The setter's attack in high-level volleyball

The aim of the present study was to improve the understanding of the use of the setter's attack in top level competitions. All the matches from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were analyzed, totaling 218 actions of setter<acute accent>s attack. For data analysis, Pearsons Chi-square and an analysis of ROC curves were used. The setter's attack obtained more points and created less errors when performed after an excellent pass to the setter (X-2=15.53; p=.004). In the female category, the attack by the setter was used more frequently than in the male category, after an excellent quality pass (X-2=14.35; p=.001), using a one hand tip (X-2=12.53; p=.002) and after receiving a serve (X-2=9.55; p=.023); while in the male category, the attack after an acceptable pass (X-2=14.35; p=.001), the attack with a spike (X-2=12.53; p=.002), and the attack after attack coverage (X-2=12.53; p=.002) were used more frequently than in the female category. Also, in general, when the spike was used, the ball was more frequently sent to the back row of the court, while the tip was used more frequently in the front areas, especially the one-hand tip on D2-3. In conclusion, a recommendation is made for the setter to attack after an excellent quality pass, and an assumption of greater prominence of the attack by the setters in the team's attack systems, as a means of increasing their variability and their attack options, especially in the female category.