Rotation Strategies

[FreeBall]

I asked a question in the "Hawaii Lineup" thread and then watched my post get buried by a flurry of posts related to the topic of that thread. (Not surprising since my post was marginally off-topic). In an attempt to get my question answered, I am starting a separate thread today.

Here's the original question - What are some of the common strategies for determining a team's rotation in a 5-1 system?

One thing I seem to recall is wanting to have better attacking options on the left and in the middle for most of the time that the setter is in the front row. Does this mean that the L1 and MB1 designations relate to the players on either side of the setter in the rotation? Thanks for any details that you can provide on this and other strategies.

[IdahoBoy]

Clockwise seems to work for me.

[BearClause]

Yeah - you typically want to maximize the time for your strongest OH and middle while the setter is in the front row. Probably run more slides.

However - probably more important is maximizing the number of rotations where your best hitters are facing the opponent's weakest blockers. I've heard of some coaches saying that a team didn't have a chance once the lineups were turned in at the start of a game.

Frankly, I can't really keep rotations straight when watching. I'd make a lousy down ref.

[808]

freeball said:

I asked a question in the "Hawaii Lineup" thread and then watched my post get buried by a flurry of posts related to the topic of that thread. (Not surprising since my post was marginally off-topic). In an attempt to get my question answered, I am starting a separate thread today.

Here's the original question - What are some of the common strategies for determining a team's rotation in a 5-1 system?

One thing I seem to recall is wanting to have better attacking options on the left and in the middle for most of the time that the setter is in the front row. Does this mean that the L1 and MB1 designations relate to the players on either side of the setter in the rotation? Thanks for any details that you can provide on this and other strategies.

You should have listened to Dave Shoji's radio show this past week. He talked a lot about the differences in the L1 and L2 positions. Here's how one poster on the sportshawaii.com message board summarized some of what Dave said:

On DS show, they talked about the personnel shifts that occurred during the Wichita State match. Not only swapping Hittle and Otineru, but then moving Houston the the L2 and Otineru to L1. This allowed Houston the attack from the back right and back left and Otineru from the back middle. Hittle is more suited to the low quick sets that's why she struggled when the passing is not good. Her arm swing is not suited to the high sets against a good block. Needed to get Otineru more swings so they moved her to the left.

www.sportshawaii.com/hs/viewtopic.php?t=18585

[Deleted]

Having the middle lead the setter _generally_ makes for less stressful serve receive patterns.

Another factor is when your best OH is also your best passer. You might want to make her your L2 in that case.

But every team's going to be unique. A coach has to come up with the lineup that works best for the personnel.

[Wolfgang]

If I recall correctly, the 2003 USC team had its best rotation when April Ross was serving and Bibi Candelas and Emily Adams in the front row. Unless I'm mistaken, April was L1 and Keao was L2. They got buckets of points in that rotation, whether through service aces , overpass slams by Bibi or Emily, or lots of freeball attacks (due to April's tough serving).

But then again, this was the undefeated champion-to-be USC team and they scored lots of points in most rotations, so...

[cruncher]

Another consideration is where to start. Most teams start by default in rotation 1 (if serving first), and rotation 6 (if receiving first). This doesn't take match-ups into consideration, nor does it allow the team to present its best scoring rotations most often.

Does anyone have a good explanation for that deep-rooted custom?

[Deleted]

Maximizes rotations with 3 hitters.

[IdahoBoy]

I love the rotation schema running a 3-MB offense. Alas, noone is brave enough to run it this year.

[Deleted]

Ohio is.

[st15]

What does the three middle offense look like? MSU's rotation this year is little crazy. I haven't been to a match yet but from looking at gametracker this is how they rotate:

M1- Jessica Hohl
S- Lauren O'Reilly
L1- Ashley Schatzle
M2- Jenliee Rathje
Opp- Katie Johnson
L2- Vanessa King

King, Rathje and Hohl are all middles and Schatzle and Johnson are the outsides. I don't know how this works yet because I haven't seen it in person, but it doesn't look especially effective since there aren't any outside hitters in the front row with the setter for one rotation. Hopefully I'll get a better idea of how things work tomorrow when they play Central Michigan.

Also, I really have no idea for sure, but I think MSU's libero is only playing half-time this season for Vanessa King while leaving the other middles in the backrow. They really seem to be mixing things up this year.