The Rules They Are A Changin'

Quoted verbatim from John Kessel's document at http://usavolleyball.org/grassroots/historical-information.

For instance:

1900 -- Dribbling line was eliminated.

1916 -- Second serves were eliminated. Serves that hit the net or any outside object was out of bounds.

1935 -- Deliberate shouting and stomping the feet at an opponent was deemed unsportsmanlike.

1947 -- Only front line players could interchange positions to make a two-person block.

1951 -- Back row spiking was allowed, provided the attacker remained in the back court.

1952 -- The attack line was introduced at 7 feet, 6 inches. Blockers must indicate whether or not they touched the ball (the origin of the “no touch” hand signal).

1966 -- Blocker’s fingers could inadvertently cross the plane of the net if they did not contact the ball or affect play.

1968 -- Attack line moved to 10 feet from the net. Back line spikers could land in front of the spiking line if they left the ground behind it. Blockers could reach across the net, but could not contact the ball until after it had been hit by the attacker. One back line player could block, but at no time could there be more than three players deployed in position to block. Balls must be played above the waist.

1974 -- Antennae were added on the net, one ball’s width outside the sidelines.

1976 -- Blocks no longer counted as the first of a team’s three hits. Double hits were prohibited on any type of dig (rescinding the “hard driven spike” rule).

1984 -- A player could make multiple contacts of a team’s first hit if there was only one attempt and there was no “finger action” on the ball. Blocking or attacking serves became illegal.

1988 -- “Rally point” scoring introduced for deciding games of three or five game matches. 17 point “cap” introduced for all games (i.e. 17-16 wins any game).

1994 -- Prosthetic limbs may be worn if the referee determines the player will gain no artificial advantage.

1996 -- Ball may be contacted with any part of a player’s body.

1999 -- All scoring changed to “rally.” Non-deciding games played to 25 with no cap, deciding games to 15 with no cap. Option to register a Libero on roster allowed.

2001 -- Ball allowed to touch the net while crossing it on the serve.

© copyright 2007 by John Kessel/ USA Volleyball

Two liberos?!

No one ever tells me anything.

Now we have to answer a new question:

"How come they only let one of that other team's players play?"

The weak, in review

No, that is not a typo. We're always talking about the Top Ten -- and we could this week, too. Illinois was thumped by Nebraska, so we're going to have a new #1. And #2-10 is far from clear, in my opinion. But I'm turning my attention to the Bottom Ten, according to Pablo. Who are they and how did they get there?

(Pablo Rankings are as of 10/17/11)

#10 (#320 in Pablo) Coppin State - The Eagles are 5-18 overall and 2-6 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic. 5 wins seems like a lot for our #10 team, but their best win was over #298, Loyola Maryland. Everyone else has been in the 300s. They have only played two teams above #160 -- Towson and Bowling Green -- and were swept by both.

#9 (#321) Grambling State - The Lady Tigers are 4-18 overall and 4-4 in the Southwestern Athletic. Their 4 wins are against teams in the 320s, but, unlike Coppin State, they have ventured into the top 100 to play TCU, New Mexico State and LSU. They failed to reach 17 points in any of those 9 games.

#8 (#322) Arkansas-Pine Bluff - The Lady Lions (who lost to the Lady Tigers, by the way, in 5) are 4-18 overall and 4-3 in the Southwestern Athletic. No wins above 320 and two losses to DII schools. They have played two schools in the 20s -- Tulsa and Oklahoma -- reaching 15 points in the Sooner match.

#7 (#323) Mississippi Valley State - The Lady Devils, yet another SWA team, stand 11-10 and 5-6 in conference. How do they rank so low, and below the Lady Tigers and Lions no less? Probably has to do with the 5 matches against NAIA schools (all wins) and another against a DII school (another win). Take those away and their 5 wins are all in the SWA. They are yet to play a team ranked above #249.

#6 (#324) Southern - The Lady Jaguars are 7-15 and 5-6 in the, you guessed it, SWA. I'm sorry. But I'm done with the SWA and the Lady felines. Let's move on.

