Setters defensive role

Question
Yes my setter was inexperienced and was taking a lot of balls she shouldn't have.

But my biggest concern is on cross court hits coming from the offside.  We didn't have a strong block there so the setter had to play a little deeper than she probably should have.  My middle would be covering deep back and power covering tips.

The person doing the criticizing suggested I have the setter covering tips at all times, but that seems like "old school" to me.

Can you give me some suggestions on where the setter should be on those cross court hits?


Thanks so much for your quick response.-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I coach a high school girls team and have been having my setter (using a 5-1) cover the #1 position in the back row on defense.  I have been criticized for doing this since at times she must take the first ball. Is this the right decision, or should I be considering something else?
Answer -
Marnie---

Regardless of where the setter is, she has to play defense first.  There's going to be times that she has to take the first hit.

Are you being criticized because your setter is taking too many first hits?  If so, is it because the hits are right to the setter and she has to take the first hit or is it because she doesn't have the solid setter mentality that every SECOND hit is hers?  Or is it because her team mates  are tenative?  I assume these are tips or short hits that she's going after and not free balls because as soon as the team identifies it's a free ball the setter should be transitioning to the net.

As an option, we always make sure our right side hitter has good hands and knows that she's the second setter if the #1 setter has to play the first hit.

Are you using a rotational defense?  

The first high school I coached at wasn't as advanced as we are now.  We used a 6-2 offense and middle back defense.  We always had the setter play short in the right back position.

This year we have decided that we are going to use both a rotational defense and a middle up because we've found different opponents require different defense.

I hope I've helped.  Good luck.

Let me know if I can be of further help.

Marie

Answer
Marnie--

When you say your middle is playing back--do you mean your middle back?

Are you putting up a double block, regardless of how strong it is?  Just trying to get an idea of how many girls you have to play defense to know where everyone should be.

Having the setter hide and always cover short just depends on coaching styles, I guess.  Maybe they suggested this because in your situation your setter is taking too many balls.  

We use a rotational defense, with two blockers (always--regardless of how strong it is) and always have the setter switch to the right side.  Her defensive position on a cross court shot would then be deep and more than likely, she's going to get this ball because the LB player sucks up behind the block to cover short, middle back has to shuffle to the left to cover the gap created by LB sucking up, setter is deep angle and the off blocker is off the net for the sharp angle and to help cover any short net shots.  Do you follow me?

I gather you must be really getting burned in this rotation?  Every lineup has one of those rotations.  I guess I'd suggest either make a switch so that you have a stronger block OR make sure RF can set.  

If you have any other questions, let me know.

Marie