip, and wipe-off. Having one good shot isn't enough at competitive levels. If blockers can predict where you're going, your kill percentage drops.
Practice hitting out-of-system balls too. High, off-the-net sets that arrive at bad times. These are the swings that define your value as an opposite because converting ugly sets into points is the whole job.
Your primary blocking matchup is the opposing outside hitter, who is usually well-practiced and versatile. You need to read the setter and be in position before the outside hitter starts their approach.
Drill your footwork for closing the block from Zone 2. Practice with your middle blocker to develop timing on the double block. You need to arrive at the same time, press together, and take away space.
Film study helps here. Watch how opposing setters distribute and how their outside hitters favor certain shots in specific rotations. The more patterns you recognize, the better your blocking decisions get.
This is a distinguishing skill for opposite hitters. You'll hit more back-row attacks than any other position because when you're in the back row, the setter is in the front, which means the team has maximum offensive options and the D-ball becomes a real weapon.
Practice the approach from behind the 3-meter line. The timing is different from front-row attacks because you're taking off further from the net and contacting a higher, arcing set. Focus on making a high contact point and directing the ball deep into the court. A D-ball that lands short is an easy dig; one that hits the back meter forces the defense to scramble.
The sequence of block, land, pull off the net, approach, and attack happens nearly every rally. If your transition is slow, the setter can't include you in the offense.
Practice game-speed transitions. Land balanced from your block, take short explosive steps back to your approach position, and attack. The faster this pattern becomes automatic, the more offensive opportunities you earn.
When you're watching any opposite hitter, ask yourself:
Common Questions