Contributors to success in volleyball matches: The effect of serve-reception on the outcome of a high school volleyball match

Contributors to success in volleyball matches: The effect of serve-reception on the outcome of a high school volleyball match

David Chang

Ryde Secondary College

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine the influence of serve-reception on the outcome of a high school volleyball match. 95 separate serve-receive actions across multiple teams consisting of year 11-12 high school teams from high-level competitions in Australia over the 2022-2023 year periods were analysed via video analysis. The results were disclosed using a Chi-squared test for independence, which suggested that types of serve reception (good, mediocre, bad) correlated to the outcome of winning or losing a point in a volleyball match. This provides a good indicator of serve-reception and its influence on the outcome of a high school volleyball match. In this sense, it is strongly suggested that teams should strengthen areas in serve-reception to achieve success in volleyball matches.

Literature review

Introduction

Volleyball is a highly skill-based sport that relies heavily on individual skillsets, and the ability to cooperate as a team. The evolution of the sport oversees the increased intensity of training and gameplay, with the need for identifying and reducing room for error proving crucial for one team to succeed. Data obtained through match analysis proved significant in the identification of potential errors and room for improvement, which coaches and athletes could implement in training schemes. Evidence from Silva et al. (2014) and Peña et al. (2013) propose servereception (SR) as a crucial factor that could influence the match's outcome. This literature review will draw upon research conducted by multiple sources that quantitatively and qualitatively study the influence and cruciality of SR and other skillsets in a volleyball match, and furthermore provide a summary of data retrieved by the sources.

Skills that influence the outcome of a Volleyball match

Silva et al. (2014) argue that it is crucial to identify “which skills in volleyball contribute most to victory”, in which knowledge of beneficial factors will assist preparation for teams to succeed in the sport. This motivates the research conducted to identify the skills that discriminate in favour of victory in a volleyball match. Through a valid sample size of 24 games in the Senior Men's Volleyball World Championship in 2010, 24,670 separate actions were analysed from 90 sets, where data strongly suggesting that service points, serve-reception errors and blocking errors were the pivotal variables that determined the final outcome of the match (victory/defeat) (Silva et al. 2014). The research focused on strictly high-level matches, suggesting profound efforts to minimise outliers in the data, ensuring clear and reliable data analysis conducted on matches between balanced teams. However, this approach neglects to take the vast majority of the lower-level volleyball population into account, research proving only applicable to the outcome of toplevel volleyball matches. Analysis of data attained from different levels of volleyball matches would provide identification of skill factors applicable to various levels of volleyball, not restricted to one.

In consonance with the findings of Silva et al. (2014), Peña et al. (2013) discuss the cruciality of analysis conducted on performances in volleyball matches, as it reveals the major factors that influence the outcome of a match. This would allow coaches and players to implement data in creating training schemes, providing sufficient insight into error control. Through a large sample size of 125 matches with 12 teams during the 2010-11 Spanish men's first division, video analysis provided a strong indication of how the number of reception errors, points obtained in the breakpoint phase, and the number of blocked attacks by the opponent were significant predictors influencing the outcome of a match (win/lose) (Peña et al. 2013). The literature concludes that every reception error decreased the possibility of winning by 0.6 times, tying to the findings of Silva et al. (2014) that prove SR to be a major contributing factor to the outcome of a match. Both literatures encounter the same limitation, as the sample data collected fail to be applicable to the vast majority of the lower-level volleyball population. A solution to this limitation includes the accountability of a broader sample size that accounts for lowerlevel volleyball matches, or an additional experiment conducted that analyses the predictors influencing the outcome of lowerlevel volleyball matches.

