The complete set of rules is extensive, but play essentially proceeds as follows: a player on one of the teams begins a 'rally' by serving the ball (tossing or releasing it and then hitting it with a hand or arm), from behind the back boundary line of the court, over the net, and into the receiving team's court. The receiving team must not let the ball be grounded within their court. The team may touch the ball up to three times to return the ball to the other side of the court, but individual players may not touch the ball twice consecutively. Typically, the first two touches are used to set up for an attack. An attack is an attempt to direct the ball back over the net in such a way that the team receiving the ball is unable to pass the ball and continue the rally, thus, losing the point. The team that wins the rally is awarded a point and serves the ball to start the next rally. A few of the most common faults include: (Full article...)
The North European Men's Volleyball Club Championship (English. Nordic Club Championships, szw. Nordiska klubbmästerskapen) is a volleyball championship for clubs from the Nordic countries. It was established in 2007 and is organised by the North European Volleyball Zonal Association (NEVZA). Clubs from 8 NEVZA members competing every year in this competition, Teams from other neighbouring countries may be invited such as Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia. (Full article...)
The 2019 FIVB Women's World Cup was the 13th edition of the event, contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport's global governing body. The tournament was held from 14 to 29 September 2019 in Japan. This was the first time that the FIVB did not distribute Olympics places since 1991 due to Japan hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics, but points for the FIVB World Rankings were given.
China won their historic fifth title, following titles from 1981, 1985, 2003, and 2015. China surpassed Cuba's earlier record of four titles in the history of the competition. Defending their title as the reigning champions in 2015, China reigned to sweep all eleven matches in Yokohama, Sapporo and Osaka. USA and Russia complete the 2019 podium as silver medallists and bronze medallists respectively. (Full article...)
The qualification for the 2016 Men's Olympic Volleyball Tournament was held from 8 September 2015 to 5 June 2016. Twelve teams qualified, the hosts, the FIVB World Cup champions and runners-up, five continental Olympic qualification tournament champions and four teams from two World Olympic qualification tournaments. Teams already qualified for the event were not eligible to play in the following qualification tournaments. (Full article...)
The men's tournament in volleyball at the 1988 Summer Olympics was the 7th edition of the event at the Summer Olympics, organized by the world's governing body, the FIVB in conjunction with the IOC. It was held in Seoul, South Korea from 17 September to 2 October 1988. (Full article...)
The Women's European Volleyball Championship is the official competition for senior women's national volleyball teams of Europe, organized by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV). The initial gap between championships was variable, but since 1975 they have been awarded every two years. The current champion is Turkey, which won its first title at the 2023 tournament. (Full article...)
Image 18
The volleyball tournaments at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled to run from 27 July to 11 August 2024. 24 volleyball teams and 48 beach volleyball teams will participate in the tournament. Indoor volleyball competitions will occur at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles with the beach volleyball tournament staged at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Champ de Mars. This is the first time in the history of the Olympic volleyball competition, each team participating in the Games will be entitled to include one non-competing (AP) athlete to replace an athlete for medical reasons. As such, team rosters will increase from 12 to 13 athletes. (Full article...)
The championships were organized by the German Sports Volleyball Association of the GDR (Deutscher Sportverband Volleyball der DDR - DSVB ). Shortly after the unification of Germany in 1991, the volleyball federations of the GDR and FRG were also merged into a single German Volleyball Union. In the 1991/92 season, the first German unified championship was held . (Full article...)
... that voice actress Mako Morino played volleyball for 14 years, but gave up the goal of playing professionally after being assigned to the non-serving libero position?
... that before becoming a legislator, Bettina Petzold-Mähr played volleyball for Liechtenstein when they defeated Lichtenstein?
Ace : A serve which lands in the opponent's court without being touched, or is touched, but unable to be kept in play by one or more receiving team players.
Assist : Usually the second of a team's three contacts, an assist is awarded for any set ball that results in a kill on the ensuing attack.
Attack : Usually the third of a team's three contacts, an attack is any attempt by the offense to score a point against the defense (this does not include free balls or over-passes).
Stack Blocking : A blocking strategy where the front row players start close to each other at the center of the net, leaving space for swing blocking out to the pins.
Cut / Cut shot : attack with an extreme angle (nearly parallel to the net).
Dig : A defensive contact following an opponent's attack resulting in a playable ball.
Image 12Open-handed tips/dinks are not allowed. Players may instead use their knuckles to attack the ball for a "pokey" shot. (from Beach volleyball)
Image 13Public beach volleyball courts in Santa Monica, where the modern two-man version originated. (from Beach volleyball)
Image 14Unlike indoor volleyball, beach volleyball is played on soft sand which makes it safer for players to dive. Picture shows Nick Lucena of the United States diving to "dig" the ball. (from Beach volleyball)
Image 15US women's team has cited several advantages to bikini uniforms, such as comfort while playing on sand during hot weather. Photo shows US national team players (Jennifer Fopma (left) and Brooke Sweat) in their uniforms. (from Beach volleyball)
Image 24Brazil's Emanuel Rego signals for an "angle" block for the opposing player on the left and a "line" block for the opposing player on the right (from Beach volleyball)
Image 26Two opposing players simultaneously contact the ball above the net with open hands, known as a "joust". The receiving team is entitled to another three contacts. (from Beach volleyball)