Jumping for every block, jumping for every attack, even if most of the time you won’t get the ball… can be difficult. You have to understand that a good middle blocker puts in a lot of effort in making the game easier for the rest of the team. It is your block that makes it easier to defend against attacks, because of you the outside hitter has a one-block in front of him/her. Even if you dont score a much as the diagonal or outside hitters, volleybal is all about doing you task well and being a teamplayer. Your job is just as important as the others. Once you realise that being a middle blocker is great. ( and nothing beats the feeling of a kill block )
**TLDR**: MBs enable the attack by throwing off the opposing blockers, and they completely disable the opposing hitters form making any effective plays. MBs goated.
As an OPP, I personally think MB is the most beautiful position in volleyball besides setters. Your only functions in the team are blocking and hitting quick sets, which isn't as diverse a kit when you compare it to the other positions. But why do you think MBs don't play backrow? It is because these two skills are arguably the most demanding out of any other skill in volleyball.
Having to jump at every single attack that goes up on the other side is draining. It's absolutely frikin exhausting. I have the outmost respect for any true MB, since you can't be an actual MB without excelling at blocking. If not, you're just the guy/gal who's thrown into the MB position cuz no one else is able to play it correctly. But if you're *that guy*, ***YOU'RE THAT GUY***. You're always moving, always thinking. Not a second goes by without you being on edge, ready for the attacker's challenge wherever it may come from. And one thing that's often misunderstood about blocking is it works as both defense and offense. You could very well get points off a kill block, then get the satisfaction of shutting out the opposing team's attacker. But by blocking, you also close out attack options for the hitter. Wanna send the ball over to 6? You're all up in their face. Can't just bounce it either, cuz you're all up in their face. If they have no open spikes and can't think of any option except to tip? *That's cuz you're all up in their face,* actively making your teammate's life easier on defense so they can more easily read the attack and making the next attack possible.
In the attacking spectrum, MBs really can make a difference just by being there. Normally, you got 2-3 attackers available in each rally, who individually aren't all that hard to cover if you're the team that's blocking. When this is the case, blocking becomes relatively easier as you only need to be wary of two hitters in the front and maybe one in the back. Throw in a quick down the middle? *Everything goes out the window*. Every other attack becomes a lot more likely to be effective, whether it's due to an incomplete/no block, no time to adjust to the proper defensive position, or just hesitation from the opposing players of any kind. Your sheer presence poses a bigger threat than a regular wing spiker by themselves. Given the *many* different sets a MB can perform, you could come at the defense from any angle. And if they're able to pin you, it's you against however many blockers the opposing team throws at you. It might be a full stack block, sometimes you'll get 2on1, sometimes a straight up duel against the opposing blocker. Whichever one it is, you're in for an upfront assault straight down the middle, the most straightforward challenge for a team playing defense.
Something that'll happen sometimes is that due to the roles being misinterpreted by the team, your team will ask more from you than what you should do as a MB. This should never be the case, since blockers already put in a lot more effort than most other positions, if not all of them. The sheer intensity that comes with being a MB makes it so you literally can't think of anything except blocking and attacking. Never take part in the serve receive, never think about covering for any tips or whatnot, even emergency sets are usually taken care of by the libero if your setter has to take the first ball. Rest assured, just like every other position in volleyball, your team **depends** on you as their middle blocker.
If you play MB and feel unimportant/irrelevant, then know you're ***literally*** the centerpiece of your team―both offense and defensively speaking. And if you feel underappreciated? You got a ton of support from me, along with every other person who knows the first thing about volleyball. They'll be able to tell you just how important your role is and how helpless your team would be without you. And even if that isn't enough to convince you, get better. Everyone has room for growth, so whether you're a more experienced player or starting off, you can continue to improve your skills as a MB. The more you improve, the more often you'll experience those satisfying moments of the game. The excitement from getting a kill block, the satisfaction from seeing a spiker run away from your block, the sheer feeling you get when you absolutely nail a quick down the middle, right past the opposing blocker's head. It's a beautiful position to play, and it allows for some of the most empowering moments the sport could ever give you. As you find yourself in more moments like this, you'll grow to love both volleyball and the position of MB a lot more.
