What Is A Set In Volleyball? A Guide For Beginners

Introduction:

If you have started playing Volleyball, you must have heard your coach about mastering the set. So, what exactly is this ‘set’? A ‘set’ is the most basic skill that each volleyball player must strengthen. It is the second contact that the team makes after the ball is hit.

Being a state volleyball player, I had many opportunities to play with the national-level setters. I have seen and learned many types of sets in different volleyball matches. In this article, I will explain detailed information about volleyball sets, their types, and drills to master them.

What Is A Set In Volleyball?

The game starts with the setter that sets the ball. After that, the hitter attacks to hit the ball. The setter and the hitter must have a good mutual understanding of the next moves to establish a good set. The main agenda of performing a set in volleyball is to get the ball in the air with an attacking position and make it reach the opponent’s court.

The setter has the role of deciding which player is going to make the spike (attacking ball) in offensive mode. The setter must guess the hitter’s actions to hit the ball with proper direction and judgment. Doing this makes the hitter hit the ball and attack the ball on the other side of the court.

Types of Sets in Volleyball:

Different hitters have various preferences. That is why the sets are also diversified in many categories depending on the speed of the set, the position of the ball in the air, etc. Me and my cousins used to play volleyball in our high school days.

My oldest brother used to teach all of us the important types of sets that any setter must know. I can set the ball perfectly due to those early learning days. I have described a few important but must-know types of sets below from my learning experience:

The Third Tempo Set- Slow Set: from beginners to pro players, this set is popular among all volleyball players. In this set, the setter sets the ball high in the air with a slow trajectory. The hitter smashes the ball forcefully in the downward direction on the opponent’s court.

The Four Set: In this high set, the ball goes high in the air with a trajectory of 3 meters. The setter hits the ball to the left front hitter and the hitter attacks the ball when the distance between the ball and the net is 1 meter.

The Five Set: This set is similar to the four set. The only difference is that the setter sets the ball towards the right front hitter. With mutual understanding, the setter and hitter can reduce the set height from 3 meters.

The Two-Slow Set: This set is preferred to attack the ball from the middle of the net. The setter sets the ball at 1-meter-high directing towards the middle hitter.

The Second Tempo Set/ Go Set: This fast-moving set is used when the setter wants the ball to be hit towards the middle or outside hitters. Hitters need to be prompt to attack the quickly set ball. The opponent blockers face hurdles to block the high-speed attacking ball.

The Red Set: The setter sets the ball in the air with less than 1 meter distance. The opposite hitter quickly attacks the ball from the right front row.

The Hut Set: The setter sets the ball in the air at a 1-meter height. This set is for the left front hitter to land the ball safely in the opposite court.

The 32 Set: The setters set the ball below 1 meter height and the middle or outside hitter attacks the ball. This makes the opponent’s blockers guess the ball’s direction and block it.

The Two-Second Tempo Set: The ball is set lower than the second tempo set and directed closer to the net for the middle hitter. If the middle hitter position gets rotated, then the outside hitter hits the ball.

The fast Tempo Set: Pro-level setters and hitters use this fast set. The hitter has to be ready ahead of time to set the ball. The opposite blockers find it hard to block the attack in such sets. I suggest using digging to resist the attack to defend the ball here.

The Slide Set: The hitter jumps off the left foot and slides to his right foot with a sharp swing for an attack. To resist such a hard attack, the middle blockers must show a four-step approach and block the ball.

The Jump Set: The setter faces the left side, jumps off his right foot, and sets the ball closer (⅔ rd. way from left to right of the net) to the net. As a result, the hitter can quickly attack the ball to opponents with a powerful attack.

The One/ Quick Set: This is a fast set where the setter hits the ball high. The ball is just above the net so the middle hitter can attack the ball quickly. In ‘’back one set’ the ball goes behind the setter instead of the net. Then, the middle hitter powerfully hits from behind.

The Shoot Set: The setter sets the ball parallel to the net towards the left front hitter. The setter needs to know a timing estimate, the hitter’s preferences, and a connection with higher for a better set.

The 31 Set: In this set, the setter sets the ball to the middle hitter in the area between the left sideline and the middle of the court. It is done by a skilled setter who knows where the hitter would attack in the opposite court.

Drills For Set in Volleyball:

Players need to practice drills to master the sets for a competitive volleyball game. Here are the two most common drills that I practice consistently:

Crosscourt pepper: In this ball-controlling drill, two players stand cross-court on opposite sides of the net. Player 1 starts the drill with a down ball. Player 2 receives the ball, passes it, and sets it to themselves only. They down-ball it to player 1 again. They can move to the ends of the net to make this drill more competitive.

Set to the box: This drill improves the finesse of a hitter for a consistent set. Player 1 stands in a box on the court and keeps the hands in the attacking position. Player 2 sets the ball to Player 1.

FAQs:

What is a dump set?

The set in which the setter directly hits the ball toward the opponent without setting it to the hitter of his team is called a dump. For this set, the setter must be in the front row.

How many points are needed to win a set in volleyball?

According to section 6.2 in FIVB’s rulebook, the team that scores 25 points with a margin of 2 points wins the set. (except the deciding 5th set). If there is a 24-24 tie, the game is continued until a two-point lead (26-24; 27-25, etc.) happens to either of the teams.

Conclusion:

The set can be highly competitive depending on the setter’s and hitter’s skills. If the setter possesses a deep ability to guess the hitter’s action, favorable attacking position, and communication, a set can become strong and hard to resist opposite blockers. I hope this guide on sets in volleyball has given you useful insights to transform your game better!