Different Volleyball Sets

There was no such thing as a set when the sport of volleyball began in 1895, since the ball was a basketball and players simply struck the ball with both hands to knock it back over the net to their opponents. Today, offensive-minded teams rely on an assortment of sets to avoid blocks and gain the best chance for a kill, which is a spike that hits the ground untouched.

  1. Outside Sets

    • Most organized teams identify their sets with numbers to make for quick identification and so that they can use hand signals to indicate what sets to expect. Outside sets -- those at the end of either side of the net -- are typically identified with the numerals 6, 5 and 4, although a set known as a "shoot" often also comes into play.

      A 6 set is a ball set high and outside the antenna on top of the net that indicates the out-of-bounds area. The spiker therefore must hit the ball cross-court so that it passes inside the antenna. Hitting it down the line -- straight across the net -- would mean hitting it out of bounds, since the set is already outside of the antenna.

      A 5 also is a high outside set, but it stays inside the antenna. Many teams use the numeral 5 to indicate a high set to the right side of the net and the numeral 4 to indicate the same set to the left side.

      A "shoot" or "flare" set's placement is the same -- just inside the antenna -- but instead of being high, it rises just a foot or two above the net, so the spiker must be moving sooner than with a normal 5 set in order to contact the ball at the right position. The idea of this and other "quick" sets is to get the ball to the spiker so quickly that the defensive team doesn't have time to set a block.

    Middle Sets

    • Sets that are between the midpoint of the net and the antenna -- about 5 to 7 feet inside the antenna -- are middle sets. These are often identified using the numeral 3, but there are variations here, too. A 32 (3-2) indicates a ball set roughly 4 to 5 feet high in the middle area. A 31 (3-1) means a ball set in the same place but, like the shoot set, it is much quicker, rising only a foot or two above the net. The same rationale is in effect here: To get the ball to the spiker quickly.

    Inside Sets

    • Sets identified with the numerals 1 and 2 are set in the center of the net and right beside the setter. These are sets for a middle hitter, not an outside hitter, and are most common when a team uses an offense in which the setter is coming up from the back row. This allows for three hitters in the front row, including a middle hitter.

      A 1 set is the fastest set in volleyball and demands perfect timing by both the setter and spiker. The ball leaves the setter's hands and rises straight up, just a foot or two above the net. The spiker must be approaching and leaping as the ball leaves the setter's hands so that she spikes the ball as it rises.

      A 2 set has the same placement, but rises 4 to 5 feet above the net.