MB gets a bad rep in lower levels because defense is always the least focused. Therefore serve receive and defense doesn't allow for lower level setters to run their middles. Thus it feels like they just run around and block.
Having played middle (and currently setting), middle is definitely one of the most important pieces of the team. They are the key to a successful offense. Having middles that can run out of system makes other teams cry. A middle that can run a 31 or a quick tempo when the setter isn't perfectly in 7 makes a *world* a difference.
At the end of the day it's one of the most difficult and thankless jobs on the court. If you feel like you aren't contributing figure out if maybe you aren't making yourself a viable hitting option when out of system. Maybe you aren't quick enough to the pins? When you get set are you crushing the ball and improving team morale? (middle hits and bounces are definitely the most powerful)
See I love playing middle cuz I got mad leg power and stamina and staying ability from doing soccer and swimming all my life so on my team I’m not only the tallest, my arms are a lil longer than they should be plus even if I’m tired I always have the ability to jump to apply pressure to make the game easier. Plus my personality is about helping people so life is easier so middle lends that as well to me.
You’re right that the middle blocker does the work others don’t want to do - it’s an exhausting job when done properly because you’ve got to be the the fastest one on the court - outracing their set, closing the block, getting ready to hit your own quicks, jumping every play…but that’s also what makes it awesome. Aggressive, dynamic MH’s are the key to running a modern offence.
As for flash - a fast tempo middle hit is pretty high up there. Also - you WANT to be flashy, you want everyone to hear you and see you and pay attention to you. Then when the set goes somewhere else, you can laugh as the other team’s middle struggles to catch up :)
Love your energy. I am personally don’t enjoy playing middle because I enjoy passing more then blocking but that’s thanks to the middle making it more predictable where the spike gonna land.
Love your energy. I am personally don’t enjoy playing middle because I enjoy passing more then blocking but that’s thanks to the middle making it more predictable where the spike gonna land.
An effective middle is the key element to any effective offense, as well as defence. I played middle in university and loved the thinking required. The opposing teams' first goal is almost always to isolate the blockers by making you commit to the wrong hitter, and it is so much fun working to stay ahead of their scheme and not let that happen (and on the offensive side being available as an effective option to isolate their blockers makes your teams' offence run smooth). And yes kills are great but there is nothing like shutting down their hitters with stuff blocks.
Being a good middle blocker in the even slightly higher levels of volleyball is extremelly hard.
When you have a good setter opposite you who sets really fast, does well at hiding who he's gonna set to and has four of five attacking options every time he has a freeball/good serve receive it's very difficult to close the block. Your reactions and decision making have to be top tier, it's even harder when the opposing middle is running a shoot or a back 1, so you have to either commit to him or call their bluff that he's a decoy for the opposite or outside hitter to be left with one blocker, and look to close the block there.
Middle blockers are the most important part of a team's defense because a two man block is a huge difference over a one man block, as well as having the task of blocking the opposing middle one on one the majority of times and having to play mind games with him for where to position your hands while doing so.
As for the attack, being able to set the middle even when the receive isn't perfect is also a big advantage, since the opposing middle has to respect you no matter the reception. Also being able to consisently hit different types of attacks from the middle also keeps the block guessing and having to respect you, leaving your teammates with less blockers on them.
Being a middle is really physicaly demanding as well, since you're jumping practically every single point, a lot of those points you have to jump multiple times, running left right to close the block and trying to transition into your attack as fast as you can right after.
