The biggest reason
the Huskies are 19-1? It could be their serve receive
At almost any kids’ volleyball camp, it’s the first skill
campers are taught. In many cases, it’s one of the campers’ least-favorite
drills: how to properly pass a volleyball. As it turns out, it could be the
most important lesson they learn.
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| Washington's Jenna Orlandini passes against Colorado as Krista Vansant looks on -photo by Shutter Geeks Photography |
Washington’s glittering
record through the first 20 matches of the 2013 season can be traced to many
things: A veteran team maintaining focus under pressure. The strength and power
of hitters like Krista Vansant and Kaleigh Nelson. The unexpected offense and
athleticism from young middles Lianna
Sybeldon and Melanie Wade. The
consistency and decision-making of setters Jenni
Nogueras and Katy Beals. The
outstanding serving by most of the team.
But through it all, the biggest factor may be the passing trio
of Vansant, libero Jenna Orlandini
and hitter Cassie Strickland.
In volleyball, the term “passing” usually refers to the
skill used to redirect an opponent’s serve to one’s own setter. The better the
pass, the more options are available to the setter, and the harder it is for an
opposing defense to gang up on one hitter. (The term “dig” is used for
defending an opponents’ attack, with same goal of getting the ball cleanly to
the setter.)
Why is Washington’s passing the key? Let’s break it down:
OH1: KRISTA VANSANT
On every team, the hitter designated as OH1 (Outside Hitter
1) carries an outsized share of the load. The OH1 never comes out of the match.
She serves and she blocks. When a play breaks down, she’s the go-to for an
out-of-system set. And—in most matches—she’s the primary target of the opposing
servers, who hope that passing is the least of her skills, and that she can be
worn out or put into a difficult approach position after handling a serve.
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| Jenna Orlandini, Cassie Strickland and Krista Vansant -photo by Shutter Geeks Photography |
Now in her third season, Vansant’s passing has improved
dramatically. Like most young OH1s, she struggled with her late-game passing in
her first couple of years. But coach Jim
McLaughlin credits Vansant’s off-season work and her mental toughness for
being willing to take the thousands of training repetitions necessary to
improve her passing. She still suffers occasional concentration lapses, but her
form is noticeably improved, including a straight platform running from her
shoulders to her thumbs, plus the precise eyework necessary to see the serve
coming early. Teams can no longer hope that serving only to Vansant will pull
the Huskies out of system.
LIBERO: JENNA
ORLANDINI
Most teams try not to serve to the libero, figuring that the
best passer usually plays that position. But many servers aren’t that accurate,
and Orlandini gets a big share of balls. Like Vansant, Orlandini has put
endless hours into improving her passing, and she, too, has stepped up to a
higher level. Opponents’ jump serves usually come her way, and she is rarely
rattled.
More important, it’s Orlandini’s job to direct traffic—a responsibility
requiring a loud voice and split-second decision-making. Who should take the
ball? Is it in or out? Next time you’re at a match, notice how often Jo (as her
teammates call her) makes the right decision on balls that are just barely
out-of-bounds.
OH2: CASSIE
STRICKLAND
At 5-8, Strickland is one of the shortest outside hitters in
Division 1. She earns her spot as a fearless attacker and a never-say-die
blocker. But her biggest value may be her passing and defense.
In almost every sense, having Strickland in for six
rotations is like having two liberos in the match. Her passing allows
McLaughlin to run a 6-2 (two-setter) offense because he doesn’t have to
substitute Strickland for a defensive specialist, a move that would quickly
exhaust the maximum number of allowed substitutions (15) per set.
BOTTOM LINE
When great passers are paired with great servers, the result
should be a noticeable difference in the distribution of sets between opposing
teams. Washington’s setters often find hitters all along the net, and are able
to run more plays where hitters are in motion (Vansant hitting from the middle,
for example.) Washington’s exceptional serving this season has forced opposing
setters to be more predictable, allowing Washington’s blockers and defenders to
more frequently guess correctly about where sets are headed.
The takeaway lesson? Those volleyball camp passing drills
may be the most important skills a camper learns.
Photos courtesy Shutter
Geeks Photography
Thanks for the great instructions about VB basics. I love the game, but wasn't schooled in it growing up as I was in other sports. Now, in my mid-60s, women's volleyball is at the top of my list. One other issue would be welcomed by me in explanation, and that is "in system" and "out of system." Thanks for your blog.
ReplyDeleteGreat question.
DeleteWe'll try to answer in greater detail in a future post. But the short answer is that each time a setter receives a perfect (or near-perfect) pass from her teammates, the team is "in-system," meaning the setter has the option to set any of her other teammates in almost any way she wishes (high, low, quick, slow, on the net, off the net, etc.)
When, however, the setter has to scramble to get to the second ball (because of a less-than-good pass), the team is "out-of-system," and the setter has to resort to whatever works. The default out-of-system set is usually to the outside hitter on the left side.
Thanks. That's not a totally intuitive idea, and so your explanation helps a lot. It seems to me that it's a different concept than in any other sport, something that really highlights the importance of coordinated team play and efficient reactions by all parties. Clearly, the more you stay in system, the more you control what you send the other team to deal with.
DeleteI've noticed the Husky setters seldom set either back quicks (e.g., back slides) or quicks away from the setter. Many of the other teams in the Pac 12 effectively use these as part of their regular arsenal (e.g., Stanford, Washington St.). Any idea why they are used only occasionally, if ever? I'm certain that both Jenni and Katy have the ability and, at least one of the Huskie's middles has the speed to run the play.
ReplyDeleteI believe Stanford and WSU use a 5-1 offensive. vs UW's 6-2. When the setter is front row in the 5-1,they need the slide play to keep the blockers honest. 6-2 offenses always have a right side hitter.
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