#5 (#325) North Carolina A&T - The Aggies end the SWA's run, as our 2nd MEA representative. Their record? 1-23 and 1-7 in conference. Their lone win is over Savannah State, a decisive sweep. This record is even more impressive considering they have only played one team close to #100 (NC State at #108).

#4 (#326) Saint Peters - The Metro Atlantic Athletic pops into our mix with the Peahens at 0-23 and 0-12 in conference. On the bright side, they have gone 5 in two matches. On the dark cloudy side, they have no one left on their schedule ranked below them -- although Loyola Maryland looms small.

#3 (#327) Texas Southern - The SWA reappears with the -- WHAT? -- Lady Tigers at 1-18 and 0-8 in conference.

#2 (#328) Savannah State - The aforementioned Tigers (no sex indicated) are 0-19 and 0-8 in the MEA. This includes being swept by NC A&T, but the rematch, at home, is scheduled for 11/11/11. Is victory possible? They have to like the date, unless that's their point totals in the match.

#1 (#329) Alcorn State - The Lady Braves take the top spot by virtue of a 2-21 record, including 0-8 in the SWA. Pablo has them 605 points behind Savannah State, which is more than 3 times the Home Court Advantage of 178. In short, they are the undisputed #1. So whom did they beat? Dillard and Tougaloo, both NAIA schools. Tougaloo? They also have the distinction of losing 4-25, 5-25, 4-25 to Arkansas State.

So what was the point of this little exercise? Was it just mean-spirited and basically uncalled for?

I'd like to think it wasn't. But why do I feel so guilty?

And some Kudos for Boos

Tight third game, Concordia attack appears long but is called in. UMD players and staff see it as out. Does anyone get a yellow card? Is there any excessive whining? No. Concordia goes on a run (on their way to winning the game 25-15) and UMD coach Jim Boos calls a timeout. He does mention the play to the down ref, but after a brief conversation, lets it go.

UMD wins the 4th 25-20 and the 5th 17-15, snapping the Golden Bears' winning streak at 44, their home watch winning streak at 61, and their NSIC winning streak at 85.

And no histrionics. Just great volleyball, from both teams.

(R)uffda!'s Journal -- a brush with fame

Once upon a time (this is long) ...

12/7/1996 330pm

Not LBSU at all.

I dillied. I dallied. I'm still four hours early. But I'm confident this is the place.

I sit on top of the trunk of my Susuki Esteem, the sun at my back, the Albert Reingardt Gymnasium looming in front of me. They appear to call it The Pyramid. I can't imagine why, unless it has something to do with the fact it's shaped like a pyramid. The outer shell appears to be aluminum or some such material. The surface is grooved. It must be quite a sight in a rainstorm. It is also just a little darker than sky blue, but still blends in nicely with the heavens above.

It is also sealed up so tight you'd think there were mummified pharoahs inside. I could see inside, and, yes, they appear to be ready for a volleyball match. But, as of this point, there are no tickets to be had, nor any being sold.

[a bad sketch of The Pyramid]

I have just purchased my third local newspaper. I have low expectations for extensive game reportage/features. The first two did not even list the event.

This state charges you to park everywhere you go.

Hold everything! First the Press Telegram actually has an article, including a note about "former St. Anthony standout" Tera Fiamengo. And maybe it is just "The Pyramid." It says "The Albert Reingardt Entrance" over the door here on the west (?) side. Maybe it's just the entrance that bears Al's name. If not, we'll have to research into Al's fascination with or connection to blue pyramids.

No sign of the vaunted Misty May or her 49er cronies. At the beach, no doubt.

I see movement inside. Perhaps the 4 hour pre-game extravaganza is about to begin. Perhaps not. I'm moving to the steps.

There. Sitting on The Pyramid steps, the sun sliding down behind the parking ramp to my left. "Hey, I've been here since Thursday" will be my response to any potentially embarrassing encounters with people who know me, who might be, and probably will be thinking "that doofus's camped out on the stairs 4 hours before game time." I'm thinking maybe I can tell Misty the game's been moved to San Clemente. The Nixon Compound.

