Collective block or not?

[genetoy71]

Originally Posted by kycat1

I have discussed this scenario with many officials (Nationals of both PAVO and USAV) and seem to have a conflict of proper ruling.

Back row setter Team A (BRSA) is standing next to a Front Row Player Team A (FRPA) at the net with her hands near her head but not above the net. The ball comes from her side A (an overpass) and goes into the plain of the net with no one from Team A making a play on the ball. BRSA does not jump so her hands stay below the net on this play. The legal front row player from Team B attacks the ball once it gets into the net (so no reaching over). The FRPA goes up to block the attack and either she blocks the ball from Player B or the ball hits the BRSA who is standing next to her close to the net with her hands up near her head.

Do we have a back row block on team A if ball hits either the FRPA blocking the ball or the BRSA just standing next to her at the net as this should be called a collective block?

Or do we have a legal block (and 3 more possible hits by Team A) if it hits only FRPA and only 2 hits left for Team A if ball hits BRSA just standing there as this would be team's first contact?

I am getting differences of opinion and ruling from many officials on this.

Just curious what everyone thinks and has been taught on this.

To be any kind of a block, the ball must be deflected as it is coming from the opponent and the ball must be completely above the height of the net when it is contacted. Just because the setter is standing next to someone or because her hands are "up near her head" doesn't make her part of a block.

If FRPA does contact the ball and it constitutes a block then Team A has three contacts remaining. If BRSA contacts the ball then it would be either an illegal block or a legal contact. If a legal contact then Team A would have two contacts remaining.