Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Rule Changes for 2008 Season
8/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 1, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee and the Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved numerous rule changes this winter in an effort to positively impact collegiate women's volleyball beginning in the 2008 season.
The biggest reasons for the change were to shorten the matches and try to bring collegiate volleyball up to speed with the international game.
What Fresno State volleyball fans used to know as a "game" is now being referred to as a "set." Each set used to be played to 30 points and will now be played to just 25 with the winner still needing to win by two. The fifth and deciding set if need will still be played to 15 points.
"A set to 25 points gives an advantage to an underdog team to pull an upset," said head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell. "In 30 point sets, eventually the bigger, stronger and faster team wears out the opponent. It will be an interesting time of adjustment from the players' mental standpoint out of the gates, and the coaches strategy with timeouts and substitutions. You wouldn't believe the strategy that goes behind what seems like a slight change."
The number of substitutions has also been reduced from 15 a set to 12.
"It will put much more pressure on teams to come out of the gate strong and with fewer substitutions and coaches will have a lot of timing and statistical issues to figure out."
Another controversial rule has been ball handling errors. This rule has been addressed by the rules committee and fans at this years matches will notice a leniency from the referees.
The ball handling directive, which primarily affects second team contacts, is intended to increase intensity and focus for the players and coaches and improve fan understanding and involvement.
The belief of the NCAA is that with the increase of athleticism in women's athletics, that athleticism should be highlighted. They also wanted to emphasize continuation of play and consistency in ball handling judgment.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - New Head Coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell and the Bulldog Volleyball team open the 2008 season on Friday, August 29th at 7 p.m. as they host Cal State Bakersfield in the Fresno State Tournament at the Save Mart Center. Be sure to purchase your Family and Friends Flex Pack which includes 48 general admission tickets (4 for each home game) to be used as you please for $89 by logging on to www.gobulldogs.com and visiting the tickets page, calling the Bulldog Ticket Office at (559) 278-DOGS, or stopping by the Bulldog Ticket Office.
