1. Know what you're doing with the one-handed set

A one-handed set to the quick attacker often gets a loud reaction from the crowd. But if setters don't pay attention to the other team's block while making this set, the cheering could be because their hitter has just gotten blocked straight down. The setter has to know if the other team's middle is going with the quick or not. If the middle jumps with the quick because he thinks that's the setter's only choice, then the other attackers are one-on-one. If you're the setter and this happens, push a one-handed set outside.

In this picture, Chris Seiffert is showing what to do if the middle stays down in a reading position. He has wisely chosen to set the quick as the opponent looks on.

Knowing what's happening on the other side of the net on tight passes can make the difference between a great hitting opportunity and a trap set to your middle attacker.

2. The atenna is your friend

So many times I see young players afraid to get all the way outside when blocking because of that evil red and white striped villain you know as the atenna. But you should let the antenna help you. As Sarah Noriega demonstrates here, sealing the antenna with your hands can make a big wall for the other team's outside to hit around. In a way, the antenna acts as a third arm. The hitter must choose between being blocked straight down or hitting out of bounds. Either way, you win.

3. Hit it where they ain't

Growing up, I was a professional baseball wannabe. My Little League coaches always told me to hit the ball where the other team wasn't. Of course, little did they know that all I could think about at the plate was not getting killed.

Getting the ball past a blocker in volleyball can sometimes be just as difficult. But here's a tip that should make it a little easier. Whenever you're hitting against a block, wait for the blocker to make his move either to the line or cross-court. Once the blocker commits, you can go the opposite way for a winner.

In this picture, the blocker has dived inside, but Gabe Gardener is making the right choice by hanging and banging the line.

4. Goin through the ball

Anyway you look at it, passing and defense are difficult skills. And both often put players in uncomfortable positions. I can't count the number of times I've seen big international players bending only at the waist when passing or digging. The result is always bad.

Here, Michelle Quon shows us how to stay low and go through the ball, which is important if you're striving for a perfect pass. Notice how she's laying herself out right to the target. Her body's momentum will carry the ball directly to the setter.

Let me tell you, if you work this hard to make a good pass, a good set will soon be heading in your direction.

5. Three is always better than two

In today's game, there are just too many big hammers putting balls past the block. One way to slow these players down is to get a three-person block up in front of them.

Three-person blocks are usually only possible on bad passes or sets to the pipe position in the back-court. The most important thing about the three-person block is to be shoulder to shoulder to shoulder and have everyone penetrating the net at the same time.

In the picture above, Team Canada doesn't quite get it all together. Blocks like this give the other team many seams to hit.

By contrast, Team USA is putting up a good block - all six hands are working together, cutting down the angles and giving the opposition nowhere to go.

6. Raising the roof

Volleyball is an exciting sport. It has straight-down kills, devastating blocks, blistering jump serves and crowd-pleasing pancakes. With all this happening, you have to celebrate the good plays. Huddling after a sideout or a great point really brings the team closer together. And it opens up communication before, during and after a play.

I've been playing volleyball a long time now, and I've been on many teams. I've found that the teams that play the best are the ones that are together and on the same page. When everybody brings it in after every play, this is more likely to happen.

It also allows your team to dictate the pace and flow of every game, and doing that will eventually put the opposing team on edge.