The first volleyball game was played on July 7, 1886, at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. But, 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 and recently created sport of basketball. Originally the sport of volleyball was called “mintonette” but the name was soon changed to “volleyball” because the players “volleyed” the ball back and forth. So here, on the eve of the Olympic competition, let’s review some of the more significant moments of volleyball history in the USA.
February 9, 1885. William G. Morgan creates 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.
- The first ball made for volleyball is manufactured by Spalding.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Conference Carolinas Athletic Conference is formed, which becomes important to men’s volleyball in 2011.
- The first known two-person beach volleyball game is played in California.
- World War II actually helped spread the sport, as volleyball was one of the main recreational formats for the military.
- The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) is formed.
- Volleyball becomes an Olympic sport. The Soviet Union won the inaugural Gold Medal in the men’s competition at the first Olympics that included volleyball, while the Japanese women’s team won the gold at the inaugural Olympic volleyball competition.
- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) formally recognizes volleyball as a sport.
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) adds volleyball as a sport.
- The Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) is formed.
- The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) is formed, and in spite of some rocky roads, still exists and is thriving today.
- Led by Karch Kiraly and Steve Timmons on the court, and coached by current CEO of USA Volleyball Doug Beal, the US Men’s Olympic Team wins the Olympic Gold Medal in Los Angeles while the US Women’s team wins the Silver Medal.
- The Volleyball Hall of Fame opens in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
- The US Men’s Olympic Team repeats as the Gold Medal winner in Seoul.
- The World League is formed, which today is widely acknowledged as the premiere men’s annual volleyball tournament in the world.
- The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) is formed.
- The Grand Prix is formed, which today is widely acknowledged as the premiere women’s annual volleyball tournament in the world.
- Penn State becomes the first “non-California” team to win the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship, defeating UCLA.
- Beach volleyball is added to the Olympics, and the US wins the first men’s Gold Medal with the team of Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes (USA) in Atlanta, Georgia.
- The “Libero” position is officially added to volleyball.
- “Rally” scoring replaces the “sideout” scoring method.
- Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana (USA) win the Olympic Gold Medal in men’s beach volleyball in Sydney, Australia.
- Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings (USA) win their first Olympic Gold Medal in women’s beach volleyball in London. England.
- The USA Men’s Volleyball Team wins the Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing, China.
- Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings (USA) win their second Olympic Gold Medal in women’s beach volleyball in Beijing, China.
- Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers win the Olympic Gold Medal in men’s beach volleyball in Beijing, China.
- The Conference Carolinas, which formed in 1930, adds men’s volleyball as a conference sport and becomes the fourth men’s volleyball conference, joining the EIVA, the MIVA, and the MPSF. Additionally, Conference Carolinas becomes the first regular conference to sponsor men’s volleyball as a full conference sport.
- The NCAA sponsors the first DIII Men’s Volleyball Championship which is, appropriately enough, won by Springfield College.
- After coaching men’s volleyball for nearly fifty years and winning 19 National Championships, Al Scates, the legendary UCLA coach, retires.
- Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings win an incredible third consecutive Olympic Gold Medal in women’s beach volleyball in London. England.
- The NCAA expands the Men’s Volleyball National Championship (DI & DII) from four teams to six teams.
- In a sudden and unexpected move, the Big West Conference, a regular DI conference, announces that it will sponsor men’s volleyball as a full conference sport, becoming the first NCAA DI conference to do so.
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