volleyball, outdoor or indoor ball and net game played on a
level court. An upright net, 3 ft (or 1 m) high, the top of
which stands 8 ft (2.43 m) from the ground for men, 7 ft 4 1/8
in (2.24 m) for women, divides the court—60 ft (or 18 m) long
and 30 ft (or 9 m) wide—in half. Three forwards and three backs
compose a team. The inflated rubber or leather volleyball, about
27 in. (69 cm) in circumference, is served from behind the back
lines of the court. Players bat the ball across the top of the
net into any part of the opponents' court. Any part of the body
(especially the open hand or fist) may be used to bat the ball,
but players may not catch or carry it. A maximum of three hits
per team is permitted in returning the ball to the opponents'
court. Teams must return the ball without allowing it to touch
the ground. Spiking is the game's most dramatic offensive
maneuver, occurring when a player drives the ball forcefully
downward into the opponents' court with an open hand at speeds
of about 100 mph. Defense