Tall OK setter or short better setter or both?

Question
QUESTION: Hi, on my national club team We have two setters, one is taller and not a very good setter but gets the job done. The other one is 5'2" with a good vertical and is a really good setter mentally and skill wise. I was thinking it might be a problem running a 5'1 with the shorter setter because she can't block that well.  But if we ran a 5'1 with the taller setter, I'm afraid she won't set as well.  What do you recommend?  Also does it make that much of a difference if your setter isn't the best blocker?  I would rather not run a 6'2 but would if needed.

ANSWER: Good evening!
Welcome to www.allexperts.com!  It's great to hear from you.
You are experiencing a typical volleyball situation.  :)   

In order for me to properly answer your question, you must answer the following:  What is the level of your competition?  In other words, what type of competition are you going to want your team to compete against?  

(a) You may say, "Very good!  We'll play in the Open level at every tournament, including the qualfiers."   Then I would respond that your team won't be able to compete at that level.  Why?  Your taller setter is only ok.  Your smaller setter cannot be allowed to play the front row.  Yeah, she has a good vertical, but enough to handle the 5'10" or 6' OH's? I don't think so. In order to play open at qualifiers, you better have a team of girls who will probably sign D1 scholarships.  And it sounds like your setters aren't in that category.

(b) If you say, "We'll play National at the Qualifiers, but Open at the smaller tournaments," then I'd say you should run a 6-2, maybe play the taller girl in all rotations, but the smaller setter comes out the front row.  This was my setter situation last year.  We MUST be able to block and hit in order to compete against the teams we want to beat.  

(c) If you say, "We're in the club level, will not be attending any Qualifiers, and will enter no open divisions all season," then I'd say you're free to let the girls compete, may best girl win, play the girls who earn playing time regardless of height, etc.  The smaller setter won't be a blocking liability when the tallest OH you'll face it 5'7".  The "get the job done" setter won't be a liability as a setter b/c that's the caliber of almost every opposing setter.  In fact, in this case, you may want to run a 5-1 with the smaller girl, and let the taller one play front row only.  

At the top, I said I needed you to answer a question for me.  The more accurate statement was actually:  you have to answer a question for yourself.  And after you choose a, b, or c above, then you'll know how to prepare your team for their upcoming competitions.  If you're still not sure, then ask an older coach in your club, "My team is expected to achieve x, and this is our setter situation.  What do you recommend?"  

Please let me know what you decide.  You can check on the progress of my club team at www.coachhouser.com.   Please visit us anytime!  

I hope you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Please come back again anytime.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We will be playing American in all the qualifiers. It is a 15's team.

Answer
I recommend (b).  
One thing I forgot to mention earlier:  I haven't run a 5-1 offense in club ball for a long period of time in many years.

REASON #1:  The girls are approx the same age, so they should be similar in skill level.  If one was a freak-of-nature, then she would have been pulled up to the next age.  If one was horrible, she wouldn't have made my National team.  

REASON #2:  Also, i HATE benching a girl b/c of my poor selection at tryouts (which I have regrettably done) or b/c of my club's inappropriate assignment at tryouts (which I have also experienced).  Now, if she was placed on my team b/c she begged, even after people saying, "We don't see you playing much on Coach Houser's team," then I can live with her not playing much.  

What else can we do for you?
Please ask anytime.  And I hope you have a moment to visit me at www.coachhouser.com.  
Seven days...... that's all that's left before I award site camps for 2012!  I can't wait!
Coach Houser