The lot is filling up, but not with VB fans methinks. There does seem to be traffic to and from the ticket office, but I don't believe tickets are being sold. I suppose they could be 49ers, but they're pretty damned short.

Who knows where the pasty-faced legion is. [There is a charter group of Minnesota fans on their way.] Probably Disneyland or some such thing. Not everyone sees the thrill in travelling half-way across the country to sit on these steps.

Let's go check out the plaques by Al's entrance, shall we? Ah, just the wall of "Pyramid Capital Campaign" fame. Nothing on Al. There are people inside, however. Preparations are being made.

Dang! It's getting pretty darned cool with the sun down and all. I'm switching from sandals to shoes.

Back at the Esteem, the vigil continues. (Is it just me or has no one else ever heard of a Suzuki "Esteem" either? And isn't that a lousy name for a subcompact?) The parking ramp casts its shadow high against The Pyramid. A single gull flies over the point. No one appears to be bothering with the self-service parking permit dispenser.

We seem to be directly below the approach path for the Long Beach Municipal Airport. No doubt The Pyramid provides a handy point-of-reference.

5:45pm

The team arrives. I am either invisible or just inconsequential. No one even notices me. I am not surprised. I will not need any of my "ad libs."

Long Beach has been straggling in, including a hobbling player who I think was Ms. May. Drives up in a convertible and parks next to the Esteem. Another player thinks she has "left her kneepads." She has not.

Darkness has swallowed The Pyramid. Late arrivals will miss its full effect.

I have now stepped up the 6 flights to the top of the ramp three times. I think that's enough.

[That's it for the pre-match comments. Almost 15 years ago. The Gophs lose 10-15, 13-15, 6-15. Katrien DeDecker's last match (among others).]

12/8/1996 10am (near Orange County Airport)

I've pulled into a deserted parking lot near the airport. There's a lot of vegetation, birds are chirping, squawking, trilling. The sun is shining (it's warmer today). All in all, it's swell.

I feel like I'm dealing with a break-up.

It dawned on me late last night or maybe this AM that I'm probably depressed because the season is over. That usually happens. I, in my one-sided sports fan way, have grown incredibly close to them over the last 4 months, not to mention, for many of them, the last 4 years. And now they will not be a part of my life. It's sad.

But here in my parking lot, sitting on top of my Esteem, things seem a little better. God, I love the sun. And warmth. I'm living in the wrong state. Like I said, one of Life's unattainable desires. Not that it has to be. But for me ...

Somebody else is now in my parking lot. Time to move on.

[For Gorf and Vagabond -- and Mike. And my oldest daughter, born January 15, 1997.]

Friday Night! It's time for some Big Ten Volleyball!

Or not, as the case may be.

Inspired by Coach Cook -- more boons

John Cook has recently become an even more vocal proponent of a spring volleyball season for college women. This, he claims, will be a "boon" for the promotion of the sport, since it will no longer have to compete with football, the World Series and Oktoberfest.

I have been inspired by the "proactive thinker" of Lincoln to come up with some of my own ideas to promote volleyball.

*Renaming the sport "foootball." Sure, it'll cause some confusion, probably some anger, possibly even some lawsuits (pretty sure the extra "o" will give us some indemnity). But some of those duped fans might stick around, right?

*Adding an 8th day of the week, tentatively known as (R)uffda!day, dedicated solely to the sport of volleyball. There may also be ice cream and cake involved.

*Combining volleyball with the Powerball lottery. Tickets are still $1, but they come with mandatory attendance at a volleyball match of your choice. What's in it for the Powerball people, you ask? That's funny. That's what they're asking, too.

*Introducing an element of danger to the sport. Making it, for want of a better word, an Xtreme Xport. An exploding ball is one thought. A barbed wire net is another.

*Requiring the athletes to wear spandex shorts. Oh. Wait. Never mind.

*Moving football, the World Series and Oktoberfest to the spring -- perhaps renaming the latter "Maifest." As long as there's beer, who's going to care?

