Two liberos - questions

[PaREF]

Well, I was line judge at two D-1 mens' volleyball matches the past two evenings. The home team used two liberos (both nights) and one of the visiting teams used two liberos. They used the liberos in a manner that I suspected for which the rule was instituted.

The starting libero replaced the two middles. The second libero replaced an outside hitter (back row, of course) when the starting libero went out and the middles served. The starting libero came back in and the second libero came back out when the middle lost his serve. So there was always a libero on the court. So, there were two libero replacements simultaneously (L1 replaced by middle and OH2 replaced by L2 then after MH ends his term of service, MH replaced by L1 and L2 replaced by OH2).

We also had one instance where L1 was replaced by L2 (in my second match).

Visiting team in match two questioned whether a libero could replace a libero. R1 and R2 were National referees and said it was OK.

[Antonio.King]

Yes, if they're serving then that's different as PaREF mentioned above. All other instances of libero replacements, not including serving, require them to sit one rally.

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by PaREF

So there was always a libero on the court. So, there were two libero replacements simultaneously (L1 replaced by middle and OH2 replaced by L2.

This would be illegal. There are two replacements, and there has to be a completed rally between replacements, unless there there is a replacement for the legal server of the next rally. Otherwise, one rally between replacements, and if both liberi are involved, then it's two replacements, not one.

[oldsetter]

So, if R is left back on the receiving team and there is a lor, R can go back to serve, but not L for the 1st serve of that term?

[FMadera]

If the libero is allowed to serve, then either could serve, as the serving libero is replacing the next legal server. In that case, a second replacement during the same dead ball would be allowed.

Remember, R would be replaced by the player coming on, and then L would replace the server. L would *not* be replacing R.