Operational Definitions – What Does These Volleyball Statistics Actually Mean?

*** Update 23 December 2020 |

An updated version of volleyball statistics explained can be found on this link

 ***

So for those who are seeing volleyball statistics for the very  first time and cannot be bothered reading the technical NCAA Volleyball Statisticians’ Manual (link here if you do), I have helpfully compiled a short version of what some of the terminology actually mean.  Here goes:

Attack:

Attack attempt is when a player attempts to win a point via an attack.  There are three possible outcomes: kill, error or attack zero.

Kill (K) is an attack attempt that results in a point won.

Error (E) is an attack attempt that results in a point lost.

Attack Zero is an attack attempt that results in a continuity of play.

Hitting Percentage (H%) is the percentage of attack attempts that results in a point won.

Service:

Service Ace (SA) is a service attempt that results in a point won.

Service Error (SE) is a service attempt that results in a point lost.

Block:

Block Solo (BS) is a one-person block that results in a point won for the blocking team.

Double Block (DB) is a two-person block that results in a point won for the blocking team.

Triple Block (TB) is a three-person block that results in a point won for the blocking team.

Blocking Error (BE) is a block attempt that results in a point lost.  This mainly includes net fouls.

Total Team Blocks is the total number of points won by a block.

Assist:

Assist Attempt is a set that results in an attack attempt.  There are three possible outcomes: Assist, Assist Error and Assist Zero.

Assist (A) is when a set that results in a kill.

Assist Error (AE) is a set that results in a point lost mainly due to a ball handling error.

Assist Zero is a set that results in an attack zero or an error.

Assist Percentage (A%) is the percentage of assist attempts that results in a kill.  It is calculated as:

Reception:

Reception Error (RE) is a reception attempt that results in a point lost.

Defence:

Dig (D) is when a ball is passed from an opposition attack attempt.

Dig Percentage (D%) is the percentage of opposition attack attempts that the ball is kept in play.

Ball Handling Error is any ball touches that results in a point lost, e.g. double touches or lifts

Points:

Points (Pts) are all points won via kills, aces and blocks. Double blocks and triple blocks are only awarded half a point for each player because they form part of the block, even though only one person actually blocks the ball. It is calculated by: