The Importance of Certain Performance Indicators on Specific Set Types in Volleyball

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify volleyball performance indicators that best discriminate between winning and losing teams in a set according to set final score differences. The data were collected from teams’ performances (N=175) in all sets played during the 2009 Men’s European Volleyball Championship in Turkey. Clusters analysis established three different groups of sets according to set final score difference: 2 points (ambivalent), 3-5 points (safe), >5 points (unbalanced). A Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed on 10 performance indicators and 4 match indicators. The analysis revealed 11 important indicators for all
sets have been played and for unbalanced set too, 7 important indicators for safe sets and 1 indicator for ambivalent sets. The analysis of ambivalent sets showed that the winning teams had a statistically significant (p <0.001) percentage of points from direct attack compared to the defeated teams. The results confirm that coaches of men’s volleyball team should attach importance to improving offensive capacities of athletes.