USA VOLLEYBALL HIGH PEFORMANCE
Have you asked Reid for a few tips? One thing I’ve asked him is what he does to stay focused when the server is not as intimating as a Matt Anderson, and he says, ‘I don’t care if it’s Matt Anderson or a jump serve machine, it’s all the same mindset. Get
the ball to that (target).’ Is there a tendency to let down when
you’re not facing a really strong server? I’m still working on that. Because it gets real tough when a guy is lollipopping a serve over. And every once in awhile, I’ll shank a ball and think, ‘This would not be acceptable in the national team gym.’ I’m working on that mindset of taking everything as seriously as if playing with the World League team.
It sounds as if studying the game is something you enjoy.
Yeah, I like studying volleyball more than I like studying for my classes. (Laughs) Watching the best players is probably the best thing you can do.
How closely do you examine video?
Are you like a coach after a match going through each detail?
Yeah, I pause videos right before the serve comes and see what their arms are doing, how far apart their legs are, whether they’re expect- ing to pass or not, and what they’re doing if
someone else is passing. What’s something you think you need
to improve on?
Passing. Passing in high school and pass- ing at the international level is a huge differ- ence. Because even if it’s a fl oat serve on the international level, they pick you apart. They serve you down low on the right side of your knee because they’ve studied video and they
know it’s a weakness that you have. Your coaches say you’re a smart volley- ball player who does things like tapping a ball into the block if the set is tight rather than trying to make a spectacular play.
We have a volunteer assistant (with the national team) who stats practice, and he told us that on a high ball set, when three blockers are up on you, you’ll earn the point 50 percent more of the time if you keep the ball in play than if you just swing away. That was a cool statistic.
What’s your advice for someone who is high school age or younger and wants to get more serious about volleyball?
Always accept knowledge. There’s no limit to how much you can learn about the game.
BIG-TIME ARM: TJ DeFalco’s hitting skills may propel him all the way to the U.S. National Men’s Team at age 18.
BUILDING SUCCESSFUL TEAMS
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48 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag
©2015 LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE, 175 BERKELEY STREET, BOSTON, MA 02116
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