This is the first line of defense, and the objective is to “block” the opposing team’s spiked ball from crossing the net. The three front-court players share the responsibility of blocking, and they usually “read” or “react” block, where they block based on where the setter set the ball.

This move/contact is made by a player at the net to prevent the ball from coming over when an opposing player is sending the ball over the net. This move is made with two extended arms with open hands above their head. This contact does not count as one of the three contacts a team is allowed to make. The same player that blocks the ball may contact the ball again as the first of their team’s three contacts. When two players block at the same time it is called a “double block”. When three players block at the same time it is called a “triple block”.