Be the Referee: Libero Ejected

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management

September 8, 2026

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Libero Ejected - Listen

We’re on the volleyball court today, where the home team only had one libero listed.

In the middle of the first set, that libero is disqualified for making vulgar comments to the first referee.

Can the home team now designate a new libero? Or do they play without a libero for the rest of the match? Or for just the rest of that set before picking a new libero?

If you said they must play the rest of the set without a libero and then can designate a new one before the start of the second set, you are correct.

Remember, a libero is a back-row defensive specialist who focuses on passing and digging. They can’t attack the ball above the net or play on the front row – but can substitute in and out freely for back-row players without counting against official substitution limits.

Previous 2026-27 editions

Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: 
Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen

Story in Photos: 2022 Volleyball Division 1 & 4 Semifinals

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 17, 2022

BATTLE CREEK – Two of this season’s four MHSAA volleyball championship pairings were decided during Thursday’s Semifinals, with a pair of first-time finalists set to play for the Division 4 title and the remaining Division 1 contenders meeting for the second edition of one of this regular season’s most notable matches.

Saturday’s first two Finals will see the following face off at Kellogg Arena:

10 a.m. – Division 4 – Athens (34-12-3) vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (43-7-6)
Noon – Division 1 – Bloomfield Hills Marian (48-1) vs. Northville (47-3)

Division 2 and 3 Semifinals will be played Friday. Click here for more.

Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured the following from Thursday’s Semifinals.

A pair of Northville players, right, put up a block during their 25-23, 21-25, 23-25, 25-13, 15-13 comeback Semifinal win over Saline, which finished 38-9-1.

Mustangs setter Ella Craggs sets up her hitters Thursday. She finished with 45 assists, while Saline setter Laney Burns had 54. Both totals qualify for the MHSAA record book.

Marian’s Ava Sarafa (2) sets as a pair of Mustangs hitters begin their moves toward the net during their team’s 25-23, 25-16, 25-19 sweep of Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, which finished 44-5-1. Sarafa totaled with 36 assists.

Marian’s Ava Sarafa (2) sets as a pair of Mustangs hitters begin their moves toward the net during their team’s 25-23, 25-16, 25-19 sweep of Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, which finished 44-5-1. Sarafa totaled with 36 assists.

Mustangs libero Lauren Heming (1) dives to keep the ball in play. She finished with six digs and eight aces as the back-to-back reigning champions advanced.

Kate Lipscomb (7) serves for Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart during its 25-11, 25-10, 25-22 sweep of Crystal Falls Forest Park on Thursday.

Kate Lipscomb (7) serves for Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart during its 25-11, 25-10, 25-22 sweep of Crystal Falls Forest Park on Thursday.

Sacred Heart’s Lillie Laney (9) and Sophie Hauck (2) put up a block on Forest Park’s Leah Feldhausen (15). Laney had a match-high 16 kills and Hauck led the team with 19 assists. Feldhausen had eight kills for the Trojans, who finished 16-5.

Sacred Heart’s Lillie Laney (9) and Sophie Hauck (2) put up a block on Forest Park’s Leah Feldhausen (15). Laney had a match-high 16 kills and Hauck led the team with 19 assists. Feldhausen had eight kills for the Trojans, who finished 16-5.

Athens’ Kamryn Parlin (4) and Alaina Brubaker (8) put up a block as Lansing Christian’s Anna Jackson (5) looks for an opening in the defense. Athens swept the Division 4 Semifinal 25-18, 25-20, 25-23.

Athens’ Kamryn Parlin (4) and Alaina Brubaker (8) put up a block as Lansing Christian’s Anna Jackson (5) looks for an opening in the defense. Athens swept the Division 4 Semifinal 25-18, 25-20, 25-23.

Lansing Christian’s Lydia Brogan (4) attempts to tip the ball over the net with Brubaker and Kylie Quist (1) defending. Quist led Athens with a match-high 11 kills, and Brubaker had a match-high 29 assists. The Pilgrims ended the season 30-12-1.

Lansing Christian’s Lydia Brogan (4) attempts to tip the ball over the net with Brubaker and Kylie Quist (1) defending. Quist led Athens with a match-high 11 kills, and Brubaker had a match-high 29 assists. The Pilgrims ended the season 30-12-1.

TOP PHOTO Athens players engulf each other after clinching their first trip to Finals day by sweeping Lansing Christian at Kellogg Arena.