February 20, 2024, the NCAA announced a rule change for womens’ college volleyball which updates two major factors of the game: firstly, two liberos can be designated for each set, and secondly, players can make a double contact with any part of the body on the second contact during a play. This statement also includes some smaller changes, such as allowing snug nose rings and ear cuffs, amongst other things. However, this change has brought forth a plethora of backlash online especially, primarily for the second part of the statement allowing second contact doubles to be legal. For people in the setter position who have worked on their technique for years to avoid doubles when setting, this rule is impactful  and is seen by many as throwing away years of hard work. After all, what is the point of training for your entire career to have good hands if the other team can now legally win off of doubles?

“I am rather upset with the change in game rules for volleyball because for many years, I have worked hard to improve my skills as a setter,” said junior EMU womens’ volleyball player Karla Hostettler.  “The change of rules lessens the technicality of the game, and can make each play more sloppy.”

   Many other volleyball players and fans alike agree that this change is a negative one; however, the NCAA womens’ volleyball committee seem to disagree. The committee initially proposed this rule on January 5, 2024, proposing to allow second contact doubles for the purpose of improving consistency and extending plays. Supposedly, this would make womens’ volleyball more entertaining for fans to watch. Lyndsey Oates, the chair of the NCAA womens’ volleyball committee, said, “We believe we won’t lose skill training because it is not significantly advantageous to the team that would have been called for double contact.”

       Currently, this rule change remains a controversial issue, as it completely changes the foundation of the setter position and could possibly change the outcome of future games. While it will extend plays that would otherwise be stopped, the rule change also affects how setters are trained and evens the playing field between setters with good technique and setters that have not received as much training.

“I am proud of my position,” said Hostetter. “And this rule change lessens the complexity and importance of my position.”