Heart rate and blood lactate responses during the volleyball match.

This study aimed to examine the heart rate and blood lactate responses of female volleyball players during the match according to the player positions. A total of 24 senior female volleyball players (middle blocker (n = 6), setter (n = 6), spiker (n = 6), and libero (n = 6)) were monitored for heart rate and blood lactate before, during and after a volleyball match. The mean heart rate and blood lactate level of volleyball players were determined 117.2 ± 13.9 bpm, 2.7 ± 1.2 mmol/L during the match. Heart rate was statistically different between all playing positions except middle blockers vs. spikers (p < 0.05). The blood lactate levels between the groups were not statistically different. The setters have the lowest heart rate and the libero players have the highest during the match. All subjects have a heart rate 50-60% and below 50% of their heart rate maximum during more than half of the match duration. These current results can be used by coaches to determine a specific training load based on the heart rate and blood lactate differences between playing positions.

Within-week differences in external training load demands in elite volleyball players.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the within-week differences in external training intensity in different microcycles considering different playing positions in women elite volleyball players. METHODS: The training and match data were collected during the 2020-2021 season, which included 10 friendly matches, 41 league matches and 11 champions league matches. The players' position, training/match duration, training/match load, local positioning system (LPS) total distance, LPS jumps, accelerations, decelerations, high metabolic load distance (HMLD), acute and chronic (AC) mean and AC ratio calculated with the rolling average (RA) method and the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) method, monotony and strain values were analyzed. RESULTS: All the variables except strain, Acc/Dec ratio and acute mean (RA) showed significant differences among distance to match days. Regarding the players' positions, the only difference was found in the AC ratio (EWMA); in all microcycles, the middle blocker player showed workload values when compared with the left hitter, setter and libero. CONCLUSION: Overall, the analysis revealed that the intensity of all performance indicators, except for strain, acc/dec and acute mean load (RA), showed significant differences among distance to match day with moderate to large effect sizes. When comparing players' positions, the middle blocker accumulated the lowest loads. There were no significant differences among other positions.