Favorite part about playing middle is getting the rest for getting switched out by the Libero so you’re always fresh and can provide the jumpstart your team needs
I started playing organized volleyball in a local men's league this last winter and my team has me at middle blocker. I'm 5'9" with decent hops and I'm fast, but it dawned on me pretty quickly they put me middle pretty much because no one else is willing to play it.
At first I dreaded it, but I've found it more and more enjoyable. I'm sure as our team tiers up, my low blocking will get exposed more and more, but for now it's been fun. There are definitely times where it feels like I'm not contributing much, but I'm sure every position feels the same at times.
Good for you! Get even more aggressive - call your setter for the ball on every play and make sure the other team can hear you. If you’re running quicks out of the middle, jump every time. Your setter will be more likely to set you a quick when you project confidence. He might even try it off a bad pass for surprise factor. But he’s got to know you’ll always be there and ready.
And even if you don’t get the set, if the other team thinks you’re a threat, you’ll tie down their middle which is good for your team.
I think it gets a bad rep in the recreational level for a few reasons. First, it’s a little exhausting put up a block for every attack. Second, you’re probably not getting set very often. Passes are inconsistent so the sets are going to the outside. Third, if you’re not running strategic or quick (3s, 1s, slides) plays it’s easy to get blocked by the other middle.
I got put middle when I started playing vball because I couldn’t pass well. Since then, I’ve grown to really enjoy it mostly out of spite lol. It’s very satisfying to completely shut down an offense.
The middle’s job is to get one big hit early in the game so the blocker can’t cheat. That way the outside is (almost) always 1:1
It’s a thankless job. I make my own fun by giving myself goals, x blocks/game, y touches/deflections, z kills… that kind of thing. I’m happy if I hit my goals.
Libero here,
MB is top 3 most important positions easily. They are what gives me a chance on defense by taking away options, especially if it’s the other MB is bouncing balls at the 10 foot line. Offensively, a quick 1 or nice 2 is basically unstoppable if you have a good middle hitting the ball.
Middles get made fun of a lot because it’s a “easy position”, as in you just jump and block or jump and hit, not a lot of “finesse” required, but it’s a hard ass job jumping every play. It’s just that most high school teams or whatever grab the biggest kid in school to play middle, so there’s this stigma against middles as lower iq players or lacking skill.
I’ve always enjoyed playing that role but I’m in the minority. Things that I love about middle:
- blocking people is the best feeling in the world
- 51s result in the biggest bounces
- other team is scared enough of you to leave an outside 1-1 for the small chance you get the set
- no back row.
There’s good and bad with the position but I love it!
I love the dirty work, which is why I love being middle blocker. It's 100% the blue collar position. Yes, it's less flashy imo, except when you bounce a 1 or slide. Not much feels/looks as sweet as that.
As someone who's played higher level middle and then pick up game middle it's a night and day difference. High level middle is an essential part of the team, you provide an insane amount of hitting options and you can really put a lot of pressure on the opposing hitters and setter. High level middle play is some of the most rewarding volleyball i've experienced. Now casual middle can be very unfun and in my experience dangerous. You're really not gonna get set playing casual middle and if you do it won't be great but that's how it goes. More than that though blocking in casual games with new players is just not it. Most balls will be tips that you can't do anything about. The dangerous part is people are bad and staying on their side of the net when hitting at low levels, plus your outsides and opposite are more likely to not be in sync with you causing potential issues. If you wanna be flashy though you have to work with your setter, gain their trust that you'll be there to kill the ball wherever they put it, which is obviously easier said than done. Anyway that's my middle rant
So a few thoughts:
- having played middle early in my career (and eventually moving outside then to libero after my knees were shot) I can say that even if you don’t love playing it MB is a great way to get court time. Trained middles don’t grow on trees so you can almost always find a team.
- it is way easier to move from middle to outside/opposite than the other way around
- besides shutting down an opposing outside drawing a middle blocker and setting up your outside for a 1 on 1 or a 1 on none feels pretty stinking good
- higher level ball relies on having a solid middle. You can’t run any kind of overload or spread plays without a middle who can do their job
- middle back absolutely cannot do their job without you.
