Intra and Interzone Differences of Attack and Counterattack Efficiency in Elite Male Volleyball

The primary goal of this study was to identify and explain differences in a volleyball set between winning and defeated teams, based on frequency and efficiency of the attack and counterattack, both overall and from particular zones of the volleyball court. Research was conducted on a randomly chosen sample of 206 sets played in 55 matches of the Men's Champions League. A total of 10555 spikes in the attack and counterattack from various zones of the volleyball court were analyzed. Between-subjects 2x5 factorial ANOVA (OutcomexZone) was used to identify significant differences between the set outcome and zones or their interaction for both attack and counterattack efficiency. Significant differences were found in the efficiency of spikes in attacks and counterattacks from various zones of the volleyball court and between winning and losing teams. Post-hoc analysis of interaction effects also revealed significant differences. The obtained results substantiate the importance of spiking, both in the attack and counterattack, for winning a volleyball set, and indicate the specific values of spiking in the attack and counterattack from various zones, for both winning and defeated teams. The results of this study can be useful for coaches, in evaluation of player's performance in the match, in planning and programming the training process as well as in the technical and tactical preparation of the team for the tournament.