Previous research has been conducted on different performance metrics in collegiate athletes in various sports, including volleyball. These metrics include strength, speed, power output, and jump height. However, little research has examined changes on seasonal jumping performance in volleyball athletes on a weekly basis.
Purpose: To examine how Division I Volleyball jumping performance is affected by a competitive season.
Methods: 11 female volleyball athletes from one NCAA Division I institution wore VERT sensors during practices for the entire 15-week competitive season. The athletes also completed countermovement Jump Mat testing on the first practice of the week, with the exception of 2 weeks, throughout the competitive season. Team averages were calculated according to period of the season for variables from the VERT sensors and the Jump Mat.
Results: A significant difference between total number of jumps was found between preseason and the 1st half of conference play (p=0.003). No other significant differences were found in total jumps over 50.8 cm, average jump height, average highest overall jump, or countermovement jump height when comparing the periods of the season.
Conclusion: The results indicate that jumping performance does not significantly increase or decrease over the course of an NCAA Division I volleyball season. This suggests that these volleyball athletes were able to sustain jumping performance throughout the competitive season.