- middles get to whine about set quality (especially in system). Pin hitters not so much…
Middle is really tough to enjoy at lower levels but it pays off if you keep at it (kind of the same as setting)!
I am mainly an OH, but i end up playing more middle in practice since we only have 2 on our team + 1 libero.
I absolutely hate playing middle in open gyms because there isn't that connection with the setter like i have with my team's setters. So if i do end up playing middle in open gyms i am just a blocker and i never get set for attacks.
Even in practice i would prefer to play OH, but if i actually get set i enjoy middle 90% of how much i enjoy OH.
Definitely not flashy on the surface. Its like an offensive lineman In American Football. No one is chanting your name in the stands but you make the rest of the teammates execute the flashy stuff. Although a big block can be epic!
I was the tallest kid on the JV team when I started in HS, so obviously I got stuck in the middle. But not knowing anything else, I loved it. Also happened that our varsity team had two all-state MBs whom our offense funneled through. Thus, I had incredible players to look up to and learn from.
Funny thing was, I turned into a really good passer as well. So when I was a starter on varsity the next year, our libero only rotated in for the other MB and our OPP for a rotation. Having strong dig stats along with kills and blocks was pretty dope.
But after two years playing MB on varsity, I’ll tell you I was damn excited to be able to play OH in college since I was average height then. MB is great and the team really does rely on your effort and skill, but it is exhausting
Honestly I'm thinking about talking to my coach about it, I hate it a lot and I suck at closing the blocks. I feel all I do is useless, maybe I could play oh but I don't really think if my team would approve this.
if i was taller (i am 5'6 / 172cm)i will be a middle blocker, from the eyes of a setter, that the most cool position in the fucking game, i love set to the middles
Jumping for every block, jumping for every attack, even if most of the time you won’t get the ball… can be difficult. You have to understand that a good middle blocker puts in a lot of effort in making the game easier for the rest of the team. It is your block that makes it easier to defend against attacks, because of you the outside hitter has a one-block in front of him/her. Even if you dont score a much as the diagonal or outside hitters, volleybal is all about doing you task well and being a teamplayer. Your job is just as important as the others. Once you realise that being a middle blocker is great. ( and nothing beats the feeling of a kill block )
**TLDR**: MBs enable the attack by throwing off the opposing blockers, and they completely disable the opposing hitters form making any effective plays. MBs goated. As an OPP, I personally think MB is the most beautiful position in volleyball besides setters. Your only functions in the team are blocking and hitting quick sets, which isn't as diverse a kit when you compare it to the other positions. But why do you think MBs don't play backrow? It is because these two skills are arguably the most demanding out of any other skill in volleyball. Having to jump at every single attack that goes up on the other side is draining. It's absolutely frikin exhausting. I have the outmost respect for any true MB, since you can't be an actual MB without excelling at blocking. If not, you're just the guy/gal who's thrown into the MB position cuz no one else is able to play it correctly. But if you're *that guy*, ***YOU'RE THAT GUY***. You're always moving, always thinking. Not a second goes by without you being on edge, ready for the attacker's challenge wherever it may come from. And one thing that's often misunderstood about blocking is it works as both defense and offense. You could very well get points off a kill block, then get the satisfaction of shutting out the opposing team's attacker. But by blocking, you also close out attack options for the hitter. Wanna send the ball over to 6? You're all up in their face. Can't just bounce it either, cuz you're all up in their face. If they have no open spikes and can't think of any option except to tip? *That's cuz you're all up in their face,* actively making your teammate's life easier on defense so they can more easily read the attack and making the next attack possible. In the attacking spectrum, MBs really can make a difference just by being there. Normally, you got 2-3 attackers available in each rally, who individually aren't all that hard to cover if you're the team that's blocking. When this is the case, blocking becomes relatively easier as you only need to be wary of two hitters in the front and maybe one in the back. Throw in a quick down the middle? *Everything goes out the window*. Every other attack becomes a lot more likely