General Concepts
Menlo is fast and creative
Offensive System
- Fast
- Isolation
- Make them play OOS
In System
- 4v3 all the time
- Freeball - middles at zero-tempo
- Middles on time, everytime
- Tool box early - don't wait
OOS
22
- Outside - 1 foot off, 4-6 feet in
- ALWAYS be offensive - take out the setter, jam the lanes
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Technique
Hands
Hands
Hands
- Shape Early, Finish Fast: Emphasize getting hands shaped early with a neutral wrist and fingers spread like holding a ball — then accelerate through the ball for a clean, fast release.
- Consistent Contact Point: Always contact the ball just above the forehead, with elbows slightly bent — this builds repeatability and control under pressur
- Shape Early, Finish Fast: Emphasize getting hands shaped early with a neutral wrist and fingers spread like holding a ball — then accelerate through the ball for a clean, fast release.
- Consistent Contact Point: Always contact the ball just above the forehead, with elbows slightly bent — this builds repeatability and control under pressure.
- Soft but Strong: Great setters absorb the ball with relaxed hands but drive through with firm wrists and finger extension — soft to the touch, strong through the finish.
Feet
Hands
Hands
- Get Square, Stay Loaded: Arrive early with hips and shoulders square to the target, feet shoulder-width apart, and knees loaded for power.
- Right–Left Rhythm: Maintain a consistent right–left footwork pattern into every set — this rhythm enhances timing and balance.
- Adjust with Your Feet, Not Your Reach: Move your feet to the ball instea
- Get Square, Stay Loaded: Arrive early with hips and shoulders square to the target, feet shoulder-width apart, and knees loaded for power.
- Right–Left Rhythm: Maintain a consistent right–left footwork pattern into every set — this rhythm enhances timing and balance.
- Adjust with Your Feet, Not Your Reach: Move your feet to the ball instead of reaching — great setters reposition early to stay in rhythm.
- Fast–Slow–Fast: Sprint to the ball (fast), gather under control (slow), then explode through the set with power and speed (fast) — this sets the tempo for the entire offense.
Body
Hands
Body
- Neutral Posture = Neutral Options: Stay tall with slight knee bend, shoulders relaxed, and torso centered — this neutral posture keeps all set options available and disguises your intent.
- Face the Ball, Not the Net: Align your body to the incoming ball, not the court — neutral alignment allows last-second decisions and more deceptive set
- Neutral Posture = Neutral Options: Stay tall with slight knee bend, shoulders relaxed, and torso centered — this neutral posture keeps all set options available and disguises your intent.
- Face the Ball, Not the Net: Align your body to the incoming ball, not the court — neutral alignment allows last-second decisions and more deceptive setting.
- Don't Lean to Deliver: Avoid leaning or twisting on contact — let your feet move you into position so your core stays stable and your torso upright through release.
- Stillness Before Speed: Once under the ball, quiet your body — no extra movement. Then use a fast, fluid motion through the hands to generate tempo without telegraphing.
Details
Read
Read
Read
- Read the Server First: Track the server’s body language and toss to anticipate location, speed, and type of serve (float vs. spin).
- Scan the Passers’ Platform: Watch for platform angle and contact point — this helps predict the pass trajectory before the ball crosses the net.
- Identify the Ball’s Flight Early: As soon as the ball clears
- Read the Server First: Track the server’s body language and toss to anticipate location, speed, and type of serve (float vs. spin).
- Scan the Passers’ Platform: Watch for platform angle and contact point — this helps predict the pass trajectory before the ball crosses the net.
- Identify the Ball’s Flight Early: As soon as the ball clears the net, shift full focus to its arc and speed — this helps you beat the ball to the spot.
- Peripheral Awareness of Blockers: Without staring, notice the opponent’s front-row alignment — are they cheating to a pin, sitting in gap, or reading you?
- Trust, Then Go: Once you’ve read the pass, commit — trust your read and get there early to stay neutral and deceptive.
Talk
Read
Read
- Be the Loudest Voice: Setters lead the offense — use a clear, confident voice to call the play early and assertively. Your tone sets the team’s tempo.
- Pre-Contact Clarity: Communicate the play call before serve or freeball contact — teammates should know what’s coming without guessing.
- Mid-Rally Feedback: Use quick, efficient phrases du
- Be the Loudest Voice: Setters lead the offense — use a clear, confident voice to call the play early and assertively. Your tone sets the team’s tempo.
- Pre-Contact Clarity: Communicate the play call before serve or freeball contact — teammates should know what’s coming without guessing.
- Mid-Rally Feedback: Use quick, efficient phrases during rallies — call “mine,” “here,” or player names to command the ball and direct flow.
- Setters Talk First in Huddles: After each rally, lead with a cue — “quick’s open,” “gap’s tight,” “backrow next” — short and focused feedback builds trust.
- Non-Verbal Matters Too: Eye contact, hand signals, tempo in your body language — setters communicate beyond words, and your presence should calm, not confuse.