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Post by dogfan on Dec 21, 2004 11:51:02 GMT -5
was wondering if someone could help me understand the difference btw a right side hitter and an outside hitter. Are some hitters better suited to one side or the other? Does it take a different set of skills.? Do they have to train different? Are hitter specifically recuited for one side or the other and tend to stay there their whole career?.
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Post by roy on Dec 21, 2004 13:09:36 GMT -5
As a major generalization, an outside hitter is referred to any hitter that hits from the perimeter of the court. The term implies a left side hitter, but some schools will refer to a right side hitter as an outside hitter. Easiest way to distinguish is to say left side hitter v. right side hitter or opposite.
In women's volleyball, the right side is vastly different than the men's game. The right side is critical in the men's game but not as much in the women's (although we are seeing trends of that slowly changing).
There are different schools of thought on the right side. Some coaches can put a middle at that position, because women's volleyball use the step out, which will be an attack on the right side. In theory it will also provide a stronger block as 2 middles will be up on the opposing left side hitters. Some will put in a left side hitter to get more fire power and someone to hit the "D" set from the back right.
Skill wise, it is different, but not by much. Again, it will all depend on the way a coach has set up an offense. For a left side hitter, there are some timing and angle issues to work on. For a middle, there has to be the knowledge of what play is called so not to interfer with the other middle. Most importantly, the right side is usually the second setter, if the true setter digs the ball.
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Post by BearClause on Dec 21, 2004 13:15:57 GMT -5
was wondering if someone could help me understand the difference btw a right side hitter and an outside hitter. Are some hitters better suited to one side or the other? Does it take a different set of skills.? Do they have to train different? Are hitter specifically recuited for one side or the other and tend to stay there their whole career?. It's often more desirable to have a left-handed RS hitter. The body is open to the left, and it's easier to hit cross-court shots inside the 3m line. I've only seen one left-handed player play LS.
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Post by sIsam on Dec 21, 2004 13:19:55 GMT -5
In international, especially european volleyball, rightsides (which are called opposites btw) are usually big hitters who can hit any kind of set from pretty much anywhere front/back; left/right. They do not always hit from one side. You will see the OHs and the Opp changing sides depending on the rotation. They are not expected to receive. Togut (ITA), Zetova (BUL), Sylvester (GER) and Demir (TUR) are some examples of such players. They are also their team's go to player during crunch time.
Russian NT has used the Opp position differently for quite a while. In their system the Opp role has been as a primary receiver and a limited attacker freeing one of the OHs from receiving duties. This was changed when they had Sokolova as Opp since she's an exceptional player. She took on more of an offensive role than we're used to seeing from Russian opposites. However, during her absence and after she came back they went to the old system where Plotnikova played as opp and was a primary receiver and Sokolova lined up as a OH, both attacking and receiving, this system freeing Gamova from the reception scheme.
There are some club teams in Europe playing this system still. However it's mainly the first one where the Opp is a major attacking force.
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Post by spikethis on Dec 21, 2004 19:17:24 GMT -5
I guess it depends on the whole team chemistry. You will always have an OH or OPP who is either a more of a "pure hitter" or "well rounded" player. With the exception of Russia's Gamova and once Croatia's Jelic who are both pure hitters, OHs are usually a lot more involved, especially in PASSING and defense. OPPs are mostly pure hitters but not necessarily the dominant hitters of their team. Most of the time they do not serve receive. OPP will run a lot of quicker plays (combinations) compared to the OHs. Also, a thing to consider, I have seen many OHs switch to be an OPP. In fact, most OPP played as OHs at one point or another. However, if a person has been playing as an OPP forever or a long time, they will very unlikely be changing to OHs. It is hard to adapt to a volleyball being set from a completely different angle, at a different speed (usually slower and higher) to the left rather than faster and shorter to the right. Learning how to serve receive as an OPP half way through your career- FORGET IT!! Well, very unlikely but again... depends on how bad the rest of your teammates are at it.
As mentioned above, mens OPPs are vastly different from womens. Although, that is changing also- visible especially on the international level (Togut, Zetova). It is DEFINITELY desirable for a right side hitter to be a lefty. They have a better angle and are harder to block.
Another thing to consider is their different spots at defense- OHs are usually middle back, Opp are right back. VERY different positions when playing volleyball. (this is more for men's)
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Post by Pirate VB Fan on Dec 21, 2004 21:39:13 GMT -5
OPPs are mostly pure hitters but not necessarily the dominant hitters of their team. Most of the time they do not serve receive. OPP will run a lot of quicker plays (combinations) compared to the OHs. Also, a thing to consider, I have seen many OHs switch to be an OPP. In fact, most OPP played as OHs at one point or another. However, if a person has been playing as an OPP forever or a long time, they will very unlikely be changing to OHs. It is hard to adapt to a volleyball being set from a completely different angle, at a different speed (usually slower and higher) to the left rather than faster and shorter to the right. Learning how to serve receive as an OPP half way through your career- FORGET IT!! Well, very unlikely but again... depends on how bad the rest of your teammates are at it. A RS (where you are playing a 6-2 or similar) is usually a pure hitter, but an OPP (where you are playing a 5-1) is usually the second best setter on the floor since they are usually the designated setter if the actual setter plays the first ball. Of course, that varies from team to team, but that is always how it was drilled into me. Of course, I played S/OPP so maybe that was to be expected The comments on transition from RS/OPP to MH are quite accurate and really underscore the year that Christal Morrison had for Washington. When Sanja went down, Christal had to make the transition from OPP to LS and she did it with barely missing a beat. Maybe it was easier because she was a Fr but she played mainly RS in club and that was what she was used to.
