Introduction Researchers have found an essential correlation between attack and the final result of the game in elite volleyball. Although attack is performed individually, it is preceded by cooperation between the setter and the receiver of serve (Drikos, Vagenas, 2011). Hughes and Daniel (2003) have found that proficiency of reception differentiates elite teams from mediocre ones. Methods The aim of the current study was to analyse players` individual proficiency of serve reception and its influence on the following attack in the Estonian national team during the qualification for the European Championship in 2016. The paper analyses eight games of the Estonian national team at the qualification tournament of the European Championship where a total of 31 sets were played. In the games played at the qualification tournament, 17 sets were won and 14 sets were lost. The following indicators were written down from video recordings of the games: number of receptions of serve, proficiency of reception, reception zone, reception type. Attacks from zones 2, 3, 4 and the back zone were also counted - number of attacks, performer, zone of attack and proficiency. Results and discussion The results showed that the Estonian national volleyball team was most proficient at attack from grade five receptions (50.35%). In the case of very good reception, 91 points were scored from 139 attacks; 27 balls remained in play, and there were 21 errors. After receptions performed with grade four, the proficiency of attack was 40.86%; a total of 208 attacks were performed; 118 of them ended with a point for the Estonian team; 57 remained in play, and there were 33 errors. After receptions graded three and two, the proficiency of attack was considerably lower, 21.31% and -3.57% respectively. After receptions with grade three, 51 points were scored from 122 attacks; 46 remained in play and there were 25 errors. After receptions with grade two, from 28 attacks 6 points were scored, 15 remained in play, and there were 7 errors. This showed that, in the case of more successful serve reception, the Estonian volleyball team was more proficient at attack. Reception of serves by the Estonian team was more proficient in sets won than in sets lost; in the case of more successful reception the team was more proficient at attack than in the case of less proficient reception. The receivers of the Estonian national team were most proficient in the case of reception from above; serves were best received from zone 5.
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