History of Volleyball in the United States

1895 William G. Morgan (1870-1942) invented volleyball, an Olympic sport since 1964, in Holyoke (Massachusetts).

1917 American soldiers introduced volleyball to Europe. Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in Russia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.

1954 Flora “Flo” Hyman, former world-class player (1973-1984), was born on July 29, 1954 in Inglewood, California. This athlete was known for her fair play. She won two Norceca championships, an Olympic silver medal, a world bronze medal, and other international titles.

1960 Charles Frederick “Karch” Kiraly was born on November 3, 1960 in Jackson, Michigan. He has won three Olympic gold medals (indoor and beach volleyball).

1964 Under the leadership of Ron Lang, the United States competed in the Japan Olympics, the first ever Olympic Volleyball Tournament.

1973 The United States men’s squad won the Norceca title in Tijuana (Mexico). In the final they beat Cuba, Pan American and Olympic champions, 3-0 (15-12, 15-11, 15-10).

1974 Under the direction of Carl Mc Gown, head coach of the US men’s volleyball team from 1973 to 1976, the US team visited Moscow (Soviet Union) and played friendly matches against the USSR, Cuba and Japan.

1977 At the Women’s World Championship in Japan, the United States defeated the USSR, world champions in 1973, 3-1.

1978 The Cuban men’s team toured Ohio (Dayton), Indiana (Cincinnati & Muncia), Michigan (Indianapolis Bay) and Illinois (Madison & Wheaton). The United States and Cuba played seven…

1979 The United States women’s team won a silver medal at the Norceca championships and placed fourth at the Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

1980 For political reasons, the US women’s team was unable to travel to the Summer Olympics in the Soviet Union.

1981 Doug Beal was named the head coach of the US men’s volleyball team.

1982 The US women’s volleyball team, under the direction of Arie Selinger, became the first North American team to win a world medal.

1983 The women’s team won the Norceca Tournament in Indianapolis. In August he was runner-up at the Pan American Games in South America.

1984 In Los Angeles, California (USA), the American men’s team, under the watchful eye of Doug Beal, won the Olympic title. America did not expect to win the world title. The top players were Karch Kiraly, Dusty Dvorak, Craig Buck, Paul Suderland, Aldis Berzins and Marc Waldie.

1985 Rose Magers was one of the members of the All-Star world team. This African-American volleyball player was born on June 25, 1960 in Big Spring, Texas… The men’s team won the Korea Cup. They defeated Japan, Mexico and South Korea.

1987 The United States and Cuba played five friendly games in Havana. The US men’s team won three games. Later, they were Pan-American champions.

nineteen ninety five The women’s team became the third national team to win the World Grand Prix.

nineteen ninety six The First Olympic Beach Volleyball Tournament was held in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). Two local couples won the gold and silver medals in the men’s tournament. American former star volleyball player Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes became the first American couple to win an Olympic gold medal.

2000 The US national beach volleyball team, Dan Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana, won the world title at the Sydney Olympics. In the final they beat Jose Marco Melo and Ricardo Santos (Brazil).

2005 Lang Ping became the first woman to be named head coach of the US women’s national team. Lang, better known as “Jenny,” was born and raised in the People’s Republic of China. In 1982, she was considered the most valuable player in the world.

2007 At the Norceca Tournament in Puerto Rico, the US men’s team took the regional title and earned the right to compete in the FIVB World Cup in Tokyo, Japan. This team finished fourth in Japan.

2008 The US volleyball team won two medals, gold and silver, at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. This Olympic sport became one of the most popular sports in the United States…