Volleyball offenses

[RoyalShock]

After reading the preview posted in the other topic (thanks, '72!), I realized something. As someone who has only recently began playing volleyball, I have no clue what the 6-2 or 5-1 or any other offense is or how they differ. I know we start 3 in front, 3 in back. The it's pass, set, spike (well, hopefully).

Would someone be willing to share their understanding of volleyball offenses?

[1972Shocker]

Royal, I am somewhat of a neophyte myself, but the way I understand it a 5 -1 offense generally relies on using a single setter, who plays the entire match and, therefore, rotates through all six positions on the floor. Substitutions are generally made to insert either defensive specialists or other attackers as the rotation and matchups dictate.

In a 6-2 offense when your setter rotates to the front row, you substitute an attacker for the setter and you also substitute your second setter for the attacker who is rotating to the back row. This allows you to always have 3 attackers on the front row and your setter will aways be starting on the back row. With a 5-1 attack you have 3 attackers on the front row roughly one-half the time.

The Shockers used the 6-2 attack two years ago with Andee Hartig and Abby Harsh sharing the setting duties. Last year, Lambo apparently did not feel like he had the depth at setter to allow him to use the 6-2 attack so he went with the 5-1.

Most of the teams in the MVC use a 5-1 attack from what I remember.

If I have this wrong, I'm sure someone more knowledgable can correct me.

[RoyalShock]

Ah, that makes sense.

So, if I understand the names, the first number refers to the number of non-setters used, while the 2nd number refers to the number of setters used?

[dregn]

I posted a long explaination of this some time ago on this board I think.

[dregn]

Old post, not sure if site still works that i linked:

here is a site that gives a basic idea of the different types of offenses used. I've never seen the 4-2 used in college volleyball.

http://volleyball.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://volleyball.About.com/library/weekly/aa080297.htm

Assume you have only 6 players on the team for the basic definitions. Examples of how it's actually used are also included. Remember you have 6 spots on the floor and through a rotation you'd play all 6. There is the 10ft line that only the front row players can attack or block in front of it. The other players can attack but must jump from behind the 10 ft line.

5-1: Your team basically has 5 hitters and 1 setter. This is what many valley teams use. The setter stays in the entire game and goes through the whole rotation. When they are in the back row they set to 3 hitters. When they are in the front row they have 2 hitters to set to in the front. A team could also set a back row hitter if they are athletic enough. Sara Lundgren is the type of player you can set in the back row. Lindsay Stalzer for Bradley did it a lot tonight. The setter in this type of rotation is often also tall or can jump so they can assist in blocking when in the front.

On a college team that runs this type of system often time the only substituting they do is back row/front row players. Meaning a tall person who may be a good hitter but is poor at serving/passing/ or recieving serve would rotate out and replaced with someone good at that. Then rotate back in when the shorter player would go back to the front. I'm not 100% sure of the rule but i'm pretty sure you can only sub back into the position you would have been in if you hadn't left. i.e you can't sub out one play when going to the back row and sub back into the front on the next play. Special rules are in effect for the Libero's but I don't know them specifically.

6-2 is what WSU runs. If you only had 6 players all 6 would hit and 2 would set. Your setter is always a back row player so you always have 3 hitters in the front. WSU runs it so that the middle hitter/blocker and setters rotate out as a pair. Andy and Jen are one pair, Elizabeth and Abby are another. If you notice when abby or Andy come in they first serve, play till they'd go to the front, then sub out.

The disadvantage with a 6-2 is you use a lot of substitutions. You are limited the number you can do each game. You may get stuck with a poor passer in the back row. This happened in game 3 tonight when there were a lot of side outs and no real string of points. It caused the switch of setter/middle more then normal in a set and forced abby to play the front row at the end (that's why she could attack and block in those 2 points she got near the end).

Hope that clears it up a bit. Lamb seems to be a big believer in the 6-2. It defineatly provides a lot of offense advantage, but can hurt defense as it forces you to have a couple of hitters who can also pass. That's why Cori (tonight Megan) or Angela stay and play in the back row and are often served a lot by the other team. You also need 2 quality setters which we are lucky enough to have.

"Do you think the fact that WSU has the personnel to run the 6-2 gives it an advantage over Valley and other opponenets who run a 5-1?"

That's like asking is a zone defense or a man-man defense better in basketball. Or wether a 3-4 or a 4-3 is better. It really all depends upon who you ask. Nebraska is number 1 and runs a 6-2, Washington at number 2 runs a 5-1.

Both systems has advantages and disadvantages. For the most part what I've noticed is that 6-2 teams tend to be better at the net (attacking and blocking) while 5-1 tend to be much better at keeping the ball alive.

5-1 you have the same setter which means the same timing on the more complicated hits. The subs you are allowed each game can be used for defense and passing, but you also need an athletic setter and it is much easier to set up a defense against 2 hitters then 3.

6-2 you always have 3 attackers but you eat through your subs pretty fast and your hitters need to be able to pass.

I think the 6-2 gives us a big advantage in the Valley. Other teams don't have the talent at the net to hang with out team. Even the good blocking teams like UNI struggle during certain spots in their rotation. Against good serving teams we'll often struggle though. If you watch when we have a bad run on recieving serves Lamb will sub Amber in to give us a better passer in the block. Once again this uses up another one of those valuable subs. I did look that up and you are allowed 15 per game (set). This doesn't count the Libero.

So really it just all comes down to individual preference and how the personal you have will best succeed. Can't argue against either one when they both work.

[1972Shocker]

Ah, that makes sense.

So, if I understand the names, the first number refers to the number of non-setters used, while the 2nd number refers to the number of setters used?

Technically, you do not have to substitute setters. You can put both setters in the line-up at the same time. One on the front row and one on the back row. The setter on the front row would be one of the 3 front row attacker/blockers. Might see that at the high school level, but I don't think you will see it much at the D-1 college level.

Two years ago Lambo always used the double substitution so that he would have 3 true attackers/blockers on the front row. The issue with this approach, I suppose, is that you can use up your 15 substitutions in a long game. Of course, if that happens, then you would have to finish the game using a 5-1. Although, I don't remember that ever being much of a problem.

[1972Shocker]

The nice thing about Shocker Volleyball is that even if you don't have a clue about a 6-2 vs a 5-1 or what a Libero can or can not due, or what you can or can't do from the back row, it is still very entertaining, fun and exciting.

Sorry to keep beating this drum, but if you have not attended a Shocker Volleyball match your missing out on a lot of fun and action and your missing the chance to see some pretty darn good athletes.

Looks like this season's catch phrase is:

Learn It! Love It!

Let's Go Shocker Fans. Time to show what we can really do.l

:posterwu: :goshocks: :posterwsu: