33 volleyball quiz questions with answers, from the 1895 invention to the libero, net heights and rally scoring. The full answer key sits at the end.
Each question comes with three options and keeps the correct one behind a button, so you can play it honestly and count your own score. If you want the volleyball trivia questions and answers in one place, the answer key under the scoring table lists all 33 in order. The set also works as a printed round of volleyball quiz questions for a team meeting, and the early questions about volleyball are easy enough for a junior squad.
1. In which year was volleyball invented?
- A) 1884
- B) 1895
- C) 1908
2. Who invented volleyball?
- A) William G. Morgan
- B) James Naismith
- C) Walter Camp
3. What was volleyball originally called?
- A) Mintonette
- B) Ball-ball
- C) Volleyball
4. What does a “libero” do in a volleyball game?
- A) Set the ball
- B) Serve the ball
- C) Play defense in the backcourt
5. Which of these is NOT a basic skill in volleyball?
- A) Passing
- B) Blocking
- C) Sprinting
6. What is the maximum number of hits per team on each side of the court?
- A) 2
- B) 5
- C) 3
7. Which officials decide whether a ball landed in or out by signalling with flags?
- A) The line judges
- B) The scorer
- C) The team captains
8. How heavy is an official indoor volleyball (in grams)?
- A) 260-280 grams
- B) 200-230 grams
- C) 320-350 grams
9. Which country won the first Olympic gold medal in the men's volleyball tournament in 1964?
- A) Japan
- B) The Soviet Union
- C) The United States
10. What is a “kill” in volleyball?
- A) An unreturnable serve
- B) A successful block that stops the ball
- C) An attacking hit that results in an immediate point
11. How many players are on the court for each team during a game of volleyball?
- A) 4
- B) 6
- C) 8
12. Under FIVB rules, how many substitutions is each team allowed per set?
- A) 6
- B) 9
- C) 12
13. How many points are needed to win a set in a volleyball game?
- A) 21
- B) 25
- C) 15
14. What is the minimum lead a team needs to have over their opponent in order to win a set in volleyball?
- A) 1 point
- B) 2 points
- C) 3 points
15. What type of scoring system is used in all official volleyball matches?
- A) Rally scoring
- B) Sideout scoring
- C) Point-per-serve scoring
16. In beach volleyball, how many players are there in a team?
- A) 2
- B) 3
- C) 4
17. Which country is considered the birthplace of beach volleyball?
- A) Brazil
- B) United States
- C) Australia
18. What is the standard net height for men’s indoor volleyball?
- A) 7 feet
- B) 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches
- C) 8 feet
19. What is the standard net height for women’s indoor volleyball?
- A) 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches
- B) 7 feet, 6 inches
- C) 7 feet, 8 inches
20. In which city were the first men's Volleyball World Championships held in 1949?
- A) Paris
- B) Rome
- C) Prague
21. Which of these skills involves jumping and touching the ball above the height of the net?
- A) Spike
- B) Dig
- C) Set
22. What is the term used when a player blocks an opponent’s spike and the ball goes back to the opponent’s side, gaining a point?
- A) Stuff block
- B) Pancake
- C) Dink
23. In which year was volleyball first introduced as an Olympic sport?
- A) 1948
- B) 1960
- C) 1964
24. Which of these positions is responsible for setting the ball for attackers in volleyball games?
- A) Setter
- B) Libero
- C) Middle blocker
25. In which direction do players rotate after their team wins the right to serve?
- A) Clockwise
- B) Counterclockwise
- C) They do not rotate
26. In which year was the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) founded?
- A) 1947
- B) 1952
- C) 1960
27. How long can a server keep the ball in hand after the referee’s whistle?
- A) 3 seconds
- B) 5 seconds
- C) 8 seconds
28. What is the name of the line that divides the frontcourt and backcourt in volleyball?
- A) Middle line
- B) Attack line
- C) Baseline
29. How many sets are played in a typical men’s or women’s indoor volleyball match?
- A) Best of 3
- B) Best of 5
- C) Best of 7
30. How many substitutions is a beach volleyball team allowed during a set?
- A) None
- B) Two
- C) Six
31. Which of the following is NOT allowed when executing a serve in volleyball?
- A) Jump serving
- B) Underhand serving
- C) Kicking the ball
32. Which of these is a technique used by players to receive the ball with their forearms as the ball comes to their side of the court?
