Not what the rule says.
Rule 2-2: Batting is intentionally slapping or striking the ball with the arm or hand.
I've always thought about batting as in hitting the ball like a punch or baseball bat. I don't follow that slapping or striking is the same as pushing the ball along or catching it in mid-air and throwing it back.
I guess batting could be interpreted as other things, but I've never thought it was.
That is correct, but what I am getting at is more the spirit of the rules. There is nothing in the rulebook about catching and throwing a forward pass, for example, but I have seen a similar play on a forward pass interpreted as legal and it remains a forward pass. I thought it was because any eligible receiver can bat a forward pass in any direction. Even though the catch/throw is not mentioned in the rules.
For example, consider the following play:
A forward pass and briefly possessed by an eligible airborne A81, who, realizing he will land out of bounds, throws the ball forward into the field of play, where it is caught by eligible A80 who is in bounds when he catches it.
I don't have the case play and interpretation in front of me, but I remember it was legal. I also think we refs have some discretion on issues not specifically mentioned in the rules. So, since volleyball setting a punt into your own endzone while airborne as described here is not a fumble, muff, or technically a bat, we have to use discretion.
I would then go with fair/unfair advantage considerations. It doesn't pass the fairness smell test that team R players can force a touchback by intentionally not possessing the kick. So, I would rule it illegal.
And, it is easier to "sell" as an illegal batting call since we have a penalty enforcement already in the book for that one.
Anyway, it is only my opinion. I only have 1 year as a varsity HS official under my belt, so I'm sure there are more experienced people out there who can chime in on how to utilize ref discretion in this case.