You can't give up points on serve reception, if you are ever going to win a close match. Make sure your passing platform is solid and flat as possible. One hand over the other, thumbs next to each other, and turn your wrist down. Your biceps need to be in front of your chest. Take the extra step forward or to the side making sure your hands are inside of your body.
Most players work on spiking during warm-up and never pass a ball.
Use warm-up time to practice passing and adjusting your platform. Everything starts with a good pass. If it's a bad pass, the setter can't set the ball, and then the spiker can't spike the ball. The season has just started and you are 10 pounds over last summer's playing weight. The most workout you had over the winter was jumping up and down during the last two minutes of the Super Bowl.