Spike coverage is the act of backing up a team's hitter in case the ball is blocked by the opponent's blockers. Spike coverage is to volleyball as rebounding is to basketball. It is a concept that must be learned by all top level teams. A team's ability to "cover the hitter" will enable it to win many games that would normally be lost.

Spike coverage assignments depend to a certain degree upon the type of offense used. This section will discuss spike coverage for the two hitters in the front row with the setter in the right front position (4-2 and 5-1 offense)

When backing up the outside hitter, the middle hitter, setter and the back row digger on the same side as the outside hitter must move quickly to form a semi-circle around the hitter. The two players providing secondary coverage, the middle back and right back digger, fill the gaps in between the frontline players and cover any ball that rebounds deep in the court.

When backing up the middle hitter, the outside hitter, setter and the middle back must move quickly to form a semicircle around the middle hitter. The two players providing secondary coverage, the left and right back row diggers, fill in the gaps between the players and cover any ball that rebounds deep in the court

Spike coverage for the three hitters in the front row (6-2 offense) is similar to the diagrams above except the setter is the right back.

When backing up the left outside hitter, the middle hitter, setter and the back row digger on the same side as the outside hitter must move quickly to form a semicircle around the hitter. The two players providing secondary coverage, the middle back and the hitter not involved in the attack, fill the gaps in between the frontline players and cover any ball that rebounds deep in the court.

When backing up the right outside hitter, the middle hitter, setter and the back row digger on the same side as the outside hitter must move quickly to form a semicircle around the hitter. The two players providing secondary coverage, the middle back and the hitter not involved in the attack, fill the gaps in between the frontline players and cover any ball that rebounds deep in the court.

When backing up the middle hitter, the outside hitter nearest the point of attack, setter and the middle back must move quickly to form a semicircle around the middle hitter. The hitter farthest from the point of attack and the left back fill the gaps in between the players and cover any ball that rebounds deep in the court.

For multiple attack patterns in which the middle hitter can not quickly cover an outside hitter, the setter must be sure get behind the attacker. The middle hitter will cover any rebounds to the side. The remaining players back up the hitter as they would normally.