Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare female volleyball teams with different performance level and to identify the physiological characteristics that discriminate them. Methods: Thirty-seven players (age 21.9 ± 4.8 years, mean ± standard deviation, body mass 66.3 ± 7.1 kg, stature 173.9 ± 7.3 cm) from teams A, B and C participating in the first, second and third Greek league, respectively, performed a series of anthropometric and physical fitness measures. Results: Players of team A and B were taller than players of C [10.8 cm (4.7; 16.9), mean difference (95 % confidence intervals), and 7.4 cm (1.6; 13.3), respectively]. Players of A also had lower body fat [-5.8 % (-9.3; -2.3)] and higher fat-free mass than C [6.5 kg (1.8; 11.3)]. The mean somatotype of A was ectomorphic mesomorph, B was balanced endomorph and C was mesomorphic endomorph. Players of B jumped higher in squat jump, countermovement jump without and with arm-swing than their counterparts of C [4.9 cm (1.4; 8.5), 4.3 cm (0.3; 8.3) and 5.1 cm (0.9; 9.2), respectively]. Players of A scored better than those of C with regard to the strength of the right hand [5.9 kg (1.2; 10.6)] and the sum of both hands [10.2 kg (1.4; 19.1)]. Peak power in Wingate anaerobic test was better in team B than C [1.0 W kg-1 (0.0; 2.0)]. Team A and B scored higher in mean power either in absolute values [79 W (11; 147) and 77 W (10; 143), respectively] or in relative to body mass values [1.0 W kg-1 (0.1; 1.8) and 1.0 W kg-1 (0.2; 1.8), respectively] than team C. Conclusions: These findings confirmed the importance of stature and jump ability for performance in volleyball. However, what is novel is that for the first time we identified differences in upper limbs` muscle strength and in lower limbs` muscle power among teams from different leagues, and based on these findings recommendations can be given on training goals and players` selection. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
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