Here’s everything to know about NCAA Division I men’s and women’s volleyball:
What are the rules of NCAA volleyball?
At any given time during an NCAA volleyball match, there are six players on each side of the court. The two opposing teams are separated by a net a little more than 7 feet high. Nets also vary by sex, with males measuring 7 feet 11 5/8 inches, while females have a standard net height of 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches. Each team plays in a square 29 feet, 6 inches wide. Players rotate position, and the serve order is clockwise in a circle. One player, the libero, is a designated defensive player and does not move forward along the net. Libro wears a different colored uniform.
Scoring
NCAA volleyball matches are decided by the team that wins three out of five sets. A team wins the set by being the first team to score 25 points. A team must win a set by a margin of two points. If a fifth set is required, it is played to 15 points.
A point is played.
A point starts when a player passes the ball from the back of the court to the other team over the net. Once the ball is in play, each team can touch it only three times — barring a block — before hitting it over the net to the other team. The ball cannot touch the floor.
Win a point
A point is won when the opposing team fails to get a serve or shot over the net, allows the ball to hit the floor, hits the ball out of bounds or touches the ball more than three times. . A team can also win a point if an opponent touches the ball twice in a row or if the ball hits the outside stick at either end of the net. A point may also be awarded when the opposition receives a penalty for illegal actions such as touching the net, “lifting” the ball (making long contact) or stepping onto the court during a serve. When a team wins a point, it also gains control of the ball and serves to start each point until it loses a point, which is when the opposing team Will gain control of the ball.
Conditions
Ace: A serve that the opposing team cannot return and results in a direct point win.
Assist: When a player successfully sets a ball that results in a kill for a teammate.
Attempt: When a player hits an offensive shot in the opponent’s court.
Block: The act of blocking or deflecting an incoming ball from the opposing team, usually by jumping into the air near the net.
Dig: When a player successfully defends against an attempt by the opposing team.
Foul: Whenever a player’s attempt goes out of bounds, goes into the net or is blocked by the opposing team.
Kill: When a player’s offensive shot is not returned by the opposing team and results in a direct point win.
Set: A type of touch where one player hits the ball upwards in front of the net to allow another player to accelerate the ball. The set also refers to the scoring format of the game, and if a team wins three out of five sets, it wins the match.
positions
Libero: A key defensive player on the team assigned to stay in the backcourt. They have preference when serving and hitting and wear different colored jerseys.
Outside hitter: The player, usually the main hitter, who plays on the left side of the front row rotation.
Opposing hitter: The player, usually an active attacker and blocker, who plays on the right side in the front row rotation.
Middle Blocker: A player who stays in the front court near the middle of the net.
Defensive Specialist: A rotational player focused on defense who can play in or out of any player on the court.
Setter: The player who controls the offense and distributes the ball.
When is volleyball season?
The men’s NCAA indoor volleyball season takes place in the winter and early spring, typically from January to early May. The women’s indoor volleyball season takes place in the fall, usually from late August to early December.
2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament Schedule:
*Eastern at all times
December 1st
Selection Show: 6 p.m. on ESPN
December 5-7
First and second round
December 12-15
regional
December 19
Semifinals: Kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
December 22
National Championship: 3 p.m. on ABC
What schools have won the most NCAA volleyball championships?
UCLA has won 21 NCAA men’s volleyball championships, the most of any program. The Bruins won six of the first seven men’s titles, including the first three in 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Stanford has won the most Division I women’s volleyball championships with nine (1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2016, 2018, 2019). Stanford also has the most national runner-up finishes on the women’s side with eight.
Which NCAA Volleyball Coaches Have the Most Championships?
Al Scates has won the most men’s titles with 19. Skeats was the head coach at UCLA for 50 seasons from 1963 to 2012. Skeats retired in 2012 with a career record of 1,239-290 (812 winning percentage).
Russ Rose has won the most women’s championships with seven. Former Penn State coach (1979 to 2021) retired with most NCAA Division I wins with 1,330 (1,330-229, .853).
All-time NCAA Champions:
2024: UCLA (M)
2023: UCLA (M), Texas (W)
2022: Hawaii (M), Texas (W)
2021: Hawaii (M), Wisconsin (W)
2020: Men’s tournament canceled due to COVID-19, Kentucky (W)
2019: Long Beach State (M), Stanford (W)
2018: Long Beach State (M), Stanford (W)
2017: Ohio State (M), Nebraska (W)
2016: Ohio State (M), Stanford (W)
2015: Loyola Chicago (M), Nebraska (W)
2014: Loyola Chicago (M), Penn State (W)
2013: UC Irvine (M), Penn State (W)
2012: UC Irvine (M), Texas (W)
2011: Ohio State (M), UCLA (W)
2010: Stanford (M), Penn State (W)
2009: UC Irvine (M), Penn State (W)
2008: Penn State (M), Penn State (W)
2007: UC Irvine (M), Penn State (W)
2006: UCLA (M), Nebraska (W)
2005: Pepperdine (M), Washington (W)
2004: BYU (M), Stanford (W)
2003: Lewis (M)*, USC (W)
2002: Hawaii (M)*, USC (W) 2001: BYU (M), Stanford (W)
2000: UCLA (M), Nebraska (W)
1999: BYU (M), Penn State (W)
1998: UCLA (M), Long Beach State (W)
1997: Stanford (M), Stanford (W)
1996: UCLA (M), Stanford (W)
1995: UCLA (M), Nebraska (W)
1994: Penn State (M), Stanford (W)
1993: UCLA (M), Long Beach State (W)
1992: Pepperdine (M), Stanford (W)
1991: Long Beach State (M), UCLA (W)
1990: USC (M), UCLA (W)
1989: UCLA (M), Long Beach State (W)
1988: USC (M), Texas (W)
1987: UCLA (M), Hawaii (W)
1986: Pepperdine (M), Pacific (W)
1985: Pepperdine (M), Pacific (W)
1984: UCLA (M), UCLA (W)
1983: UCLA (M), Hawaii (W)
1982: UCLA (M), Hawaii (W)
1981: UCLA (M), USC (W)
1980: USC (M)
1979: UCLA (M)
1978: Pepperdine (M)
1977: USC (M)
1976: UCLA (M)
1975: UCLA (M)
1974: UCLA (M)
1973: San Diego State (M)
1972: UCLA (M)
1971: UCLA (M)
1970: UCLA (M)
* Vacated.
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