Learning to Play Middle

[kvb]

There are only 3 reasons I can think of people would say to do that...

1-middle is getting tooled a lot (this could be due to not anticipating set early enough or not getting in position and planting the block early enough, not penetrating hands over net, or hands need to be positioned to direct ball back into court, not out of court, or because blocker is jumping too early)

2-middle is not getting in position and planting early enough and therefore, not 'closing the block'. Sets to outside or opp, the other blocker 'sets up' the block vs. the hitter's hitting shoulder and sometimes cheating cross a little and the middle's job to 'close the block' - get close enough that their hitter can't hit between the two of you (without knocking your other blocker over of course, nor clocking them in the head with elbow - aka jumping jack arms on blocks - ref BHDP posts - lol) Plus if middle is late to blocking position, you can get this floaty block sideways thing that can screen defense/can't see hitter's shoulder - liberos hate that.

3-opponent's team's passing is crazy poor and their setter is just putting the ball up wherever and opponents are hitting from 10' line or back

or else they just have no friggin' clue about middle's job??? Hmmmm....I dunno.