What is the purpose of the antenna in a volleyball match?

The antenna in a volleyball match serves the critical role of defining the outside boundaries of the court above the net. When a ball passes over the net, it must do so within the vertical plane created by the antennas; if the ball crosses outside of this plane, it is considered out of bounds. This is essential in maintaining the flow of play and ensuring that the match adheres to the defined court dimensions. The antennas help officials make clear and accurate calls regarding plays, ensuring fairness and maintaining the integrity of the game.

While working on serving and scoring points is crucial to the game, those aspects do not specifically involve the function of the antennas in the same way that boundary definition does. Additionally, the measurement of the net height is determined by other means, not by the antennas themselves.