Spikers at Work

In power volleyball, the big shot is the "spike." To spike successfully, you leap high into the air and smash the ball past the outstretched hands of well-organized defenses, as the two spikers shown here did last week in the men's U.S. open championships at Dallas. Play didn't end there, however. Fast backcourt men sometimes retrieved the ball, passed it up soft and high where their own spikers could crash it into the enemy court.

Wall of hands, classic volleyball defense, has little effect against violent blasts of spikers who shoot to right of opponents (above) and over them (right). Referee watches to see players do not foul by touching the net.

TWO PHOTOS

SHEL HERSHORN