Anatomy of the Kill - Adriana Santoriello

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely mine. The blog is not an official publication of Melrose Volleyball or any Melrose organization. 

Study tape. A heuristic (rule of thumb) truth is that teams need three dynamic hitters for a playoff run. Sabine Wenzel is one of the top hitters in the state and checks one box. Freshman Adriana Santoriello has averaged ten kills per match for the past three contests. That's not a large sample size but an uptrend is encouraging.

"Form begets function." Let's analyze Adriana's recent form. She attacks from to left top of the screen (video from MHS-TV, Pixellot system). I advise watching replay at 0.50 speed using the "settings" at the bottom right of your screen. 

1. Reading the play. She sees that a "free ball" return is coming. 

2. That triggers her backpedalling to prepare the attack. She is calling for the set, something that confident hitters do. She has a long "runway" starting about five feet behind the ten foot line. 

3. Using the classic "three-step approach," as a right-handed hitter she starts with the right foot forward

4. She starts her attack just as Sadie Smith delivers the set. That allows for "real-time" adjustment to the speed, height, and width of the set. 

5. Note the vital back armswing to almost parallel to the floor as she launches the attack getting good height

6. She attacks well over the net and the smash goes over the double block

Solid attackers "repeat" their delivery. Some will start their approach wider if they play to hit crosscourt or "cut shots." Here the attack against the double block is lower, but she "gets the roll" and another kill. 

Mechanics of tape study. I often will "fast forward" using 1.75 or 2.0 speed to find a play for analysis. Then I'll watch it normal speed and slow motion looking for details. 

Becoming a better player necessitates studying tape. It's not optional. Exceptional players always study tape, are in their notebooks, and make corrections to up their game.