Women's volleyball to use rally scoring

Advertiser Staff

The NCAA has adopted a 30-point rally scoring system for women's volleyball beginning this fall, according to people familiar with the situation.

An official announcement from the NCAA could come as soon as today, but is likely expected next week.

Brenda Weare, chairman of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee, said the change was approved by the Championship Cabinet, the final step in the year-long process. Lisa Vad, senior women's administrator for the Western Athletic Conference, said the change was immediate.

Under the terms of the new best-of-five games scoring system, there will no longer be sideouts and games will be played to 30 points with a team required to win by at least two points. If necessary, a fifth game would be played to 15 points.

Heretofore, only the fifth game was played in a rally scoring format.

The move brings women's volleyball into line with NCAA men's volleyball, which adopted the change before the start of this past season, as well as international and club competition. The national High School Federation has not yet adopted it.

"I'm OK with it," said Dave Shoji, University of Hawai'i Wahine volleyball coach. "I thought it was an inevitability we would wind up with rally scoring. It doesn't mean I like it, but I pretty much understand where they are coming from."

Shoji said, "I don't think it favors one team or penalizes one. We'll all be playing by the same rules."

The Wahine open their season Aug. 25-26 in the NACWAA State Farm Classic at Stockton, Calif.

Meanwhile, the NCAA did not adopt the libero, a defensive specialist who can replace a back row player but is prohibited from attacking, blocking or serving. It is up for reconsideration in the fall when the NCAA convenes a new women's volleyball rules panel.