Contradictory findings

The previous two articles back similar arguments, although contradict each finding in regard to blocking as an outcome predictor. Peña et al. (2013) suggest that blocking, although significant, attributes of less importance as an outcome predictor compared to that of other skill sets such as serve-reception, and comment on how several other studies have agreed with this finding. However, the literature of Silva et al. (2014) clearly indicates how "unexpectedly", block errors significantly contributed to the outcome of a Volleyball match. The difference in evidence is worth noting, as proposals made by Peña et al. (2013) are supported with evidence from different articles, whereas the literature of Silva et al. (2014) lacks evidence from other outsourced research. Findings may have been more applicable if conclusions were supported by other literature, which would raise room for discussion of the validity of both arguments. With claims supported with sufficient evidence, the arguments of Peña et al. (2013) pose more valid proposals, thereby creating a greater inclination to agree with this argument.

The cruciality of volleyball Serve reception

Paulo et al. (2016) extend from the literatures mentioned above, agreeing that serve and SR have predicted success in volleyball. The literature argues that in preparation for practising reception for success in volleyball, understanding what determines reception efficacy is crucial. This motivates the research conducted to understand what it is in the serve and receiver’s actions that determine the selection of the type of pass used in serve reception and its efficacy (Paulo et al. 2016). This promptly demonstrates the complexity of SR and emphasises how vital it is for individuals to train and develop this skill, extending upon the knowledge of its potential to influence the outcome of a match. A sample size of Four high-level players received jump-float from four servers, where video analysis was utilised to record data that linked the kinematics of the served ball to its impact on reception. The evidence from the study clearly indicates that the reception performance, in terms of the type of pass selection and its efficacy, is predicted by the serve, the receiver, and the reception zone (Paulo et al. 2016). This evidence highlights the complexity of the skill, emphasising the cruciality of training serve reception to achieve success in Volleyball. The literature proposes how the consideration of other service types could improve and increase the reliability of the data and research. Furthermore, similar to the two literatures mentioned above, the analysis fails to be applicable for lower-level volleyball matches as the experiment conducted specifies the analysis to professional-level players. Hence future implications of players with varying levels of skillsets in the experiment will improve the research holistically.

Conclusion

In regards to the literature reviewed, all three researches support the argument on the cruciality of SR and its significant influence on the outcome of volleyball matches. The literatures also conduct analysis primarily on high-level volleyball matches, which conclusions drawn fail to be applicable to the lower-level matches that make up the vast majority of the volleyball population. Hence, this gap in literature influences the research to find the cruciality of SR on the outcome of a high school-level volleyball match. The research will determine whether the conclusions drawn from other literatures will be applicable to lower-level volleyball matches, hence answering the research question:

Scientific research question

Does serve-reception influence the outcome of a high school volleyball match?

Scientific hypothesis

Null hypothesis: Serve-reception does not influence the outcome of a high school volleyball match.

Alternative hypothesis: Serve-reception does influence the outcome of a high school volleyball match.

Methodology

This study involved analysis of 5 different matches across 4 teams of the highest division year 11-12 high school teams from the 2022-2023 NSW CHS Knockout competition and the 2022 Australian Volleyball Schools Cup in Queensland, Australia. The matches involved a total of 12 sets played, where a sample size composed of 95 separate actions of serve receive were analysed through video analysis of recorded games via Youtube.

This sample was chosen in regard to the purpose of the research - to investigate the influence of serve-reception in the outcome of a high school volleyball match. In adherence to compensate results that encompass the lower-level volleyball matches, the sample consisting of senior-level high school volleyball teams would take regard to the research regarding levels lower than professional matches. High-level high school volleyball matches also ensure the reliability of the data collected, with less chance of outliers prominent due to the unreliable factors of low-level high school teams due to their inexperience and therefore different style of Volleyball played (less systematic, traditional dig-set-spike utilised).

Video analysis:

Video analysis was utilised in the experimental part of the research. Commonly utilised in all areas of sport, Video analysis utilises technology and video to analyse the performance of individuals or teams. Video analysis contributes various beneficial factors that enable the improvement of skills for individual athletes and coaches to implement in training schemes, and provides an advantage over the opponent. Its visual aspect improves communication and therefore potentially proves more effective in delivering instant feedback, where measurements or errors can be identified almost instantly.