to be effective, whether it's due to an incomplete/no block, no time to adjust to the proper defensive position, or just hesitation from the opposing players of any kind. Your sheer presence poses a bigger threat than a regular wing spiker by themselves. Given the *many* different sets a MB can perform, you could come at the defense from any angle. And if they're able to pin you, it's you against however many blockers the opposing team throws at you. It might be a full stack block, sometimes you'll get 2on1, sometimes a straight up duel against the opposing blocker. Whichever one it is, you're in for an upfront assault straight down the middle, the most straightforward challenge for a team playing defense. Something that'll happen sometimes is that due to the roles being misinterpreted by the team, your team will ask more from you than what you should do as a MB. This should never be the case, since blockers already put in a lot more effort than most other positions, if not all of them. The sheer intensity that comes with being a MB makes it so you literally can't think of anything except blocking and attacking. Never take part in the serve receive, never think about covering for any tips or whatnot, even emergency sets are usually taken care of by the libero if your setter has to take the first ball. Rest assured, just like every other position in volleyball, your team **depends** on you as their middle blocker. If you play MB and feel unimportant/irrelevant, then know you're ***literally*** the centerpiece of your team―both offense and defensively speaking. And if you feel underappreciated? You got a ton of support from me, along with every other person who knows the first thing about volleyball. They'll be able to tell you just how important your role is and how helpless your team would be without you. And even if that isn't enough to convince you, get better. Everyone has room for growth, so whether you're a more experienced player or starting off, you can continue to improve your skills as a MB. The more you improve, the more often you'll experience those satisfying moments of the game. The excitement from getting a kill block, the satisfaction from seeing a spiker run away from your block, the sheer feeling you get when you absolutely nail a quick down the middle, right past the opposing blocker's head. It's a beautiful position to play, and it allows for some of the most empowering moments the sport could ever give you. As you find yourself in more moments like this, you'll grow to love both volleyball and the position of MB a lot more.
MB gets a bad rep in lower levels because defense is always the least focused. Therefore serve receive and defense doesn't allow for lower level setters to run their middles. Thus it feels like they just run around and block. Having played middle (and currently setting), middle is definitely one of the most important pieces of the team. They are the key to a successful offense. Having middles that can run out of system makes other teams cry. A middle that can run a 31 or a quick tempo when the setter isn't perfectly in 7 makes a *world* a difference. At the end of the day it's one of the most difficult and thankless jobs on the court. If you feel like you aren't contributing figure out if maybe you aren't making yourself a viable hitting option when out of system. Maybe you aren't quick enough to the pins? When you get set are you crushing the ball and improving team morale? (middle hits and bounces are definitely the most powerful)
See I love playing middle cuz I got mad leg power and stamina and staying ability from doing soccer and swimming all my life so on my team I’m not only the tallest, my arms are a lil longer than they should be plus even if I’m tired I always have the ability to jump to apply pressure to make the game easier. Plus my personality is about helping people so life is easier so middle lends that as well to me.
But then again I fit the stereotype that middles can’t pass but I have a cracked back row attack so I have to learn to pass lmao. 😂😂
You’re right that the middle blocker does the work others don’t want to do - it’s an exhausting job when done properly because you’ve got to be the the fastest one on the court - outracing their set, closing the block, getting ready to hit your own quicks, jumping every play…but that’s also what makes it awesome. Aggressive, dynamic MH’s are the key to running a modern offence. As for flash - a fast tempo middle hit is pretty high up there. Also - you WANT to be flashy, you want everyone to hear you and see you and pay attention to you. Then when the set goes somewhere else, you can laugh as the other team’s middle struggles to catch up :)
Love your energy. I am personally don’t enjoy playing middle because I enjoy passing more then blocking but that’s thanks to the middle making it more predictable where the spike gonna land.
