Can back-row players attack the ball?

Yes, with limits (Rule 13.2). An attack hit is any action that sends the ball towards the opponent, except a serve or a block.

• Front-row players may attack at any height, as long as they contact the ball within their own playing space.
• Back-row players may attack at any height from behind the attack line (3 m line). At take-off, their foot or feet must not have touched or crossed the attack line. They may land in the front zone after the hit.
• In the front zone, a back-row player may only complete an attack hit if part of the ball is lower than the top of the net at contact.

Attack-hit faults (Rule 13.3) include:

• a back-row player completing an attack hit from the front zone when the ball is entirely above the net;
• any player completing an attack hit on the opponent's serve when the ball is in the front zone and entirely above the net;
• the libero completing an attack hit on a ball entirely above the net;
• completing an attack hit above net height on an overhand finger pass from the libero in their front zone;
• hitting the ball in the opponent's space, or hitting it out.

Tipping is allowed, as long as the ball is cleanly hit and not caught or thrown. An attack hit is "completed" when the ball fully crosses the vertical plane of the net or is touched by an opponent.