Time for a short homily on Volleyball.
The first game of this illustrious sport was played on this date, July 7, in 1886 at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. However, volleyball was actually “invented,” if you can invent a sport, about 17 months earlier on February 9, 1885, at Holyoke, Massachusetts. William G. Morgan, a YMCA Physical Education director, was trying to develop a “less strenuous” alternative to the new sport of basketball which had been created on December 21, 1891, also in Springfield, Massachusetts. Originally the game was called “Mintonette” but the name was later changed to “Volleyball” because the players “volleyed” the ball back and forth. Some of the more significant moments in Men’s College Volleyball are shown below.
February 9, 1885. William G. Morgan invents Mintonette, which soon morphs into Volleyball, at a YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
July 7, 1886. The first game of Volleyball is played at Springfield College.
1900. The first ball made for Volleyball is manufactured by Spalding.
1922. The first national Volleyball championship is sponsored by the YMCA. The YMCA was instrumental and uniquely responsible for the growth of the game in the early years. Without the influence of the YMCA, Volleyball might not exist today.
1928. United States Volleyball Association (USVBA) was formed and later becomes United States of America Volleyball (USAV). Today, USAV is the governing body for Volleyball in the US.
1930. The Conference Carolinas (CCAR) Athletic Conference is formed, which becomes important to Men’s Volleyball in 2011.
1930. The first known two-person beach game is played. California, here we come.
1940. World War II actually helped spread the sport, as Volleyball was one of the main recreational formats for the military. For me, anyway, it’s comforting to know that a sliver of good came out of the horror of this war.
1960. The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) is formed.
1964. Volleyball becomes an Olympic sport.
1968. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) recognizes Volleyball as a sport.
1969. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) adds Volleyball as a sport.
1977. The Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) is formed.
1983. The Association of Volleyball Professionals is formed, and, in spite of some rocky roads and tough times, still exists today.
1984. The US Men’s Olympic Team wins the Gold while the US Women’s team wins the Silver.
1987. The Volleyball Hall of Fame opens in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
1988. The US Men’s Olympic Team repeats as the Gold medal winner.
1990. The World League is formed.
1992. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) is formed.
1994. Penn State becomes the first “non-California” team to win the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship, defeating UCLA.
1996. Beach Volleyball is added to the Olympics, and the US wins the first Gold medal with the team of Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes.
1998. The “Libero” is officially added to Volleyball.
1999. Rally scoring replaces the Sideout scoring method.
2011. CCAR, which formed in 1930, adds men’s Volleyball as a sport and becomes the fourth Men’s Volleyball Conference.
2012. The NCAA sponsors the first DIII Men’s Volleyball Championship which is appropriately won by Springfield College.
2012. After coaching Men’s Volleyball for nearly fifty years and winning 19 National Championships, Al Scates, the legendary UCLA coach, retires.
2014. In a stunning and unexpected decision, the NCAA expands the Men’s Volleyball National Championship (DI & DII) from four teams to six teams.
I’m sure I forgot some other important events in Men’s Volleyball. Let me know your thoughts, please. Just Keep the Faith and Enjoy Volleyball!
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