Essay Example on USA vs. Russia: Exploiting the 5-1 Offensive System

Introduction

Both the USA and Russia teams are using the 5-1 offensive system. Both teams exploit the skills of one setter al round the five hitters. This offensive system allows for consistency in setting, diversity, and leadership.

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Types of Defences

Coincidentally, both teams are using the same type of defense style, which is the rotational defense. The defense strategy is further categorized into right base defense, middle back base defense, and left-based defense. These categories are applied depending on the position of the hitter.

Strength of USA Team

The USA team proved to be very good and accurate in reception, setting, and serving. These aspects made the USA team a very challenging opponent to the Russian team although the USA lost the match with a small margin

Weaknesses of the USA Team

However, the USA team lagged behind digging, blocking as they only got one score from successfully blocking the opponents and utilizing the sets to make scoring attacks against the Russians. The team also made more errors than the Russian team and thus losing scores that advantaged their opponents. To be specific, the USA team made twenty errors that gave the Russia team twenty free scores, which translated to almost a full set in the whole match.

Strength of Russia Team

The Russian team proved its strength as it had the most scores from attacks, which amounted to 46 blocks, as they obtained six scores from completed blocks and digs. The Russian team successfully received 33 hard spikes from the USA team through dig as opposed to the 28 received by the USA team.

Weaknesses of Russia Team

The Russian team, however, had a weakness in receiving and setting the ball from the opponents.

Strategies used in the match

There are many strategies used in the match; for example, both teams are seen to use speed shots to open up space during attacks. Players are also seen to swing to the sideline and end line to confuse the opponents. More so, players are observed to be hitting both at and off the blocks other than avoiding the blocks all together.

Besides, both teams are seen to be utilizing floater service and serving the ball deep into the net. Another serving strategy observed is the player serving the ball to a spot where the front row player can make a deep pass. Players are also noted using communication as a strategy, as many are heard calling 'mine! Mine! Mine!', 'Ball in!' among other forms of communication.

Final Score

Russia 3 - USA 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-21)

Recommendations on Improving the Performance of the Teams

USA Team

The USA team showed several weaknesses which they need to correct if they want to play better. First, they will have to improve on team coordination to avoid the many errors that they made in the match. Coordination will also enable them to evade blocks and make more accurate and anticipative attacks. The team will also need to improve their blocking skills by doing more footwork and team practice.

Russia’s Team

To improve the Russian team's performance, players need to put more emphasis on reception, service, avoiding errors, and coordination.

The person who most impacted the game

Russian’s Maxim Mikhaylov is the player who had the most significant impact on the match as he got the highest scores for his team, which amounted to 16. He also recorded one completed block and an ace.

Works Cited

Russia v USA - Full Match - Final Round Pool B | Men's VNL, 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxwhaNDo75o Accessed on 15 June 2020.

https://www.dimensions.com/classifications/sports Accessed on 15 June 2020.