Data collection:

Video analysis was conducted via Youtube, where unedited, clear and high-definition recordings from rear-view positioned cameras were utilised in order to obtain the clearest motions of serve-reception in retrospect to avoid bias and enhance the accuracy of data collected. The dependent variables considered were the result of the type of pass (point won or lost). The independent variables were the types of passes, classified as good, mediocre, or bad. Types of passes are determined via the position and height the ball was directed towards, along with the setter’s effort to reach the reception. Good passes were considered from a high pass which was a few metres above the net height (243cm), and determined via the minimal effort the setter needed to move in order to reach and set the ball. A mediocre pass was considered through its relative height similar to a good pass, but the efforts of the setter who may need to take a few steps to reach the ball for the next play. A bad pass was a pass that directly led to a lost point or one that needed an emergency play - where the play does not follow the traditional dig-setspike approach.

Statistical analysis

The observations were recorded in a frequency table (see figure 1), where observations were recorded simultaneously with the video analysis. As to serve the purpose of the research question to determine whether serve reception affects the outcome of a high school volleyball match, a Chi-square test of independence with a p-value of 0.05 was used to determine whether different types of serve-reception correlate to winning or losing a point or not. The outcome of a volleyball match relies heavily on the succession of points won, and therefore the analysis will prove whether serve-receive correlates to the outcome of a point (win/loss), and therefore affects the outcome of a volleyball match (win/loss).

Figure 1: Frequency table used to record data from video analysis

Results

Table 1: Frequency table of observed counts through video analysis of serve-receptions

Figure 2: Column Chart of the results from table

This chart provides a graphical representation of the observed counts of serve-reception, which showcase how point won is associated most with a good pass, and point loss is associated most with a bad pass.

Table 2: Frequency table of expected counts using formula: f_expected = f_colum f_rows / n

Figure 3: Column chart of the results from table 2

This graphical representation displays the expected counts of serve-reception, which predicts that point loss will be greater than point won in every occasion of the type of pass

Figure 4: Column chart comparing the expected and observed counts from different types of serve-receive passes

Discussion

Major outcomes

The major outcomes of this study showcased that the types of serve-reception do in fact correlate to winning or losing a point in a high school volleyball match. Results indicated that a good serve-reception pass would result in a point win rate of 58%, whilst a bad serve receive had a point loss rate of 90%. Mediocre passes levelled in a point win-loss ratio of 16:16 (1:1), which shows there is an even chance of a point win or loss rate from this type of serve reception.

Explanation of data collected

In the implementation of the Chi-squared test of independence, the test statistic was compared to the critical Chi-square value to the chosen alpha value of α = 0.05 and with 2 degrees of freedom, calculated as the following:

df =(Rows -1)(Columns - 1)

df = (2 - 1)(3 - 1)

df = 2

The test statistic, X^2 , was calculated using the formula: X^2 = (Σf_observed - f_expected)2 / f_expected where X^2 = 13.20542289. For the data above, the Chi-square value is written as: X^2_0.05,2 The P-value is the probability to determine when the null hypothesis is true. P > 0.05 is the probability that the null hypothesis is true. when the observed value is greater than or equal to the value (p ≥ 0 05) is the probability that the null hypothesis is true. Results showed p < 0 05 as p = 0 001356684471

The results shown concluded to reject the null (Serve reception does not correlate to the outcome of a high school volleyball match) and accept alternative hypothesis (serve reception does correlate to the outcome of a high school volleyball match) since p < 0 05, alongside a Chi-squared value X^2 > 5.991, meaning there is sufficient evidence to say that there is an association between serve-reception and the outcome of a point won/lost.

