(19) ACUTE EFFECTS OF MATCH PLAY INDUCED FATIGUE ON JUMP PERFORMANCE IN COLLEGIATE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Due to the intense physical nature of volleyball, it is plausible the neuromuscular system may be acutely fatigued from match play, impairing performance in the days following a match. However, there is insufficient evidence on the magnitude and duration of fatigue that might be expected following a collegiate women’s indoor volleyball match.

Purpose: This study investigated the changes in maximal jump performance and subjective recovery in response to match play induced fatigue.

Methods: Seven National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics women’s volleyball athletes participated in this study (age, 20.2 ± 0.9 years). During six sets of off-season tournament match play, participants wore portable microsensor units sampling at 100 hz (Catapult OptimEye S5, Catapult Innovations, Team Sport 5.0, Melbourne, Australia) in order to measure external training load using their metric of Player Load. Maximal jump performance and subjective recovery were measured using countermovement jump (CMJ) and short recovery stress scale (SRSS): 1 hr. before (Pre), immediately post (Post0), 24 hrs. post, (Post24), and 48 hrs. post (Post48) match play. CMJ data was collected using dual force plates sampling at 1000Hz (ForceDecks FD Lite, Vald Performance, Brisbane, QLD). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to identify main effects. Statistical significance was set at p = 0.05. Significant main effect was followed by a Holm adjustment, with Hedge’s g effect sizes used to assess magnitude of change.

Results: Participants accumulated a mean Player Load of 758.6±216.9 au. SRSS results indicated elevated stress (ES=1.401 to 1.588) and decreased recovery (ES = -1.358 to -1.848) 24 hours post-match, trending towards baseline 48 hours post-match. CMJ height (CMJH) decreased immediately post-match (p < 0.01, ES= -0.216). Relative to Pre, CMJH partially recovered Post24 (p=0.109, ES=0.130), and fully recovered by Post48 (p <  0.01, ES=0.216) (Figure 1).

Conclusions: The external load of match play was similar to that of previously reported values for a 5 set division 1 collegiate match. It was concluded that match play likely contributed to the observable decline in post-match maximal jump performance. Further, jump performance may be expected to return to baseline status 48 hours after match play, while subjective stress levels may remain elevated. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: CMJH testing may be an effective assessment of acute neuromuscular status in collegiate women’s volleyball, and may be a useful strategy for coaches attempting to assess acute physical readiness in-season.

Acknowledgements: None