Alan Hirayama, (right) was inducted into the SAVRA Hall of Fame by the Board of Directors, represented here by 2017 inductee Dale Goodwin.
Alan Hirayama, a 33-year veteran volleyball referee, became the 11th inductee into the SAVRA Hall of Fame at the association’s annual awards banquet in November 2024. Hirayama has served as president, trainer, assistant assigner and assigner during his ongoing career, working high school and Division I college matches for the Pac-12, West Coast and Big Sky conferences.
Heather Darrough was honored as Official of the Year, working the championship match in the State 4A Tournament. Dale Goodwin was honored as Partner of the Year, working the first round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Other award winners were: Hirayama, Contributor of the Year; Brad Veile, Most Improved; Will Hyatt, Line Judge of the Year; and Christina Craft, Best Third-Year Official; Amy Higgins, Best Second-Year Official; and Kaman Curtis, Best First-Year Official.
Working Washington high school state tournaments this post-season were Heather Darrough and Alex Sandoval (4A/3A); CherryAnn Coballes (1A/2A); and Keith Ward and Devin Darrough (2B/1B).
Working as referees in the first round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament were Goodwin, Brent Radford, Jamie Gleason and Shawn Ottosen, and line judges Hyatt and Kyle Gleason.
Officers, board members and advisers for 2025 are Devin Darrough, president; Veronica Douglas, vice president; Alex Sandoval, secretary; Brent Radford, past president; members at large Coballes, Ward, Jon Kolp and Mark Cullen; Phil Robinson, treasurer; Hirayama, assigner; Heather Darrough, assistant assigner; Barb Twohig, training coordinator.
2024 Official of the Year Heather Darrough, center, with outgoing SAVRA president Brent Radford and 2025 president Devin Darrough
Partner of the Year Dale Goodwin (center)
Contributor of the Year Alan Hirayama (center)
Awarded best first-year official was Kaman Curtis (center)
Awarded best second-year official was Amy Higgins (Center)
Earning State Ratings in 2024 were Pam Warnecke and Jon Kolp
2024 SAVRA Board of Directors and Advisers: L to R Alan Hirayama, Dale Goodwin, Phil Robinson, CherryAnn Coballes, Juli Jones, Heather Darrough, Devin Darrough, Alex Sandoval, Brent Radford and Barb Twohig.
EVENTS
Kudos
Kudos to the many officials who worked preseason matches and scrimmages at various Inland Northwest colleges and universities.
2024 Significant Rule-Change Reminders
-
All players may stand on their end lines for introductions
Line judges change sides of the court after each set when teams do not exchange sides; stay on one end if facility differences require teams to change sides
A team may immediately substitute for the libero replacement, who may be playing out of position, during an injury time out if the libero is injured or ill and cannot continue.
More leniency should be exercised by the R1 when a player makes a challenging or spectacular play (set) while maintaining legal play.
-
Failure by host administration to maintain proper spectator conduct could result in an administrative yellow or red card to the team at fault.
Small, snug-fitting jewelry such as studs, posts, nose rings and ear cuffs are allowed. No jewelry is allowed below the chin.
Headbands, sweatbands and bandanas that wrap around the head must be a solid color. No hats are allowed.
Up to two liberos may be designated in each set, and both player numbers recorded on the scoresheet.
Successive contacts with various parts of a player’s body in a single attempt to play the ball is now legal on the second contact if the ball is next contacted by a teammate.
All protests are to be resolved at the time of the protest.
Coaches may challenge player interference at the net (blocker touching a setter’s hands prior to or during the set).
If incorrect information provided by officials regarding substitutions, timeouts, challenges used or lineup checks leads immediately to a related fault, it is a correctable error.