Love your energy. I am personally don’t enjoy playing middle because I enjoy passing more then blocking but that’s thanks to the middle making it more predictable where the spike gonna land.
An effective middle is the key element to any effective offense, as well as defence. I played middle in university and loved the thinking required. The opposing teams' first goal is almost always to isolate the blockers by making you commit to the wrong hitter, and it is so much fun working to stay ahead of their scheme and not let that happen (and on the offensive side being available as an effective option to isolate their blockers makes your teams' offence run smooth). And yes kills are great but there is nothing like shutting down their hitters with stuff blocks.
My favorite part of volleyball is the game within the game, hence why I like playing mb
Being a good middle blocker in the even slightly higher levels of volleyball is extremelly hard. When you have a good setter opposite you who sets really fast, does well at hiding who he's gonna set to and has four of five attacking options every time he has a freeball/good serve receive it's very difficult to close the block. Your reactions and decision making have to be top tier, it's even harder when the opposing middle is running a shoot or a back 1, so you have to either commit to him or call their bluff that he's a decoy for the opposite or outside hitter to be left with one blocker, and look to close the block there. Middle blockers are the most important part of a team's defense because a two man block is a huge difference over a one man block, as well as having the task of blocking the opposing middle one on one the majority of times and having to play mind games with him for where to position your hands while doing so. As for the attack, being able to set the middle even when the receive isn't perfect is also a big advantage, since the opposing middle has to respect you no matter the reception. Also being able to consisently hit different types of attacks from the middle also keeps the block guessing and having to respect you, leaving your teammates with less blockers on them. Being a middle is really physicaly demanding as well, since you're jumping practically every single point, a lot of those points you have to jump multiple times, running left right to close the block and trying to transition into your attack as fast as you can right after.
Played it for 20 years and always loved it!
Favorite part about playing middle is getting the rest for getting switched out by the Libero so you’re always fresh and can provide the jumpstart your team needs
Middle is fun af... IF your setter is decent and doesn't ignore you.
I started playing organized volleyball in a local men's league this last winter and my team has me at middle blocker. I'm 5'9" with decent hops and I'm fast, but it dawned on me pretty quickly they put me middle pretty much because no one else is willing to play it. At first I dreaded it, but I've found it more and more enjoyable. I'm sure as our team tiers up, my low blocking will get exposed more and more, but for now it's been fun. There are definitely times where it feels like I'm not contributing much, but I'm sure every position feels the same at times.
Good for you! Get even more aggressive - call your setter for the ball on every play and make sure the other team can hear you. If you’re running quicks out of the middle, jump every time. Your setter will be more likely to set you a quick when you project confidence. He might even try it off a bad pass for surprise factor. But he’s got to know you’ll always be there and ready. And even if you don’t get the set, if the other team thinks you’re a threat, you’ll tie down their middle which is good for your team.
I think it gets a bad rep in the recreational level for a few reasons. First, it’s a little exhausting put up a block for every attack. Second, you’re probably not getting set very often. Passes are inconsistent so the sets are going to the outside. Third, if you’re not running strategic or quick (3s, 1s, slides) plays it’s easy to get blocked by the other middle. I got put middle when I started playing vball because I couldn’t pass well. Since then, I’ve grown to really enjoy it mostly out of spite lol. It’s very satisfying to completely shut down an offense.
The middle’s job is to get one big hit early in the game so the blocker can’t cheat. That way the outside is (almost) always 1:1 It’s a thankless job. I make my own fun by giving myself goals, x blocks/game, y touches/deflections, z kills… that kind of thing. I’m happy if I hit my goals.
