Opposite

The opposite, also known as the opposite hitter, right-side hitter, or OPP, is a specialized attacking position in volleyball that plays opposite the setter in the rotation, typically attacking from the right side of the court and serving as a crucial offensive and defensive contributor. This position derives its name from its rotational relationship to the setter in the 5-1 offensive system, with the opposite positioned three rotations away from the setter, ensuring that when the setter is in the front row, the opposite is in the back row, and vice versa. The opposite hitter serves multiple critical functions including right-side attacking, blocking against the opponent's primary outside hitters, back-row attacking when the setter is front-row, and often serving as a primary offensive option when the setter cannot take the second contact. The position demands a unique combination of left-handed attacking advantage or right-handed cross-body hitting ability, blocking prowess, offensive consistency, and versatility to attack from both front and back-row positions. In modern volleyball, the opposite has evolved into one of the most important scoring positions, with many of the world's elite players specializing in this role. The attacking responsibilities of the opposite hitter encompass both front-row and back-row offensive contributions that make the position uniquely valuable in offensive systems. When in the front row, opposites attack primarily from the right side of the court, with their approach angle and hitting direction influenced significantly by their handedness. Left-handed opposites possess a natural advantage, as their dominant hitting arm positions on the outside of the court, enabling powerful line shots and cross-court angles that mirror right-handed outside hitters from the left side. Right-handed opposites must develop strong cross-body hitting technique to attack effectively from the right side, often specializing in sharp cross-court angles while working to develop line shots despite the biomechanical challenges. Front-row sets to opposites typically arrive from back sets or sets from right-front positions, requiring opposites to read and time these sets while adjusting to varying setter locations. Back-row attacking becomes especially important for opposites in 5-1 systems during the three rotations when the setter is front-row, as the opposite serves as a primary back-row attacker who maintains offensive threat despite being behind the three-meter line. The blocking assignments for opposite hitters involve defending against the opponent's outside hitters, creating one of the position's most demanding defensive responsibilities. Opposites must develop effective blocking technique including proper footwork, timing, hand positioning, and reading skills to defend against the opponent's most frequent attackers. The right-side blocking position presents unique challenges, as opposites often block alone against quick outside sets while also participating in middle blocking situations and combination blocks with middle blockers. Reading the opponent setter's tendencies and attacker approach patterns becomes crucial, as opposites must make split-second decisions about commit blocking versus read blocking based on offensive patterns. The physical demands of blocking combine with attacking responsibilities to create significant athletic requirements, as opposites must transition rapidly between blocking and attacking while maintaining effectiveness in both skills throughout long matches. The setter-opposite relationship in the 5-1 system creates strategic and practical implications that shape both positions' roles and responsibilities. The rotational opposition ensures that teams always have either their setter or their opposite in the back row, affecting serve reception formations and back-row attacking options. When the setter is back-row, the opposite attacks from the front-row right side while the setter delivers sets from behind. When the setter is front-row, the opposite shifts to back-row attacking while the setter can potentially attack or tip from front-row positions. This complementary rotation pattern influences personnel selection, as teams often pair their best setter with their best opposite to maximize the offensive capabilities available in each rotation. The setter-opposite chemistry becomes particularly important for back sets and right-side attacks, as these players must develop timing and communication to execute effective plays despite the spatial relationship between right-side attacks and setter positioning. The technical skill requirements for opposite hitters include several specialized capabilities that distinguish the position from other attacking roles. Attacking versatility across multiple approach angles and set types enables opposites to score from various positions and situations. The ability to hit effectively from both in-system and out-of-system sets proves crucial, as opposites often receive sets when offense breaks down or the setter must deliver balls from difficult positions. Serving power and precision add value, with many opposites serving as primary servers who can produce aces and disrupt opponent reception. Blocking technique must be refined to handle the defensive demands of the position, particularly the one-on-one blocking situations against outside hitters. Passing ability varies in importance based on team system, with some opposites participating minimally in serve reception while others contribute as additional passers depending on formation and philosophy. The physical and athletic attributes that enhance opposite hitter performance include height, jumping ability, arm strength, and overall athleticism that enable success in the position's diverse demands. Height provides advantages in both attacking and blocking, allowing opposites to hit over blockers and defend against tall outside hitters. Vertical jump height determines attacking reach and blocking effectiveness, with elite opposites often possessing exceptional jumping ability that maximizes their impact above the net. Shoulder and arm strength generate the ball velocity necessary for finishing attacks past blocks and defenders. Overall athleticism including speed, agility, and coordination enables opposites