[MCBear]

What you are describing is known as "International Pursuit". It is legal in NCAA and USAV/FIVB rules sets only if there are two meters of free space outside the pole on the table side and also outside the referee's stand.

However, in NFHS rules, the Pursuit rule is not applicable. The referee made the proper call. See Rule 9.3.3: "A live ball becomes dead when: a. The ball touches the net antennas or does not pass entirely between the net antennas and passes beyond the plane of the center line extension;..."

This is the play that you have described. The LB shanks the reception and the ball crosses the plane of the net wide right. The team's RF crosses the center line extension and plays the ball that had completely crossed beyond the plane of the center line extension back to her court where a teammate sends the ball over to the opponent's court between the antennas. As soon as the ball completely crossed the center line extension, the whistle should have been blown because the ball became dead at that time.

The only way that the play would be legal is if the ball was contacted by the RF while it was still within the plane of the center line extension. Once it completely crossed, it was a dead ball. Hope that is a help.

[Edited by MCBear on Feb 9th, 2005 at 02:10 AM]