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Two Carney-Nadeau volleyball players block a kill attempt by Leland during the 2018 MHSAA Semifinals.

Be the Referee: Minimum Number of Volleyball Players

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management

September 29, 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 – Minimum Number of Volleyball Players - Listen

We’re on the volleyball court today, where the home team starts the match with only six players.

Midway through the first set, one of those six players suffers an ankle injury and can’t continue – leaving the home team with just five players.

What should happen?

Is the home team forced to default the match for not having enough players?

Does the home team just continue playing with five?

Or do they continue playing with five, but with the loss of rally or point every time the player lost to injury’s position rotates to serve?

If you said they can continue playing but lose a rally or point every time the injured player’s position rotates to serve, you are correct!

A minimum of six is needed to start – but you can finish a match with fewer than that.

Previous 2026-27 editions

Sept 22: Soccer Changes - Listen
Sept: 15: Dead Ball Penalty - Listen
Sept. 8: Libero Ejected - Listen
Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen

Comets including Lola Stecker (7) and Jovie Cochran (8) celebrate Thursday’s Division 3 Semifinal win at Kellogg Arena.

Story in Photos: 2023 Volleyball Division 2 & 3 Semifinals

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 16, 2023

BATTLE CREEK – Championship matches are set in Divisions 2 and 3 after Thursday’s MHSAA Volleyball Semifinals at Kellogg Arena, with a reigning champion set to continue a repeat pursuit and the other three finalists all earning an opportunity to play for a first Finals title on the volleyball court.

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

2:30 p.m. – Division 2 – Grand Rapids West Catholic (38-9-6) vs. North Branch (55-4-1)
4:30 p.m. – Division 3 – Kalamazoo Christian (42-6-3) vs. Traverse City St. Francis (38-9-1)

North Branch is the reigning champion in Division 2 and will be playing in the title match for the third-straight season. The Broncos will face West Catholic, a first-time finalist. In Division 3, Kalamazoo Christian will return to the Final after finishing runner-up a year ago, and both the Comets and St. Francis are seeking a first championship with the Gladiators also a past runner-up.

Division 1 and 4 Semifinals will be played Friday. Click here for more.

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

Grand Rapids Christian’s Grace Goodyke smashes a kill attempt into a block of Clara Gyoromy (14) and Maci Kaake (17).

Grand Rapids Christian’s Grace Goodyke smashes a kill attempt into a block of Clara Gyoromy (14) and Maci Kaake (17). Goodyke had 16 kills for the No. 2 Eagles (35-13-1), but top-ranked North Branch prevailed 25-16, 25-16, 25-17 in a Division 2 Semifinal.

The Broncos’ Hailey Green (4) connects from her libero position; she finished with 12 digs for North Branch (55-4-1).

The Broncos’ Hailey Green (4) connects from her libero position; she finished with 12 digs for North Branch (55-4-1).

Grand Rapids West Catholic Ella Bernreuter (13) connects on a kill attempt during a 25-16, 25-13, 25-19 win in Division 2, with Milan’s Lauryn Parris (4) and Malea Wourman (8) blocking. Bernreuter finished with six kills for the Falcons (38-9-6).

Grand Rapids West Catholic Ella Bernreuter (13) connects on a kill attempt during a 25-16, 25-13, 25-19 win in Division 2, with Milan’s Lauryn Parris (4) and Malea Wourman (8) blocking. Bernreuter finished with six kills for the Falcons (38-9-6).

West Catholic’s Mia Henne attempts to tip the ball over the net with Mariah Stines (16) on the block for Milan (27-9-2).

West Catholic’s Mia Henne attempts to tip the ball over the net with Mariah Stines (16) on the block for Milan (27-9-2).

Traverse City St. Francis’ Tessah Konas (10) sets for an oncoming teammate during the Gladiators’ 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 Division 3 Semifinal win. Konas and Reese Jones both had 22 assists to lead St. Francis. 

Traverse City St. Francis’ Tessah Konas (10) sets for an oncoming teammate during the Gladiators’ 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 Division 3 Semifinal win. Konas and Reese Jones both had 22 assists to lead St. Francis. 

Cass City’s Josie Spencer contends for a ball at the net; she finished with 10 kills and 11 digs. The No. 10 Red Hawks finished 34-7-5 while No. 5 St. Francis advanced at 38-9-1.

Cass City’s Josie Spencer contends for a ball at the net; she finished with 10 kills and 11 digs. The No. 10 Red Hawks finished 34-7-5 while No. 5 St. Francis advanced at 38-9-1.

Kalamazoo Christian’s Makenna Ekkens (13) takes a big swing at the net during the No. 4 Comets’ 25-15, 25-10, 25-17 win over top-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.

Kalamazoo Christian’s Makenna Ekkens (13) takes a big swing at the net during the No. 4 Comets’ 25-15, 25-10, 25-17 win over top-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central. She finished with nine kills and 12 digs as K-Christian (42-6-3) ended the Kestrels’ season at 33-9-1.

TOP PHOTO Comets including Lola Stecker (7) and Jovie Cochran (8) celebrate Thursday’s Division 3 Semifinal win at Kellogg Arena.