Last updated: 4 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Attack efficiency (also called hitting percentage) = (kills − errors) ÷ total attempts. Unlike kill percentage alone, efficiency penalises errors, providing a more complete picture. NCAA Division I outside hitters average around .250; elite outside hitters post .300+; middle blockers, who have higher-percentage attack patterns, often post .350-.450. A negative efficiency means the attacker is costing the team more than they contribute. In professional volleyball, team attack efficiency of .250+ generally indicates a strong offence.
- (Kills - Errors) / Attempts
- Penalises errors unlike kill %
- NCAA D1 average ~.250
- Negative efficiency = net liability
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Attack efficiency (kills minus errors, divided by total attempts) gives volleyball coaches a cleaner picture of a hitter's real impact than kill count alone — a player who racks up kills but also commits frequent attacking errors can have a lower, less valuable efficiency rating than a more consistent but lower-volume hitter.
FAQ
What's considered a good attack efficiency in volleyball?
Above .300 is considered excellent at elite levels; college and high-level club hitters often aim for .250+, while below .150 usually signals inconsistency or poor shot selection.
Can attack efficiency be negative?
Yes — if a player commits more attacking errors and gets blocked more often than they record kills, their efficiency rating turns negative.