playing a ball off the net cord

Question
Yesterday in a league match, my team had a pass that skimmed off the top of the net, starting about where an antenna would be (the courts have no antennas though) and skimming the top of the net cord for about half a foot before coming back onto our side.  The actual net ends where the antenna would be, and is just the cord for a few feet connecting it to the pole.  So the ball originally contacted the top of the net right about where the net ended, and continued skimming partly on top and partly on our side of the cord.  Our setter was able to play the ball and we got it over.  However, the ref said it was illegal.  Was she right?  I know it can't hit an antenna, but I also am under the impression that when there is no antenna, it has to be clearly obvious that it WOULD have hit or gone outside the antenna for it to be called.  And it was impossible to really say if the ball was on top of the net, meaning it WOULD have hit the antenna or slightly below the top, meaning it would not.  And it can't be that the ball was outside the antenna since players are allowed to retrieve first hits that are go outside the antenna and bring them back, even going on the other side of the net to do so.  So what was the correct call in that situation?

Answer
Thank you for sending your question to allexpert.com!

You have an interesting question!

First, I've never seen 6's played w/o antennas.....that includes even at the YMCA. Play 6's w/o antennas is like playing 6's w/o a net.  No high school, junior, college, etc. match can even begin w/o them.  So, saying, "that it would have hit or gone outside" should not be something the ref should even have to consider.

Now, let's assume that antennas weren't mandatory.  Then there's nothing wrong with what happened.

Next, let's assume there are pretend antennas, which I believe you want me to consider. Then if the ball contacts ANY portion of the net or cable outside the antenna, the play is dead.  If I were the ref, the play would have been over by the time your setter touched the ball.  Your contention that "players are allowed to retrieve first hits that go outside the antenna" isn't correct.  There is no vball rulebook that I know of where balls that hit the net/cable/standard outside the antenna are still in play.  

But, yes, there is a Pursuit Rule in some vball.  In some 6's, if an errant 1st contact goes across the net, outside the antennas, then it is legal for a teammate to pass the ball back to his teammates (again, outside the antennas), and a teammate makes a legal third hit.  

Thank you for the email. Please visit me at www.coachhouser.com!  I'm in the middle of my 3rd camp, and have 4 more to go this summer!  They're so much fun!  I can't wait!!  We're in Pennsylvania next week.  

Tom