Whether you’re a die-hard volleyball enthusiast or just looking for a fun team quiz night, this quiz will challenge your understanding of the sport. With well over 60 questions across men’s and women’s volleyball, you’ll explore everything from Olympic facts and player positions to court dimensions and scoring systems.
Scroll down and give it a go – how many can you get right?
📖 History of Volleyball
- In which year was volleyball invented?
Answer: 1895 - Who invented volleyball?
Answer: William G. Morgan - In which country was volleyball invented?
Answer: United States - What was the original name for volleyball?
Answer: Mintonette - When was volleyball first included in the Olympic Games (men’s event)?
Answer: 1964 - In which year did women’s volleyball make its Olympic debut?
Answer: 1964 - Which country won the first Olympic gold medal in men’s volleyball?
Answer: Soviet Union - Which country won the first Olympic gold medal in women’s volleyball?
Answer: Japan - What organisation governs international volleyball?
Answer: FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) - When was beach volleyball added to the Olympics?
Answer: 1996
📏 Rules and Scoring
- How many players are on the court per team in indoor volleyball?
Answer: 6 - How many points must a team score to win a set (standard rule)?
Answer: 25 - How many sets must a team win to win a match?
Answer: 3 - What is the minimum point difference required to win a set?
Answer: 2 points - How many sets are played in a full five-set match?
Answer: 5 - In the fifth and final set, how many points must be scored to win (standard rule)?
Answer: 15 - What is it called when a player touches the net during play?
Answer: Net fault - What is the maximum number of hits a team can take before returning the ball over the net?
Answer: 3 - What happens if the server steps on the line before hitting the ball?
Answer: Foot fault - Is a ball in or out if it lands on the boundary line?
Answer: In
🧍♂️🧍♀️ Positions and Rotations
- What is the name of the player who wears a different colour jersey?
Answer: Libero - Can a libero serve in international indoor volleyball?
Answer: No - What is the primary role of a setter?
Answer: To set the ball for an attacker - What is the role of the outside hitter?
Answer: To attack from the front-left and pass in the back row - How many rotations occur in volleyball?
Answer: 6 - In which direction do players rotate?
Answer: Clockwise - Which player starts in position 1?
Answer: Server - Is a back row player allowed to attack the ball above the net in front of the attack line?
Answer: No - Which position is usually responsible for receiving the serve?
Answer: Libero or outside hitter - What colour does the libero typically wear?
Answer: A different colour from the rest of the team
🌍 International Competitions
- Which country has won the most Olympic gold medals in men’s volleyball?
Answer: Soviet Union - Which country has won the most Olympic gold medals in women’s volleyball?
Answer: Cuba - Who won the men’s volleyball gold medal at Tokyo 2020?
Answer: France - Who won the women’s volleyball gold medal at Tokyo 2020?
Answer: United States - What is the name of the FIVB’s annual competition for national men’s teams?
Answer: Volleyball Nations League (VNL) - What is the women’s equivalent of the VNL?
Answer: Volleyball Nations League (VNL) - In which year did Great Britain last compete in Olympic volleyball (indoor)?
Answer: 2012 - Which Asian women’s team is historically dominant in international volleyball?
Answer: China - Which European men’s team won back-to-back EuroVolley titles in 2019 and 2021?
Answer: Serbia - Which South American women’s team won Olympic gold in both 2008 and 2012?
Answer: Brazil
🏐 Equipment and Court
- What is the standard height of the net in men’s indoor volleyball?
Answer: 2.43 metres - What is the standard height of the net in women’s indoor volleyball?
Answer: 2.24 metres - What is the length of an indoor volleyball court?
Answer: 18 metres - What is the width of an indoor volleyball court?
Answer: 9 metres - What is the name of the line 3 metres from the net?
Answer: Attack line (or 3-metre line) - What is the minimum number of players required to start a volleyball match?
Answer: 6 - What is the circumference of a standard volleyball (approximate)?
Answer: 65–67 cm - What is the pressure range of a properly inflated indoor volleyball?
Answer: 0.30 to 0.325 kg/cm² - What material is commonly used for official indoor volleyballs?
Answer: Synthetic leather - Can a volleyball be played off the ceiling in international play?
Answer: No
🏆 Famous Players and Milestones
- Which Brazilian men’s player is widely considered one of the greatest setters of all time?
Answer: Bruno Rezende - Which American outside hitter was MVP of the women’s tournament at Tokyo 2020?
Answer: Jordan Larson - Which Italian men’s player has scored over 3000 points in international competitions?
Answer: Ivan Zaytsev - Who is the Cuban women’s volleyball legend with three Olympic gold medals?
Answer: Regla Torres - Which Polish men’s player was MVP of the 2018 World Championship?
Answer: Bartosz Kurek - Which Chinese player was MVP at Rio 2016 and led her team to gold?
Answer: Zhu Ting - Who is the all-time top scorer in FIVB women’s international volleyball?
Answer: Kim Yeon-koung - Who is the American men’s player with over 300 international caps and two Olympic medals?
Answer: Reid Priddy - Which Italian women’s player was known for her powerful serves and spikes?
Answer: Paola Egonu - Which Russian men’s player scored 37 points in the 2012 Olympic final?
Answer: Maxim Mikhaylov
⚖️ Tiebreaker Question
- How many total points were scored in the men’s Olympic volleyball final at Tokyo 2020 between France and Russia? (Closest wins)
Answer: 212
Information accurate as of July 2025