to transition effectively between offense and defense while maintaining high performance levels throughout matches. Left-handedness, while not essential, provides natural advantages that make left-handed opposites particularly valuable and sought after in player recruitment and development. The tactical roles of opposites within team offense involve several specialized functions beyond basic right-side attacking. Opposites often serve as the primary attacker when the setter digs the first ball, stepping into emergency setting situations or receiving dumps and setter attacks that bypass the second contact. The right-side position allows opposites to attack from one-on-one situations against single blockers when middle blockers commit elsewhere or when offensive timing creates isolated attacking opportunities. Back-row attacking from opposites adds offensive dimensions during setter-front rotations, maintaining three attackers threat despite having only two front-row attackers. Some offensive systems feature opposites as secondary setters in 6-2 systems or as emergency setters who can deliver quality sets when the primary setter cannot reach the ball. The versatility to fulfill multiple offensive functions makes opposites increasingly valuable in modern volleyball systems. The serve reception participation of opposite hitters varies significantly across different teams and systems, creating ongoing debate about optimal approaches. Traditional volleyball positioned opposites outside serve reception patterns, allowing them to focus on transition attacking and blocking while other players handled passing. This approach maximizes opposite availability for attacking while reducing the technical demands of the position. Modern volleyball has seen increased opposite involvement in serve reception, particularly in systems with only two primary passers where opposites contribute as third or fourth passers to expand reception coverage and reduce individual passing loads. The decision to include opposites in serve reception depends on factors including individual passing ability, team system philosophy, attacker availability during reception, and tactical priorities regarding offensive versatility versus specialized focus. Elite opposites increasingly develop competent passing skills even if not serving as primary passers, adding flexibility and enabling strategic adjustments. The developmental pathway for opposite hitters typically involves progressive skill acquisition and positional specialization that prepares players for the role's demands. Young players often begin as generalists before specializing in the opposite position during adolescent development. Left-handed players frequently gravitate toward opposite or outside positions due to their natural advantages. Training focuses on developing right-side attacking technique, blocking skills, back-row attacking, serving, and situation-specific play execution. Video study helps opposites understand blocking tendencies, shot selection, and tactical decision-making. Strength and conditioning programs build the power and explosiveness necessary for high-level performance. Mental training develops the confidence and composure required to perform as a go-to attacker in pressure situations. The specialization process continues through competitive levels, with opposites refining technique and tactical sophistication as they progress. The strategic matchups involving opposite hitters create important tactical considerations for both teams. Opposites typically block against the opponent's outside hitters, creating direct positional battles that influence match outcomes. Scouting reports detail opposing opposite's tendencies, strengths, and vulnerabilities, informing blocking and defensive strategies. Teams may adjust serving patterns to target or avoid opposing opposites based on their passing abilities. Offensive play calling may seek to isolate opposites in favorable one-on-one attacking situations. The performance of opposing opposites often significantly impacts match flow, with dominant opposite play capable of swinging momentum and determining close contests. Coaching staffs dedicate substantial attention to preparing their opposites for opponent-specific challenges while developing strategies to limit opposing opposites' effectiveness. The evolution of the opposite position reflects volleyball's broader development toward increased specialization, athleticism, and tactical sophistication. Historical volleyball featured less rigid position definitions with more positional interchangeability. The formalization of the 5-1 system established the opposite as a distinct position with specific rotational relationships to the setter. Early opposites often served primarily as blockers and secondary attackers with limited offensive emphasis. Modern opposites have evolved into premier scorers who rival outside hitters in attacking volume and effectiveness while maintaining blocking and defensive responsibilities. The increasing height and athleticism of opposite hitters has elevated the position's impact, with contemporary opposites often serving as team leaders and primary offensive weapons. Left-handed opposites have become particularly prized for their natural advantages, influencing recruitment priorities and youth development focuses. The international variations in opposite hitter roles and nomenclature reflect different volleyball cultures and tactical philosophies. Some countries emphasize opposite hitter offense more heavily, building systems around dominant opposite attackers who shoulder primary scoring responsibilities. Other volleyball traditions distribute offensive loads more evenly across positions, with opposites functioning more as complementary attackers. The terminology varies internationally, with some contexts using "right-side hitter" predominantly while others favor "opposite" or position-number systems that identify the role through numerical designation. Beach volleyball eliminates position specialization including the opposite role, though the strategic principles of right-side attacking and rotational considerations translate into beach volleyball in modified forms. The diversity of approaches demonstrates volleyball's global variations while maintaining common strategic foundations.