Relationship between middle hitter and setter’s position and its influence on the attack zone in elite men’s volleyball

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the distance between the setter, the middle hitter and the second tempo attacker can predict the attack zone in Complex I in elite male volleyball. A total amount of 3,936 rallies corresponding to 23 matches of the Men’s World Championship 2010 were analysed following a category system, recurring to an observational methodology. Measured variables were Availability of the middle hitter, Attack type, Latitude of the middle hitter, setter, and second tempo attacker, Second tempo attack lane and Distance between players. Results suggest that a relationship with high level of significance (p<0.01) exists between the middle hitter’s position and setter’s position, regardless of the occurrence of a first tempo attack. Using a classification tree, it was observed that the middle hitter’s position was modified according to setter’s position, normally with a distance of one or two metres on his left. Furthermore, the variable Distance from setter to middle hitter emerged as a key factor to dismiss a second tempo attack in the central lane. This study provides a dynamical perspective about the spatial relationships between players, and how these constitute a key factor to dismiss or not a specific final attack zone.