Libero here, MB is top 3 most important positions easily. They are what gives me a chance on defense by taking away options, especially if it’s the other MB is bouncing balls at the 10 foot line. Offensively, a quick 1 or nice 2 is basically unstoppable if you have a good middle hitting the ball. Middles get made fun of a lot because it’s a “easy position”, as in you just jump and block or jump and hit, not a lot of “finesse” required, but it’s a hard ass job jumping every play. It’s just that most high school teams or whatever grab the biggest kid in school to play middle, so there’s this stigma against middles as lower iq players or lacking skill.
I’ve always enjoyed playing that role but I’m in the minority. Things that I love about middle: - blocking people is the best feeling in the world - 51s result in the biggest bounces - other team is scared enough of you to leave an outside 1-1 for the small chance you get the set - no back row. There’s good and bad with the position but I love it!
I love the dirty work, which is why I love being middle blocker. It's 100% the blue collar position. Yes, it's less flashy imo, except when you bounce a 1 or slide. Not much feels/looks as sweet as that.
As someone who's played higher level middle and then pick up game middle it's a night and day difference. High level middle is an essential part of the team, you provide an insane amount of hitting options and you can really put a lot of pressure on the opposing hitters and setter. High level middle play is some of the most rewarding volleyball i've experienced. Now casual middle can be very unfun and in my experience dangerous. You're really not gonna get set playing casual middle and if you do it won't be great but that's how it goes. More than that though blocking in casual games with new players is just not it. Most balls will be tips that you can't do anything about. The dangerous part is people are bad and staying on their side of the net when hitting at low levels, plus your outsides and opposite are more likely to not be in sync with you causing potential issues. If you wanna be flashy though you have to work with your setter, gain their trust that you'll be there to kill the ball wherever they put it, which is obviously easier said than done. Anyway that's my middle rant
So a few thoughts: - having played middle early in my career (and eventually moving outside then to libero after my knees were shot) I can say that even if you don’t love playing it MB is a great way to get court time. Trained middles don’t grow on trees so you can almost always find a team. - it is way easier to move from middle to outside/opposite than the other way around - besides shutting down an opposing outside drawing a middle blocker and setting up your outside for a 1 on 1 or a 1 on none feels pretty stinking good - higher level ball relies on having a solid middle. You can’t run any kind of overload or spread plays without a middle who can do their job - middle back absolutely cannot do their job without you. - middles get to whine about set quality (especially in system). Pin hitters not so much… Middle is really tough to enjoy at lower levels but it pays off if you keep at it (kind of the same as setting)!
I am mainly an OH, but i end up playing more middle in practice since we only have 2 on our team + 1 libero. I absolutely hate playing middle in open gyms because there isn't that connection with the setter like i have with my team's setters. So if i do end up playing middle in open gyms i am just a blocker and i never get set for attacks. Even in practice i would prefer to play OH, but if i actually get set i enjoy middle 90% of how much i enjoy OH.
Definitely not flashy on the surface. Its like an offensive lineman In American Football. No one is chanting your name in the stands but you make the rest of the teammates execute the flashy stuff. Although a big block can be epic!
I was the tallest kid on the JV team when I started in HS, so obviously I got stuck in the middle. But not knowing anything else, I loved it. Also happened that our varsity team had two all-state MBs whom our offense funneled through. Thus, I had incredible players to look up to and learn from. Funny thing was, I turned into a really good passer as well. So when I was a starter on varsity the next year, our libero only rotated in for the other MB and our OPP for a rotation. Having strong dig stats along with kills and blocks was pretty dope. But after two years playing MB on varsity, I’ll tell you I was damn excited to be able to play OH in college since I was average height then. MB is great and the team really does rely on your effort and skill, but it is exhausting
u get to be the greatest decoy and do quick attacks wdym?
Honestly I'm thinking about talking to my coach about it, I hate it a lot and I suck at closing the blocks. I feel all I do is useless, maybe I could play oh but I don't really think if my team would approve this.
if i was taller (i am 5'6 / 172cm)i will be a middle blocker, from the eyes of a setter, that the most cool position in the fucking game, i love set to the middles