An advanced team's sets can be classified by their height: low, medium, or high. The team associates a set-to-spike rhythm with each height.

The low sets include the ONE, the back ONE, the THREE and the FOUR. They develop quickly, that is, they have a fast rhythm, requiring exact synchronization between the setter and the spiker. The one, the back one and the three play a different role from the four in the team's offense. These low, fast sets form the basis for the combination attack. These sets are termed quick; the four set is not.

The quick sets are different from the four set in other ways.

1. The quick attacker approaches closer to the setter. On the one and the back one, the spiker approaches no more than a step from the setter; on the three, the spiker approaches about 6-8 feet from the setter. On the four, in contrast, the spiker approaches 15-20 feet from the setter.
2. Because of the shorter distance between the setter and the spiker on the quick sets, the time from the set to the spike is also shorter than on the four.
3. The quick attacker jumps as the ball touches the setter's hands; the four-attacker jumps after the ball has been set.
4. The middle-hitter, a specialist, usually attacks the quick set; the left front attacker always attacks the four.
5. The defense gives the quick set attacker special treatment; blocking tactics are defined by their treatment of the one, the back one and the three.

The different heights of the sets are associated with an attack point on the net. A set near the center of the net, for example, may be high, that is slow, as it would be performed by the beginning team. It may be medium-height, that is a two ball, as it would be performed by a team with better skills. Or for an advanced team, that same location on the net may require a one ball, that is, a quick low set for an immediate hit by the middle attacker.

A set to the left sideline may also be delivered high and slow (a regular or five ball), or low and fast (a shoot or four ball.) A set to any location on the court can be classified in this way.

There are more variations of the setter-to-spiker rhythms than described above. These variations usually occur due to the setter and hitters communicating their desires. These on-court discussions can be summarized in four words: high, lower, faster, slower.