*Encouraging fighting. As hockey tries to weed it out of their sport, it behooves us to nurture its growth in ours. Somebody's going all Ogonna Nnamani on your team? Time to sub in Beatrice "The Beast" Rudzinki to "even things out."

USA wins Bronze at Pan Am games

Redemption of sorts for the coaching duo of Manischewitz and Sherbet.

The week in review

The latest poll will be out shortly. The only movement in the top ten figures to be with Udub. Where will they be placed? 5? 6? 7?

This is my top ten, again, and this time it's my current top ten. This list and a dollar will get you a McDouble, but here it is anyhow.

#1 Illinois -- wins at home over the Michigans (in 5 with MSU) take the nation's last undefeated team to 19-0. And now they play the red hot Huskers in Lincoln on Wednesday for the undisputed Big 10 lead.

#2 USC -- I've moved the Trojans above the Golden Bears due to the fact they are on top of the Pac 12. It does appear, however, that this conference title is up for grabs.

#3 Cal -- nice win over Washington, in a very close match, albeit 3-1.

#4 Nebraska -- I was tempted to move them as high as #1, but the Illini's win at PSU is hard to ignore. #4 is probably too low, however. But, you know me, I'm a Pac 12 shill.

#5 Hawaii -- I'm catching grief for this ranking, from people I respect. I have dropped the Wahine from #3 to here over the past two weeks and I could see them sliding a couple of more spots with some impressive wins from teams below them, but I do believe this team is underranked.

#6 UCLA -- this team, for instance, having beaten UH on the island, could move up. But there are still those losses to UA and Pep to consider. Tough one. The Bruins, like the Trojans, beat Oregon 3-1 and OSU 3-0 this past week, in LA.

#7 Stanford -- impressive win over UW (3-0). The Cardinal may be hitting its stride -- or whatever a color hits when its going well. Its maximum hue?

#8 Penn State -- knock them all you want, but they just went to West Lafayette and dispatched a good Purdue club in 4. I was impressed -- and that Big 10 title is still not out of their reach.

#9 Florida -- the Gators move back into the Top Ten, as Purdue falls to #11. For me.

#10 Washington -- Huskies proved something by playing Cal tough, then proved something else by being swept by the Cardinal. Still a mystery team. And by "mystery team," I mean they could be better than #10. Ross with a very good weekend (against Cal especially); Vansant struggled.

On the old cusp? #11 Purdue, #12 UNI, #13 Texas, #14 ISU, #15 Minnesota. I see a drop from #16 on down -- waiting for one or two of those teams to shift into a higher gear, or whatever it is a Wave, Sooner, Duck, Seminole, Flyer, Volunteer, etc. shifts into. A maximum hue?

What's the AVCA say?

1. Illinois
2. California
3. Southern California
4. Nebraska
5. Stanford
6. UCLA
7. Washington
8. Hawai'i
9. Penn State
10. Texas

Washington falls from 2 to 7. Hmmmm.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the 5-game Loss

Just kidding.

I hate it. Always have. Always will.

That is all.

Why the different colored jersey?

I was sitting next to someone the other day who asked me this FAQ. I am a casual fan-friendly sort of guy, so I gave her my usual spiel about the designated backrow defensive specialist, compared the position to a designated hitter, told her to watch the "substitution" pattern as one middle hitter came in and another came off, etc. etc. etc.

But it dawned on me that I had missed a real opportunity to mess with someone's mind, an occasion one should not cruise past blithely.

I have come up with three, better, answers. For future use. Let me know which one you prefer.

1) "Oh, her. She's a real head case. Coach is at her wit's end, but the kid just refuses to wear any other color."

2) "What are you talking about? They all have the same colored jerseys on." Continue with this no matter how insistent the spectator becomes.

3) "She's on the other team. She gets to play on the other side of the court and try to screw them up. Just watch. She's really, really good at it."

Ask the Dead Dog

Back by popular demand! A figure of speech, I admit. Perhaps even a lie, seeing as how there has been no demand whatsoever, other than from the dead dog himself. But without further doggie ado ...

