As always, 4 players are taking part in Holly’s training session. Three you’ve met in previous videos: Gigi Hernandez (a junior at JSerra Catholic High in San Juan Capistrano, California, who will play beach Pepperdine), Abril Bustamante (a senior at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, who will play beach at the University of Southern California), Skylar Caputo (a senior at Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach, California, who will play beach at Pepperdine). Our fourth on this day is Kristen Kiehnle, a senior at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana who will play beach at UCLA next season.
Pass-set warmup
Pass, set, hit – rainbow over defender
Each player serves 8 balls, then the players rotate. Two passers take turns receiving serve and the fourth player sets.
In this video, Holly talks about the hand and arm position needed to execute a good rainbow shot to the deep corner.
This is the beginning of a progression in the practice that starts with pass-set and moves on to different hitting drills that focus on offensive hand control.
Hard angle hit and cut shot
Later, she talks about the cut shot. When hit properly, a good cut lands close to the net on the far side of the court from where the hitter is attacking.
Deep line shot facing a blocker, deep middle shot with nobody up
“I like adding a blocker because it makes them really focus on a high hand,” Holly says.
The second shot you’ll see here is a deep middle hit from the right side with no blocker up. As Holly explains, this is a good trouble shot on plays when the set is less than perfect and also a good option when both players on the opposing team are off the net.
In a fiddle, deep middle
Angle to angle drill, left to left
It’s tough to get kills when the defense knows which direction you’re going. But that’s the point.The goal is for the receiving team to get 6 points in 8 serves.
Grab ball when blocking
That may result in a block or a winnable joust. If not, it may intimidate the hitter enough to make her hit a ball that's easier for the defender to dig.
Angle to angle drill, right to right