A set to remember

It was, in retrospect, the play of the match.

UCLA 21, UW 20, first set. The Bruins sent an impossible shot across the net; a sure point. Somehow, Huskies’ freshman Summer Ross reached out and behind, popping the ball high enough for teammates to continue the rally.

Ross’ heroics was the most memorable play in one of the most memorable college volleyball sets in recent memory.

Washington Huskies celebrate a point against UCLA
[Volleyblog Seattle photo by Leslie Hamann]

Part of today’s blog post is drama. The other—bear with us—is statistics.

The numbers tell much of the story. The final score of the first set was 26-24, UW. Of Washington’s 26 points, 19 came from kills. Of UCLA’s 24 points, 18 came from kills. That means exactly 74% of all points that set came from successful attacks.

Why is that such a big deal? In rally scoring, a team gets a point whenever the other team makes a mistake—service error, hitting error, rule violation (net, double contact, illegal block or attack, etc.)—which usually accounts for a roughly half of each side’s points. Add to that a team’s own service aces or blocks, and a team usually averages about 13 kills per set. (At the moment, the Pac-12 season average—conference and nonconference—is 13.05 kills per set.)

Adjusting for the fact that some sets go beyond 25 points, and that fifth sets (when played) end when one team reaches 15 points, we can still see that approximately half of all points in a set are scored via kills. Last night’s first set was an amazing 50% higher than that average.

Washington Volleyball Sports Information Director Mike Bruscas ran some numbers at our request, and reports that, last season, the Huskies recorded 22 kills in a 28-30 second set loss in—coincidentally—Pauley Pavilion, against the Bruins (.785). UCLA had 18 kills that set, so the combined kills/set percentage (.689) of both teams was lower than last night’s set one combined total (.740). The highest total he was able to find (on short notice) was the fourth set of last season’s UW match at Stanford, when the teams combined for 46 kills and 62 points (Stanford won the fourth set, 32-30; UW had 24 kills (80% of points were kills) to Stanford’s 22 (69%)). Scoring during that set, like last night, was 74% kills.

What it all means is that—once or twice a season—two elite teams face off in a set where neither can count on the opponent’s mistakes. Both teams execute pass/set/kill to near-perfection. In the old “side out” days before rally scoring, these were the sets that could stretch on forever, since teams scored only when they had the serve. When it happens, it’s wonderful drama, best savored in person.

The rally extended by Summer Ross’ big save ended with a slick roll shot kill by fellow freshman Krista Vansant. Two Kelly Holford serves later, Washington had its first lead of the night. Several rallies later—including two close line calls that went the Huskies’ way—UW had its first set victory of the new Pac-12 conference season. Without the Ross save, Holford wouldn’t have had the chance to serve five in a row. As it was, the Bruins never recovered.

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