As we sit here waiting for Friday afternoon to pass so the Friday night matches can commence, we initially thought it might be a good opportunity to reach into the old mail bag and answer some of the numerous letters we have been collecting from neighborhood mailboxes. However, Luke -- the titular dead dog, for those who have forgotten -- reminded me that this is, in fact, a felony; so we are moving on to plan B: Luke answering questions that he is asking himself.

Why would we do this, you ask? Great! There's question #1!

LUKE: That's a lousy question. Let me ask a better one.

LUKE ASKING A BETTER QUESTION: Where have you been, Luke? And how's that novel coming along?

No, we will not be asking, or answering, questions like that. They must be volleyball-related. It's a simple rule. Follow it, please.

LUKE ASKING A DIFFERENT QUESTION: First of all, it's great to have you back.

LUKE: Thanks. It's great to be back, even if I am still dead.

LUKE, CONTINUING WITH THE BETTER QUESTION: Will anyone ever write "the great American volleyball novel"?

LUKE: Excellent question. It so happens I have spent the last two years in Denmark attempting to do just that. I am proud to say it is coming along nicely. It's set in Denmark and involves a dead dog writing a novel ...

Stop it! Volleyball! Now!

LUKE, ASKING A VOLLEYBALL QUESTION: What is the proper height for a net? I don't really care, but (R)uffda!'s being an ass.

LUKE: Depends on how you define "proper," "height," and "net." Also depends on the culture. In Denmark, for instance, "What is the proper height for a net?" is considered one of the most obscene things anyone could possibly ask a Danish pastry shop owner.

That is not true.

LUKE: Oh, so suddenly you're the Danish pastry shop obscenity expert? Have you even been to Copenhagen? Do you even know what a Kopenhangener Gebäck is?

LUKE, ASKING ANOTHER VOLLEYBALL QUESTION: Did you see those pants Rob Patrick was wearing the other night?

LUKE: I did. How many points do you think that cost his team?

LUKE, PUZZLED THAT LUKE IS ASKING HIM A QUESTION: You're asking me?

LUKE: Yes.

LUKE, NOW VERY PUZZLED: I'm very puzzled.

LUKE: I see that. It says "Luke, now very puzzled."

Will you please stop this?! Answer your own question. One of you!

LUKE: I have to think it was worth at least three points a game to Kentucky. Young women are very style-conscious. That sort of thing has to mess with their minds. Plus they were pretty hypnotic. Hard to follow the ball when you're staring at Rob's pants.

LUKE, COMMENTING ON LUKE'S COMMENT: That's something I've heard many coaches say.

LUKE: How do you think this rally score experiment is going?

LUKE, NOW THE LUKE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS IT SEEMS: I can tell you what they think in Denmark.

LUKE: What's that?

LUKE, ACTUALLY STOOPING TO STEALING FROM AIRPLANE: It's a small country in Europe, known for pastries and odd obscenities.

You two do realize you have destroyed my blog, just when the readership was starting to grow, right?

LUKE: Your readers are abnormally short? Are they children or just growth-impaired? Or do you mean your readers are mostly DSs?

LUKE, ANSWERING FOR (R)UFFDA!: What they lack in height, they make up for in a distinct lack of mental acuity.

Hey! You can't say that!

LUKE: One last question before we go play fetch or whatever it is that dead dogs are supposed to do.

LUKE, WITH THE LAST QUESTION: Do you think he'll ever let us do Ask the Dead Dog again?

LUKE: Who died and left him in charge? I mean, besides me?

10 things VB commentators should never say

"This fifth game will come down to who wants it less."

"There's something special about wearing [name of school]'s spandex."

"He's forgotten more about volleyball than he actually ever learned."

"That libero couldn't dig her own grave if you put a gun to her head."

"She has a cannon for an arm and, let me tell you, it makes meal times damned awkward."

"She doesn't play like a sophomore. She plays like a 3rd grader."

"These teams do not like each other. Something about some guy named Chad."

"She has some serious hops, but I hear she had some serious trots last week."

"Don't let their record fool you. They easily could have lost all 25 matches."

