Be the Referee: Volleyball Obstruction
By
Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director
September 23, 2021
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Volleyball Obstruction - Listen
Ever wonder why in volleyball some balls hit into obstructions remain in play, while others are replayed, and some end the rally?
If a ball hits an obstruction over a playable area during a rally, and then is played by the same team, it has the same status as any other hit. However, that isn’t the case in all other instances.
If the ball hitting the wall or an object attached flush to the wall doesn’t actually interfere with a player’s legitimate effort to play the ball, the ball is dead and a loss of rally and point shall be awarded. If it does interfere with the playing of the ball, a replay is declared if the wall is less than six feet from the boundary.
If the ball hits a suspended backboard over the playable area, a replay will be declared as long as the referee believes the ball would have remained in play. Serves that hit any obstruction are a loss of rally and point.
Previous editions
Sept. 16: Catch or No Catch - Listen
Sept. 9: Intentional Grounding – Listen
Sept. 2: Pass Interference – Listen
Aug. 26: Protocols and Mechanics – Listen
Performance of the Week: Shelby's Navea Gauthier
November 15, 2022
Navea Gauthier ♦ Shelby
Sophomore ♦ Volleyball
The 6-foot-2 outside hitter has put up headline-grabbing kill totals all season – but saved her best for her team’s biggest playoff matches. Gauthier posted what was a season-high 40 kills in a three-set Regional Semifinal win over Kent City to start last week, and she bested that with 47 more kills in Thursday’s four-set Regional Final win over Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian. The 47 kills are tied for fourth-most in a match statewide since the beginning of rally scoring in 2004-05.
Gauthier – who made the Division 3 all-state first team last year as a freshman – already is eligible for the MHSAA record book 11 times for single-match kills over her first two seasons. Additionally, her 930 kills this fall are tied for sixth on the single-season list and her 1,524 over two seasons make the career kills list, while her 132 aces this season qualify for the record book as well. Shelby was ranked No. 9 in the final regular-season Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association poll and brought a 35-8-3 record into Tuesday’s Quarterfinals.
@mhsaasports 🏐POW: Navea Gauthier #performanceoftheweek #volleyball #regionalchamps #quarterfinals #kills #goodluck #shelby #tigers #MHSAA #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #TikTok #mistudentaid #fyp @Navea Gauthier ♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral - WZ Beat
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2022-23 Honorees
Nov. 10: Derek Huisman, Holland Christian soccer - Report
Nov. 3: Thomas Westphal, New Baltimore Anchor Bay cross country - Report
Oct. 27: Justin Wickey, Colon football - Report
Oct. 20: Owen DeMuth, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood tennis - Report
Oct. 13: Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills golf - Report
Oct. 6: Shawn Foster, Grand Ledge football - Report
Sept. 30: Hannah Smith, Temperance Bedford swimming - Report
Sept. 22: Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Sept. 15: Nina Horning, Lake Orion volleyball - Report
Sept 8: Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1: Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25: Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report
(Top photo by Enduring Memories Photography.)