Skill-Building
Drill
Drill #1 -- Short,
Crosscourt Return
In order to take away
the advantage from a serve and volleyer, your doubles players
will have to learn to return serve crosscourt and low. This takes
the server's partner out of the point, and takes away the ability
of the server to hit down on the ball.
Players must practice like they play, or they'll play like they practice, so it's necessary to set up drills which include target areas and pressure, just as your players will in a match.
Drill #2 -- Serve and
Volley
In order to successfully serve and volley, players must learn to
serve down the middle, hit their first volley deep and
crosscourt, and close the net, angling the second ball away for a
winner.
Have your players practice this three-ball progression, with the server initially practicing second serves, and the receiver returning balls back to the server (cooperatively) in order to help the server practice her ability to execute this three-ball progression.
Coach may make this drill more competitive by having servers serve first serves, with returners trying to win the point (all returns must be crosscourt, however).