Once you learn where to position yourself on the court and the correct defensive stance, don't forget about hand position. When a split second can make the difference between a dig and kill, good hand position can make all the difference. You should have your palms facing up when the hitter contacts the ball. When that ball rockets through the block, your hands will be ready to slide under the ball and pop it up. This seems like a trivial gesture, but really does make a difference.