NFHS rules writing committees consist of experts in the given sport.  Each committee member is nominated by state associations, as is the chairperson, who guides the members through their work.  Each of the NFHS’s eight sections are represented on the given rules committee.  To allow for equal representation, there is also a member of the NFHS Coaches Association and the NFHS Officials Association on each rules committee.  Each committee member serves a four-year term.

The NFHS is pleased to welcome three new members of the Volleyball Rules Committee: Donna Plumb, Ellen Townsend and Cathy Viets.

Donna Plumb, Section 1, is in her 18th year with the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA). Plumb started as a sports secretary before being promoted to office manager, and then most recently to her current position as Assistant Director of Operations, which she’s held for the past six years. Her responsibilities include oversight of multiple committees, bowling, field hockey, ice hockey, girls lacrosse, softball, volleyball and officiating. Plumb has been an active volleyball official with the New Hampshire Volleyball Officials Association (NHVOA) since 2003, working both high school and NCAA events. Plumb began playing volleyball in her junior year in high school and has remained active in a competitive coed league since exiting high school. 

Ellen Townsend, Section 7, has significant experience as a high school volleyball referee having officiated the sport for the past 43 years.  Townsend is the state of Nevada rules interpreter, a position she has held since 1987, Commissioner of Volleyball for Northern Nevada, and a PAVO State Referee.  Townsend assists the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) with the officials’ on-line registration system and conducts training and rules clinics in northern, central, and eastern Nevada.  She oversees the assigning of officials in northern Nevada as well as the NIAA girls volleyball state championships.  Townsend teaches social studies and coaches boys and girls basketball at Kendyl Depoali Middle School in Reno, Nevada.

Cathy Viets, NFHS Officials Association, has been a classroom educator for the past 26 years, in addition to a volleyball, basketball, softball and track and field coach.  She is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou) and played volleyball from the age of 10 through college.  Viets is an active volleyball official with over 42 years of experience.  She has also served, for 28 years, as the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) volleyball rules interpreter and has 17 years of experiences as the coordinator of Officials at the MSHSAA State Volleyball Tournament.  Viets has also served as the MSHSAA Officials Observer for the past 11 years and was a recipient of the MSHSAA Distinguished Service award in 2010. 

The new members take over for Jack Hardy (Section 1), Beverly Nielsen (Section 7) and Karen McNaught (NFHS Officials Association).  Each of the outgoing committee members served the membership well.

The 2019 Volleyball Rules Committee Meeting will take place January 6-8 in Indianapolis, IN.