What Is a Kill in Volleyball? Definition, Examples and a Scoring Drill

A kill is an attack that directly wins the rally because the opponent cannot return it. The ball might hit the floor, deflect out of bounds off the block or become impossible for the defending team to keep in play. The NCAA statistics manual states that a kill must lead directly to a point; the attacker also receives an attack attempt in the box score (NCAA).

The simplest test is:

Did this player attack the ball, and did that attack directly end the rally in the player’s team’s favor?

If both answers are yes, record a kill.

What counts as a kill?

A kill does not have to be a hard, third-contact spike. An attack attempt may be a spike, tip, set or other strategic hit toward the opponent’s court (NCAA).

Common examples include:

• A spike lands untouched in the court.
• A defender touches the attack but cannot keep it in play.
• The attacker deliberately hits the block and the ball goes out of bounds—a tool or wipe.
• A tip drops behind the block and ends the rally.
• A setter dump lands for a point.
• An aggressive down ball ends the rally.
• The attack directly causes the opposing blocker to commit a blocking fault.

A defensive touch does not automatically prevent a kill. If the attack is unreturnable and directly causes the failed return, it can still be scored as a kill. Likewise, an attack that rebounds out of bounds from the block earns the attacker a kill (NCAA).

What is not a kill?

Every kill scores a point, but not every point is a kill.

• Service ace: The serve directly scores. It is an ace, not a kill.
• Stuff block: The block sends an opponent’s attack down for a point. Credit a block, not a kill.
• Opponent attack error: The opponent hits into the net or out without your team’s attack causing the result.
• Attack kept in play: If the defense controls the attack and the rally continues, record a zero attack, not a kill.

Official NCAA statistical guidance separates every attack attempt into one of three outcomes: kill, attack error or zero attack (NCAA). This distinction matters when calculating hitting percentage:

Hitting percentage = (kills − attack errors) ÷ total attack attempts (NCAA).

For example, 8 kills and 3 errors in 20 attempts produce a .250 hitting percentage: (8 − 3) ÷ 20.

Drill: Call the outcome

Use this recognition drill before adding detailed match statistics.

Setup: Put one attacker and setter on one side, with two defenders and an optional blocker on the other. A coach initiates 15 balls. Assign one player or assistant coach as the statistician.

Action: After each attack, the statistician immediately calls one outcome:

• K — kill
• E — attack error
• 0 — attack stays in play

Pause only when the scorer and coach disagree. Identify the exact event that ended—or did not end—the rally. Players who need work on the attacking side can continue with these volleyball hitting drills.

One cue: “Score, error or still alive?”

That cue keeps the decision tied to the attack’s result rather than how hard or impressive the swing looked.

Checkpoint: Advance to live six-on-six scoring when the statistician correctly classifies at least 13 of 15 attacks. Then track kills, errors and total attempts for one full rotation before expanding to the whole match.