Playing Season Jump Performance In Female Collegiate Volleyball Players

Several studies from our laboratory demonstrated that NCAA Division III male and female soccer players improve anaerobic and neuromuscular performance measures during the competitive soccer season. Yet, competitive season jump-derived neuromuscular performance data in female NCAA Division III volleyball players is limited. PURPOSE: To examine jump-derived neuromuscular performance changes in female National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III volleyball players during the competitive season. METHODS: Sixteen members of a NCAA Division III women's volleyball team (mean ± SD): age (19 ± 1.0 y); body weight (70.28 ± 13.29 kg); height (1.70 ± 0.82 m); BMI (24.46 ± 4.64 kg × m-2) volunteered to participate in the study. Neuromuscular performance testing included jump height, Reactive Strength Index Modified (RSIm), peak relative eccentric and concentric force, and peak relative eccentric and concentric power were compared between the beginning of the season (PRE) and the end of the season (POST). RESULTS: From PRE to POST, jump height (cm) and peak relative concentric power increased significantly (PRE: 27.94 ± 5.20; POST: 29.27 ± 5.29 cm, p < 0.05, d = -0.55 and PRE: 44.01 ± 6.27; POST: 45.61 ± 5.89 W × kg-1, p < 0.05, d = -0.50, respectively). Although not significantly different (p > 0.05), peak concentric force and RSIm also increased between PRE and POST and displayed trivial and small effect sizes (d), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current investigation support our previous findings that anaerobic performance measures improve during the soccer season. The improvement in jump performance during the playing season may be attributed to the concentric phase of the jump, which may be attributed to improved force transmission and explosive power.