"Say, Susie. Why does that player have the wrong colored jersey on?"

Middle Tennessee wins 7th straight

I would have missed this one. Good thing the PtW contest starts tomorrow. Pablo missed it, too.

Middle Tennessee beats Marquette 25-22, 25-19, 26-24.

Tidbits:

Marquette is 5-0 in the Big East and had beaten MTS, at home, earlier this year.

Middle Tennessee, at one point 2-9, has now won 7 straight to even their record. Their last loss, in their Sun Belt opener to Arkansas State, was 18-20 in the 5th. They have lost one GAME since then, in their upset of Western KY.

That's all I've got for 10/11.

Random VolleyTalk posts

Why me, God? Why the hell not you?

"Mine is a tuba. Yours is a kazoo."

"Shoulda, coulda, they lost."

"Blaming others for your poor choices or be a man and take responsibility? Tough choice for you, apparently."

"AA, really?"

"Option #2."

"NCAA sponsored 4-square.... heck yeah!!"

"If people would sing it like the drinking song the tune is from instead of like a funeral dirge it would improve tremendously."

"There's a guy who does announcing at local HS contests named Olaf Pollard."

"I have the hopeless feeling I get when I write my Congressman or Senator, but I always feel it's worth a try."

"The best way to not make errors at the wrong time is to not make errors."

"chicken? it's the same bet."

"He's aging a lot this season."

And the (random) winner:

"Really? equating coconuts to practicing zoophilia?"

The weekend in review

It's almost over. Cal is down 0-1 to the Beavers, so there could still be one more upset in the works, but let's review (rankings are mine, sorry*):

#1 Illinois wins its second huge Big Ten road match of the year, again in 5, this time over the Lions (the other was over the Gophers), firmly establishing themselves (for another week) as the #1 team in the land. Woo-hoo.

#2 UCLA gets scorched in the desert, dropping their own 5th game to the Cats. Adjustment to ranking needed.

#3 Hawaii only had the one match and they trounced San Hoser State. It may be time to drop them a spot, nonetheless, what with the Bruins' troubles and all.

#4 Cal is playing, but they swept Oregon on Friday, a good week so far.

#5 Nebraska popped the under-ranked Boils in Lincoln. Huskers seem to be shucking at a high level of late.

#6 Stanford beat the Oregons. For me, the Cardinal are overachieving this year -- and you won't hear me say that very often so please make a note of it.

#7 Penn State continues to struggle, in a Top Ten Struggle sort of way. People seem to think this team will improve a lot by the second half. I look at their schedule and wonder if that will be enough. Could this actually be a year where the Lions don't challenge for a conference title?

#8 USC had a couple of good wins in Arizona. I think the Trojans are ready to be moved up toward the top of the rankings again.

#9 Purdue lost that match to Nebraska, but there's no embarrassment there. Challenges ahead, however.

#10 Washington remains an enigma. Could be top five. Could be in the 15-20 range. Stanford and Cal this week, right? That'll tell us something. Maybe.

Outside the top 10? #11 Florida, #12 UNI and #13 Texas probably stay put. #14 Michigan may have to give way to the Gophers and then some, after losing to Wisconsin. The others probably stay put: #15 Oklahoma, #16 Oregon, #17 Iowa State, #19 Florida State and #20 Tennessee -- with Pepperdine, San Diego and Dayton knocking on the door.

Good week for the ACC, in an odd way. UNC establishes itself as a top 30 team and North Carolina State keeps pushing good teams to the limit.

Ciao for now.

*And by "sorry" I mean sorry if you don't accept them as quality rankings, not sorry that I am using them.

Are You Ready for Some Volleyball!?

Go away, Hank. We're barely ready to rumble anymore.

In other news, I'm calling this weekend's upset. I'll let you know if I was right.

Featured VT thread of the week is "Reasons to carry a grudge." I haven't read it yet, but it sounds promising, especially since I have started leaving my grudge at home lately.

It Could Be Worse

http://www.dignittanyvolleyball.com/2011/10/05/ruffdas-wayback-machine-theres-always-a-silver-lining/