Trends in observations

The results showcase a strong correlation between the type of pass and the outcome of winning or losing a point. Theoretically, a good reception allows the setter to organize the team offensively with all the possibilities of attack, increasing the probability of winning the match (Silva et al. 2014). However, during the data analysis, there was an unexpectedly large amount of points lost from a good pass, which hindered the certainty of this statement. This could be reasoned by two factors: 1. The player’s individual error/inability to capitalise on attack successions. 2. A good pass would lead to a larger room for error since attacks initiated from a good serve-reception tend to lead to riskier and more aggressive plays. This increases the risk factor of losing the point, where in comparison to a good pass, a bad or mediocre pass would lead to players resorting to a ‘safe’ play, thus continuing the rally and eliminating the likelihood of an attack error off the first serve receive. Despite the unexpected outcome, overall, a good servereceive provided a strong indicator that led to an attack succession which increased the likelihood of a point won.

With reference to a mediocre-type servereception pass, a limitation of the study can be reflected in the result of a 1:1 probability ratio of a point won or lost. The frequencies of the point lost and won was 16 to 16 respectively, and although may seem a valid indication of the outcome of a mediocre pass, a larger sample size may have resulted in a different value. Therefore, in future studies, it is recommended that a larger sample size is used (greater than 95) to test the likelihood of the observations recorded in this study.

Bad serve-receives were initially predicted to correlate significantly with a point loss. The results disclosed a strong indicator where the bad serve-reception would most likely lead to a point loss, merely resulting in a point won. This type of serve-reception was the only factor where the expected count followed the trend of the observed, where the win count was lower than the loss count for both. This provides strong evidence for the effect of serve-receive on the outcome of a high school volleyball match, where bad serve-reception contributes most to a point lost, and thereby increases the likelihood of a team losing a match. This supports other findings that suggest that reception errors may be associated with defeat (Silva et al. 2014).

Limitations

Within the study, several limitations were encountered in regard to the accuracy of the data collected. The footage utilised in the video analysis had to meet specific requirements for the data collected to be valid. The videos must be needed to be of high quality, and from a camera angle where the distances covered by players on the court (1600cm x 900cm) could be observable so that the accuracy of serve-reception passes could be approximated. Some footage needed to be exempted from the analysis as they were either of too low quality or in angles that made it difficult to determine the type of passes conducted in play. Additionally, there were gaps in footage where anomalies and objects interrupted the camera’s line of sight, which caused sections of volleyball games to be exempted from recording data. In order to overcome these limitations, data recordings were done in sets (a set completes when a team reaches 25 points), and over multiple teams that enabled a broader range of sample sizes, and the utilisation of only highdefinition footage that had an uninterrupted line of vision throughout the whole match to provide accurate data analysis.

Future directions of scientific research.

In regards to future research, as previously stated, a larger sample size is suggested as it may disclose results different to those promoted in this study. Additionally, previous literature reviewed and results from this study only take into account of male volleyball teams and players, which disregards the significant amount of the female population of volleyball players. The difference in gender may or may not provide different results to this study, hence research that could compare the gender aspects of the sport would be greatly appreciated. Lastly, high school teams from other nations could also be regarded in the study, which could either broaden the sample size or be utilised to compare results from different nations.

Conclusion

As previous studies disclose, serve reception is a crucial aspect that potentially contributes to the success of a volleyball match. This study fulfils the aim to consider if the statement can be regarded as true in lowerlevel volleyball matches, where through video analysis, results prove that serve-receive does influence the outcome of a high school volleyball match. It is concluded that depending on the type of pass, either good, mediocre or bad can influence a point won or lost, which potentially attributes to the outcome of the match (win/lose). A good serve-receive contributes towards winning a point and a bad serve-receive strongly links to a point lost. Therefore, this study suggests volleyball teams to strengthen areas involving serve-reception through training in order to achieve greater success in volleyball matches.

Reference list

• Paulo et al. (2016) Predicting volleyball serve-reception, Frontiers. Frontiers.

• Peña et al. (2013) Which Skills and Factors Better Predict Winning and Losing in High-Level Men's Volleyball?, The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

• Silva et al. (2014) Game-related volleyball skills that influence victory, Journal of human kinetics. U.S. National Library of Medicine.