Brand new vball coach looking for formations

Question
Coach,

I am a new volleyball coach that has taken over a high school varsity position the week before tryouts started.  I am really struggling with defensive and offensive formations/rotations/transitions. I need advice and direction!  It looks like I may possibly have 2 decent setters if that helps. Any help would be appreciated! Even if you could point me in the right direction for information.  Keep in mind that I have ZERO volleyball knowledge at this point.

Thank you.

Answer
Good evening Chris!
Welcome to allexperts.com.  You've come to the right place.... but there aren't enough hours in this month for me to teach you everything you need to learn.  But, you probably already know that.  
Let me start by asking you some questions.
a) Do the girls on your team know what they're doing?  When I started in 1985, I knew only a little more than you do.  But I had 6 seniors who were on a 3-year streak of being conference champions. They actually taught me the 6-2 offense!  :)  
b) Is there no one at your school, in your community that has any knowledge of 6-2?  5-1?
c) About your setters.... is one of them far superior to the other?  If not, then normally a 6-2 or 4-2 is in order.
d) I see you have had tryouts?  How did that go?  Did you even know the girls?  Did you have any help?
e) Are you working at a private school? or public school?
f) What are the expectations?  What has the team done in the past?  

I could send you 3-person or 4-person serve reception formations, but they would be reading Greek.  But if the answer to either (a) or (b) above is "yes," then you have interpreters!  :)   

I do have a drill collection and 2 ebooks (350 pages) that are on sale this month.  You can buy the entire package for $30.  (Maybe your school will buy it for you!)  The ebooks have all the info you want, but you've have to tell your job and your family, "I'm reading for the next 2 days.  Don't bother me," and then only read the chapters that deal with what you're the most concerned about.  The drills will help you train your players in a positive way, just like we learn to train dogs and horses.  Positive, reinforcement, reward, etc.  It works A LOT better than the cycle of fussing, punishments, threats, etc.  To see more about the Drill Collection and Ebooks, please visit www.coachhouser.com, and touch the link at the top.  There are 4 free drills and about 8 articles to download.  Make yourself at home!   

I see you're in Virginia.  I'm in Roanoke.  Do you mind emailing me at [email protected], and telling me where you are?  There may be some people I know in your area who can help you.  I have thousands of contacts from coaching school ball, directing camps, and coaching travel ball for 26 years.  Maybe some of these people can come to your gym and help you.  Or you can hire some of my staff to give you a weekend coaching clinic, or to do a Fri-Sat mini-camp for your team.  Whatever you need, I can probably provide.  

Thank you for visiting.  Let's be in touch a lot in the next few days.  My family is all on vacation.... so it's just me here with the pets, giving vball lessons, and doing chores.  I have lots of time.  :)  

Coach Houser
Roanoke, Va