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Why Dump?

  1. To confuse the opposing team. Our setter needs to identify what the others teams tendencies are. Are their blockers recognizing where our setter is,front or back? Make them pay for their mistakes. Jump set every ball you can get to. Be very aggressive as a front row setter. You can even dump as a back row setter as long as your feet are on the ground and your hand is below the net! Be the smart player on the court.
  2. To keep the other side guessing, the dump fake to set is also a great play!

When to dump?

It is preferable to dump when:

  1. The setter is moving forward. The setter will be able to see the block.
  2. The quick hitter is running a slide behind the setter. This slide movement away from the setter will draw the blocker away from the setter.
  3. There are NO blockers committing to the setter. Get the blockers to commit to the setter by dumping. This will open up the hitter and confuse the opposing blockers.
  4. The backrow defense is standing up or moving backwards during the second contact.
  5. A dump is a great mix up play,especially after losing 3 point in a row or your hitters are struggling.

Where to dump?

Setters should dump to:

  • The middle,near the 10 foot line,against a middle back or perimeter defense.
  • Either sideline, in front of the 10 foot line,if defense is cheating towards the center of the court.
  • As pass comes up to the net you should identify the opposing defense.
  • As the opponents are switching to their spots defensively,(especially their server) beat the defensive player to the sideline.
  • A backrow setter if the rigth front(opp) is a weak secondary setter and/or if the middle hitter is a threat while the outside hitter is weak.
  • The weakest link in the opponent's defense.

Remember as a setter your job is to set a smart match and to deliver the ball to your big hitter. Do not abuse the dump but use it as a mix up play to gain momentum. The obvious dump is on tight passes. Feel free to wipe it off the block.

Setter's need to be smart,crafty,communicative,consistent,and quick to every ball. Make bad passes better. Set your hot hitters. Control the match and control your team. You are the glue that holds your team together. Constant communication both verbal & non-verbal are a must. Believe in your abilities and know you team's strengths.

Basic sets

1st Tempo Set-(Quicks)

These sets are designed for a quick offense and to use our speed to take advantage of a slow defense. We want to beat them to the ball. The quicker the better. On these sets the hitter needs to be in the air as the setter is releasing the ball.

  1. "1 Ball" - the quickest set in the middle. The hitter needs to open up and find the pass and the follow the trajectory of the pass because the setter,like a pot of gold on a rainbow,will be at the end of the pass. The MB needs to adjust her approach and get to the setter and in the air very quick. The setter should be able to hear and see the MB. This is also where the fake comes into play. MB need to fool the opposing Mb into thinking that we are running middle every play. The height of the set should be as high as the reach of the player hitting the 1.

    Keys to success:

    1. Be quicker & louder than the opposing blocker.
    2. Spacing: 1-2 feet off of the setter,2-3 feet off the net. The setter needs a little space to see what angel you are coming from.
    3. Be consistent! Get up every time!
    4. Big Angels! Go sharply around the block.

  2. "3 BALL" or "THIRTY-ONE" (3-1) this set is as quick as a 1 ball but it's pushed about 6 feet in front of setter or between the opposing OPP blocker and MB.

    Keys to success:

    1. Beat your opponent to the ball
    2. Go with the set,taking obvious angel
    3. Speed and spacing-3 feet off the net
    4. Fake for the 1 ball then flare out for the 3

2nd Tempo Sets:

These sets are designed to run right behind the quick sets. This will hopefully catch the opposing block off guard off guard because they will be jumping with the quick and as they are on their way down the 2nd tempo comes through.

  1. "2-ball" this set is about 1 to 1 ½ times the height of the top of the antenna. About 5-7 feet above the net. This set will hang in the air as the hitter adjust to it. The 2 ball is most effective if you run it with an "X" or "Tandem" play. The set will be in the air and then you can adjust your las 2 steps and attack. Front & back 2's are very effective.
  2. "SLIDE" this approach is unique in the fact that you take off one foot to hit it. This ball is set behind the setter to the right front spot. The hitter should be passing by the setter as the setter releases the ball. As the ball hangs in the air the hitter can adjust to it.
  3. "Hut" this set is a little higher than the oder 2nd tempo's but it is extremely popular. It is basically an outside lob that's about 5-8 feet in from the antenna. The ball just kind of dies out before it reaches the outside. It is designed to catch the outside blocker off guard, especially if their right side blocker is starting too far towards the antenna. This set is also too quick for the middle blocker to make much of a move to help the outside block.

3rd Tempo Sets:

These are the most common sets. These sets are mainly the highest outside sets available. They are designed to give the hitter time to see the block and defense available. As long as there is an effective fake in the middle this will free up the big OH's with 1 on 1 hitting situations. Effective offenses need a 1st & 2nd tempo fake then a 3rd tempo attacking opportunity.

  1. "4 BALL" this set is a high outside to the left front position of the court. It is the most common set to hit. Unlike the "hut", the "4 ball" makes it all the way outside about 2-4 feet in from the antenna. MB's don't like this set because it makes it them get all the way outside.
  2. "5 BALL" this set is a little lower than the "4 ball" and is a back set to the right front position. It's a high backside set to the opposite hitter.
  3. "BACKROW SETS" we need to have strong backrow attack. Players need to communicate with the setter in transition,especially when there is a broken play. The front row provides the fake and the backrow hits as the blockers won't have time to get back up to block. The set location needs to be 6-10 feet off the net. Hitter need to take a huge broad jump to get to the ball and you have to jump behind the 10 foot line but you can land anywhere.