Setters…
Andrea Zorzi takes a look at some of the setters in the tournament.
Vadim Khamuttskikh
(Russia today is his 38th birthday).Since the eighties, when the former Soviet Union lost the World Volleyball leadership conquered by USA, Russians keep searching the “great setter”. They are persuaded that the main reason of many defeats depends on the lack of an adequate setter.
I disagree. I believe that Khamuttskikh improved very much during his long career. He is a good setter, probably not as stunning as others, but his emotional approach, his setting skills and tactical running are fine. Vadim is able to set center quick attack even with imperfect passing, denying the old wide spread opinion that Russian rely on their amazing powerful attacking slow and high ball.
But, until this team doesn’t win a major tournament, everybody will continue to think that Russia is wasting great opportunities because of his setter!Andrey Zhekov
(Bulgaria 27 years old)“He is the best setter we have” behind this sentence there are many concealed implications. The most dangerous is that Bulgarians don’t trust totally on their setter. Many times during the matches, I recognize the typical look of players that are blaming the setter for their errors. Andrey is physically talented, very good in serving and blocking*. He has to improve the quick set and mostly the tactical running of the matches. Too often he loses the thread of the game, but he needs the full involvement of his team mates and his coach to succeed.
*Be doubtful when a setter is introduced as a good server or blocker. First of all, a setter has to be a skilled setter. Look at his technical wholeness only afterwards.
