Inter-player Variability Within the Same Positional Status in High-level Men's Volleyball

In sports, there may be multiple players for the same positional status (e.g., in volleyball, there are two outside hitters, one near the setter and the other away from the setter), and there may be relevant differences within the same positional status. We analyzed inter-player variability within the same positional status in high-level men's volleyball, through Sodal Network Analysis (through Gephi((C)) 0.9.2 software). Attack actions of the outside hitters near (OHN) and away (OHA) from the setters were analyzed in ten matches from the 2019 Volleyball Nations League Finals (278 plays). Two Eigenvector Centrality networks were created. Results: (a) in side-out under non-ideal setting conditions, OHNs preferred the strong attack while OHAs alternated between the strong attack and the tip; (b) after a prior action, OHNs attacked via exploration of the block while OHAs preferred the tip; (c) after consecutive errors, OHNs play more in the opponent's error; (d) after a previous defense action, OHNs preferred the strong attack and exploration of the block while OHAs preferred the strong attack; (e) in transition, OHNs were solicited under non-ideal setting conditions while OHAs were solicited in ideal and non-ideal conditions. Our findings demonstrate variability between players of the same team and having the same positional status. This allows coaches to understand the key differences of players with the same position, and thus better assign the sub-functions. Researchers should be cautious of aggregating data from players of different positional status, and even from players within the same positional status.