Men’s volleyball coach Mark Pavlik ’82 EMS has patrolled the Nittany Lions’ sidelines since 1989, but his preferred view for any match—and the one he uses to break down film—is from one of the end zones, where he has a better feel for what is happening on the court. “You can see the whole picture,” he says. Here are a few things you can watch for from behind the baseline the next time you check out a match.
1. READY, SET, GO
As the setter receives the pass and the hitters get into position, fans can see the “origins of the offense,” says Pavlik, and gradually understand how and where the offense is trying to attack.
2. BLOCK PARTY
Watching for where the blockers are lined up in relation to the antennas and how close the middle blocker is to either side can cue fans to what the defense is trying to take away versus what it’s giving.
3. WATCH YOUR BACK
Sometimes hitters will attack with a big swing; other times they’ll use an offspeed hit. From the end zone, fans can more clearly see how the defense reacts to that level of physicality
