Volleyball Guide: Serve, Pass, Spike

Volleyball is the sport in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort that most rewards understanding the shape of a rally. Each side gets three touches, and the game expects you to use them: a pass, a set, an attack. Teams that swing at the first touch lose to teams that use all three.

The three touches

• Pass. Receive the serve or the attack with your arms together, directing the ball toward your partner.
• Set. Lift the ball into the air for the attack.
• Spike. Jump and strike downward.

The motion input changes with each touch. Passing is a controlled upward motion; spiking is a jump followed by a downward swing. If you swing at the pass, the ball goes to the opponent and you have wasted a touch.

Serving

The serve is an underhand or overhead motion depending on the mode, and the rule is the same as everywhere else in this game: complete the arc. A served ball that clears the net by a metre is fine. A serve that clips the tape is a point lost for no reason.

Placement beats power. Serving into the gap between two opponents is worth more than serving hard at the player who is ready.

Blocking

At the net, the block is a jump and a held pose. Two things decide whether it works:

• Timing. Jump as the attacker jumps, not after the ball crosses.
• Line. Set the block on the side the attacker is approaching from. A block in the wrong place is just a jump.

A touched ball is not always a won point, but a blocked attack usually becomes a scramble, and scrambles favour the team that stayed in position.

Positioning

With two players a side, the court is divided by responsibility rather than by rule. The working arrangement:

• Front player takes the net, blocks and attacks.
• Back player covers the deep court and passes.
• Both rotate as the ball moves: the player nearest the ball takes it.

The failure mode is both players attacking the same ball. If your partner is on it, move to cover the space they left.

What the difficulty levels change

Lower difficulties give slower serves and shorter rallies. Higher ones serve deeper, attack more often, and punish a wasted first touch. The step up is felt in the passing window: at the top difficulty you have to pass before you feel ready.

Practice that transfers

Ten minutes, three drills:

1. Serve ten times, aiming for the deep corners.
2. Pass-and-set twenty times without attacking, just to build the rhythm.
3. Play one match where you never attack on the first touch.

The third drill feels passive and improves everything else.

Volleyball in the wider game

Volleyball is one of the nine competitive sports: it appears in Island Crown, Casual Online and the wider online rotation. It is at its best in two-versus-two with a partner you can talk to, which local play handles better than online matchmaking.

FAQ

How many touches per side?

Three, and the game rewards using all of them.

How do you spike?

Jump and swing downward as the ball arrives at the net.

Is volleyball online?

Yes, in the casual queue.

How many players on one console?

Up to four, in two-versus-two.