Decision making in men's high-level volleyball: analysis of the setter based on game performance

Abstract

The analysis of decision making in different sports is a procedure that has been investigated and allows a better ecological understanding of the game. However, little is known about the setter's decision making in volleyball and its influence on the game in high-level volleyball. Thus, the objective of the present research was to analyze the setter's decision making in the offensive construction of the side-out in high-level Brazilian men's volleyball, when there were all attack options available. The sample was constituted by the analysis of 132 games of the qualifying phase of the 12 teams participating in the men's volleyball Brazilian Super-League 2021-2022. Twenty two games were observed for each team, resulting in 5524 attacks after the reception that allowed the organized attack with all available attackers. Considering the results, we found that: I - teams would present higher eigenvector values for setting to position 3, attacks against simple blocks and the attack point, regardless of winning or losing the game; II - teams, when they were defeated, presented, for the most of times, higher eigenvector values for the setter starting in the initial position 6; III - when the teams won the game, it was noticed that, for the most part, the setting location was to position 3 with the middle-hitter's attack close to the setter, and the setter's initial position was diversified between the teams. From this, it was observed that under ideal distribution conditions, there was similarity in the offensive patterns of twelve high-level Brazilian volleyball teams, regardless of whether they won or lose the game.