I do not often comment directly about my collegiate activities on my personal blog, but this match has been stirring in my mind. Winthrop University played Liberty University last Friday night. The match went 5 sets. The 5th set (a set to 15 points) was an epic battle. Each team’s studs stepped up, defensive digs were amazing, and it became a side-out frenzy. It was awesome to be a part of the match.
The score was 28 – 27 in Liberty University’s favor. They served a tough floater deep which caused the pass to go to the middle of the court. Our setter made an athletic play, made a rough contact on the ball, and the referee blew the whistle to call a double on the setter. I am not arguing the call, but it was such a anticlimactic way to end such a great battle.
The stoppage of play by a referee really made me question the rules of our sport. How can we allow an epic match like this, 29 – 27 in the 5th, to end in this fashion? I try to compare it to other sports with judgment calls, like a 3rd strike in baseball to win a game or a basketball official calling a foul on a last second shot (I believe in basketball, there is an unwritten rule about letting the players play out the final seconds). I just can’t get comfortable with this ending.
There is no right or wrong answer. It was just such a let-down to me. I honestly spent time second guessing our great sport. I hope we can improve these situations for the betterment of our sport.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
If you aren’t a coach, you probably can’t understand this. haha
I was at a tournament 2 weeks ago and it was a 3rd game going to 15. The referee made 2 calls after 12-12 that in my opinion were questionable. One of them was a lift after the first contact of an attack.
I actually told a parent after the game, that volleyball used to be like basketball, where unless it was impossible to ignore the call on the last point, they would. From my point of view it “feels” like the refs are trying to be more assertive and show their position as the “official” and that they are in charge.
But, if they see a double or a lift or a lift and don’t call it, are they doing their job? If it was on the other side, and the setter had a horrific contact on the ball when set, would it be fair to let them attack it and get a chance to win. As Coach Rey stated above, there really isn’t an answer, but it definitely is something we need to think about.
October 6th, 2009 at 9:28 am
If you aren’t a coach, you probably can’t understand this. haha
I was at a tournament 2 weeks ago and it was a 3rd game going to 15. The referee made 2 calls after 12-12 that in my opinion were questionable. One of them was a lift after the first contact of an attack.
I actually told a parent after the game, that volleyball used to be like basketball, where unless it was impossible to ignore the call on the last point, they would. From my point of view it “feels” like the refs are trying to be more assertive and show their position as the “official” and that they are in charge.
But, if they see a double or a lift or a lift and don’t call it, are they doing their job? If it was on the other side, and the setter had a horrific contact on the ball when set, would it be fair to let them attack it and get a chance to win. As Coach Rey stated above, there really isn’t an answer, but it definitely is something we need to think about.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
At the NCAA level, the rules are seemingly being made to make the officials obsolete. I believe the whole “athletic play” clause, gives the officials way too much leeway in their calls on a subject (ball control) that few seem to grasp well to begin with. At levels lower than the college level, its far worse even without the “athletic play” clause.
October 13th, 2009 at 9:00 am
At the NCAA level, the rules are seemingly being made to make the officials obsolete. I believe the whole “athletic play” clause, gives the officials way too much leeway in their calls on a subject (ball control) that few seem to grasp well to begin with. At levels lower than the college level, its far worse even without the “athletic play” clause.
September 30th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
As disappointing as the call might have been, a double contact on 2nd contact needs to be called no matter what the score. If that wasn’t called and Winthrop gets a kill and ends up winning the match how does that make it better? Liberty then would have a complaint.
September 30th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
I’m not complaining, I agree the call was correct. The email was partly out of frustration that a match can be completed that way. Just wish volleyball matches sometimes had a better way to end. Those are the rules. Similar to the Bears beating the Lions in the first weekend of the season. Ironically, your comment comes almost a year to the day when the match took place last year. We travel to Liberty tomorrow to replay this match
October 5th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
It is frustrating when the players aren’t the one’s deciding the outcome of the match. I have bigger problems with officials who want to be a focal point of the match. A quality ref doesn’t want to be notices.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Agreed. Officiating takes a special breed of person. As long as they are consistent (and they were in this match against Liberty a year ago), its difficult to complain. Well maybe not difficult, but I am more willing to accept the no calls