2, 2, 2... What?

Question
I'm a passionate volleyball player that has landed on C-Team all her life because of non volleyball related aspects of tryouts (i.e. running, push-ups).
I have resolved to practice these things extra hard over the next year, but if I do make JV, there are some things I have missed...

When players shout, "2, 2, 2!" or any other number such as 4, what does it mean?  Does it indicate some sort of playing order (bump, set, spike?) or something else?

Finally, what are the formations when the ball is in offense and defense?  (When would you play in three rows of two, and when in two rows of three?)

Also, what is meant by a free ball, and what formation change does it indicate?

Thankyou!

Answer
Madelin,

The numbers players are calling are sets they want the setter to set them.  Here is a simple explanation to all of the sets I can think of.............

1 a quick tempo set that the hitter hits on the way up.  The hitter jumps before the ball is set.

2 a second tempo set that is a little higher than the 1 and the hitter jumps after the ball is set.

3 a set that splits the block of the RS and MB.  This gives the hitter a that she should be able to hit with no blocker.

4 a fast outside set

5 a back set to the antennea

6 or back 1 a set that the hitter jumps up before the set behind the setter.  The setter sets the ball into the hitters hand.

Slide is a set that goes behind the setter and the hitter runs the ball down and hits it off of one foot.

A, B, Pike, C, D these are back row sets going from left to right.

I don't understand what you mean by the defense that has 2,2 and 2.  There is a rotational and a perimiter defense that most teams use.  

A "FREE" ball is a ball that the other team bumps over the net which gives the receiving team a "free" swing to try to kill the ball.

Hope this helped, good luck with your season.

Steve