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Post by foreignball on Dec 21, 2004 22:49:05 GMT -5
Only from the hitting side of this aspect: Internationally most hitters who play OPP hit very well from OH and vice versa. In Athens Gamova and Sokolova were hitting mostly from OH; in Italy Sokolova hits basically from any position (even back slides) for Bergamo; Grun plays OPP in Italy but OH for GER; Jelic/Rusic was playing OH for Eczasi last season while Rangelova (her primary position is OH) was at OPP. Mari, Togut, DeCarne, Zetova, Demir, Lethonen (to name a few) all hit from OH at certain rotations/plays. L. Tom also hits a decent amount of balls from OPP for Chieri.
I can extend the list quite a bit by using less known names in case somebody points out the fact all the above are star players. In general, good hitting from both positions is a must for any decent attacker in Europe.
Re setting/OPP: It may appear weird but for many pro teams MBs take care of backup setting. It makes sense to me due to the following reasons: if the S can’t play ball #2 realistically it will be a high set either L or R, means the MB is not going to get it. If she sets, her team still has 2 options to attack the ball b/c most often S gets out while digging backrow and I personally don’t count much on sets to MB by non-setters (exception to real 6-2 when there are 2 Ss on the court). Another reason is: a fewer number of balls have to be dug in zone #3 where MB normally “resides” so being free of other duties she has more time to get ready for setting. Her zone is exactly the area where most digs/passes go to “by nature” e.g. she doesn’t need to chase the ball all over the court and the last but not the least the distance to each pin is much shorter from there, which is much of a help for any non-setter.
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Post by TexasVB on Dec 22, 2004 0:26:53 GMT -5
[quote author=BearClause link=board=general&thread=1103647862&start=2#0 date=1103652957] It's often more desirable to have a left-handed RS hitter. The body is open to the left, and it's easier to hit cross-court shots inside the 3m line. I've only seen one left-handed player play LS.[/quote]
BC are you talking about Jenna Brown?
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Post by StuffU on Dec 22, 2004 1:07:03 GMT -5
BC are you talking about Jenna Brown? What about the lefty at San Diego that transferred from Washington State? Isn't she a left side player? Carlsen .. that's the name I'm lookin for .. isn't she a left side lefty?
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Post by Pirate VB Fan on Dec 22, 2004 1:21:09 GMT -5
It may appear weird but for many pro teams MBs take care of backup setting. .... If she sets, her team still has 2 options to attack the ball ... That may be true on a pro team, but a MB setting usually only has a choice to set one person - the person they are facing. Few MBs can do back sets without being called for either a double or a carry.
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Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Dec 22, 2004 1:33:28 GMT -5
That may be true on a pro team, but a MB setting usually only has a choice to set one person - the person they are facing. Few MBs can do back sets without being called for either a double or a carry. Actually, it's not a pro vs. college argument. It's more of a difference in philosophy between the USA vs. European systems, as far as how to deal with transition plays in which the setter takes the first contact.
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Post by StuffU on Dec 22, 2004 1:37:53 GMT -5
Actually, it's not a pro vs. college argument. It's more of a difference in philosophy between the USA vs. European systems, as far as how to deal with transition plays in which the setter takes the first contact. Sisam, I think, mentioned also that the bigger players play on the pins in Europe .. not the in the middle. So it would also seem logical that the european middles would be adept at setting...since they are probably trained that way from an early age.
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Post by BearClause on Dec 22, 2004 1:45:20 GMT -5
BC are you talking about Jenna Brown? Yeah. Gabrielle Abernathy redshirted 2002, and Jenna took the left side. She wasn't going to play RS with senior Leah Young firmly entrenched. It got really bad when Mia Jerkov got hurt three times during the season. They ended up using a lefty (Brown) and one of two converted middles. (BTW - in deference to our friends from the Lone Star State, I've made my complaint under the pic of the Rose Bowl a bit more specific. I shouldn't indict a whole state for the actions of one coach. ;D The AP is now requesting that the BCS no longer use their football poll for determining the BCS standings, and is threatening legal action if they continue. Thank you Mack Brown for letting that genie out of the bottle.)
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Post by sIsam on Dec 22, 2004 1:48:17 GMT -5
It was Murina who had made the observation about taller players playing on the outside which is an accurate one btw. Many middles in Europe will easily set the 2 or 4. Not often but occasionally you would even see them setting the backrow!
It's something they're expected to do. If the setter has the first touch or if the S has been replaced with a blocker for the play, MBs will almost always get the 2nd ball.
Being called for double/carry for non-setters is more of a US thing. You wan't get called for it internationally unless it's REALLY blatant and this also holds true for the setter.
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Post by sIsam on Dec 22, 2004 1:56:58 GMT -5
However, if a person has been playing as an OPP forever or a long time, they will very unlikely be changing to OHs. It is hard to adapt to a volleyball being set from a completely different angle, at a different speed (usually slower and higher) to the left rather than faster and shorter to the right. In a three player reception scheme, especially if both OHs are receiving, for at least one rotation the Opp ends up on left and the OH at right. (With 6 subs per set you can't always have backrow players receiving...) So, many OHs and Opps WILL hit from both sides during the course of a match. From what I have seen internationally, OHs and Opps need to be equally comfortable hitting from everywhere. Well Sarah Noriega is doing it at Besiktas now and doing a pretty decent job at it too as long as she's not a primary receiver (which would happen in the event of an injury to OH1 or Opp). In their ideal scheme she's the third option for a few rotations (libero, OH1 and Opp are the usual receivers. However depending on the rotation, Noriega will be receiving for the OH1 or the Opp) It is not an ideal situation but it happens and works for them:)
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