Reactive Strength Index Scores Correlate with Game Performance in Female Collegiate Level Volleyball Players

Objective: The reactive strength index (RSI) is a reliable and valid measure used by coaches to assess an athlete’s explosiveness. Despite its use, there is paucity in the research regarding normative data or correlational data between RSI scores and in-season game statistics for female collegiate level volleyball (VB) players. The first purpose of this study was to report RSI data for female collegiate level VB players. The second purpose of this study was to identify correlations between preseason RSI scores and game statistics.

Methods: One hundred and seventeen female collegiate level VB players performed the DVJ from a 30.48 cm box (84 athletes also performed the DVJ from a 60.96 cm box). Kinetic and kinematic variables were collected in a motion capture lab.

Results: Starters had significantly greater RSI scores from either the 30.48 cm box (p=0.001) or the 60.96 cm box (p=0.038). However, there were no differences in RSI scores based on age, anthropometric measures, level of competition, or player position. There were small to moderate positive correlations between RSI scores and game statistics per player position: outside hitters (kills/ set, digs/set, points/set), setters (kills/set), and middle blockers/ opposite side hitters (kills/set, points/set).

Conclusion: The RSI should be assessed in collegiate level female VB athletes. RSI scores may help coaches with talent identification and/or may influence training strategies.