The aim of this study was to identify volleyball performance indicators that best discriminate between winning and losing teams in a set according to set final score differences. The data were collected from teams' performances (N=350) in all sets played during the 2009 Men's European Volleyball Championship in Turkey. Clusters analysis established three different groups of sets according to set final score difference: 2 points (ambivalent), 3-5 points (safe), >5 points (unbalanced). A 3x2 MANOVA (type of set x type of result) was then performed on 9 performance indicators reflecting % expressions of four basic skills of the game (serve, pass, attack, block). The analysis revealed significant multivariate differences in type of set, in type of results, and in their interaction. A follow-up Discriminant Analysis showed that effectiveness of attack is the most important performance indicator for all types of sets, far more for the ambivalent ones. The discriminant function correctly classified increasing % of cases with increase in score difference. Especially for ambivalent sets 67.3% were correctly classified, letting some space for further improving the critical performance indicators. The results suggest that training of a men's volleyball team should emphasize more to improve offensive abilities.
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