- A) Bump
- B) Set
- C) Spike
33. What is the space between the two antennas, through which the ball must cross the net, called?
- A) The crossing space
- B) The channel
- C) The service zone
Results
| # of Correct Answers | Percentage Range | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0- | 0-49% | Net NoviceArmchair Athlete | You've got some learning to do, but don't worry, there's always the next game! |
| - | 50-64% | Serve SpecialistRookie Runner | Not bad! Keep practicing, and you'll be a sports trivia champ in no time. |
| - | 65-79% | Spike SetterMidfield Maestro | Impressive! You're getting closer to the top, keep up the good work. |
| - | 80-94% | Block BusterAll-Star Striker | Wow, you really know your sports trivia! You're a force to be reckoned with. |
| -33 | 95-100% | Volleyball VirtuosoLegendary Champion | Unbelievable! You're a true sports trivia master. Your knowledge knows no bounds! |
Volleyball Quiz Answers: The Full Answer Key
Every question in this volleyball quiz with its correct answer, in the order the questions appear above. Check your score against the table, or use the list as a set of volleyball trivia questions and answers for a quiz night of your own.
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In which year was volleyball invented? | B) 1895 |
| 2 | Who invented volleyball? | A) William G. Morgan |
| 3 | What was volleyball originally called? | A) Mintonette |
| 4 | What does a "libero" do in a volleyball game? | C) Play defense in the backcourt |
| 5 | Which of these is NOT a basic skill in volleyball? | C) Sprinting |
| 6 | What is the maximum number of hits per team on each side of the court? | C) 3 |
| 7 | Which officials decide whether a ball landed in or out by signalling with flags? | A) The line judges |
| 8 | How heavy is an official indoor volleyball (in grams)? | A) 260-280 grams |
| 9 | Which country won the first Olympic gold medal in the men's volleyball tournament in 1964? | B) The Soviet Union |
| 10 | What is a "kill" in volleyball? | C) An attacking hit that results in an immediate point |
| 11 | How many players are on the court for each team during a game of volleyball? | B) 6 |
| 12 | Under FIVB rules, how many substitutions is each team allowed per set? | A) 6 |
| 13 | How many points are needed to win a set in a volleyball game? | B) 25 |
| 14 | What is the minimum lead a team needs to have over their opponent in order to win a set in volleyball? | B) 2 points |
| 15 | What type of scoring system is used in all official volleyball matches? | A) Rally scoring |
| 16 | In beach volleyball, how many players are there in a team? | A) 2 |
| 17 | Which country is considered the birthplace of beach volleyball? | B) United States |
| 18 | What is the standard net height for men's indoor volleyball? | B) 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches |
| 19 | What is the standard net height for women's indoor volleyball? | A) 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches |
| 20 | In which city were the first men's Volleyball World Championships held in 1949? | C) Prague |
| 21 | Which of these skills involves jumping and touching the ball above the height of the net? | A) Spike |
| 22 | What is the term used when a player blocks an opponent's spike and the ball goes back to the opponent's side, gaining a point? | A) Stuff block |
| 23 | In which year was volleyball first introduced as an Olympic sport? | C) 1964 |
| 24 | Which of these positions is responsible for setting the ball for attackers in volleyball games? | A) Setter |
| 25 | In which direction do players rotate after their team wins the right to serve? | A) Clockwise |
| 26 | In which year was the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) founded? | A) 1947 |
| 27 | How long can a server keep the ball in hand after the referee's whistle? | C) 8 seconds |
| 28 | What is the name of the line that divides the frontcourt and backcourt in volleyball? | B) Attack line |
| 29 | How many sets are played in a typical men's or women's indoor volleyball match? | B) Best of 5 |
| 30 | How many substitutions is a beach volleyball team allowed during a set? | A) None |
| 31 | Which of the following is NOT allowed when executing a serve in volleyball? | C) Kicking the ball |
| 32 | Which of these is a technique used by players to receive the ball with their forearms as the ball comes to their side of the court? | A) Bump |
| 33 | What is the space between the two antennas, through which the ball must cross the net, called? | A) The crossing space |
Testing your volleyball knowledge? Complement it by getting to know the essential volleyball equipment list.
Hungry for More? Check out these Resources!
- Our posts about Volleyball
- Wikipedia
- Badminton World Federation (FIVB)
- FIVB YouTube Channel
- More posts about Ball Sports
FAQ
How many questions are in this volleyball quiz?
There are 33 questions. Each one has three options, and the correct answer sits behind the reveal button under the question.
Where can I find the volleyball trivia questions and answers together?
The answer key near the bottom of the page lists all 33 questions with their correct answers in the order they appear, so you can check a whole round at once.
Are these volleyball trivia questions hard?
They are mixed on purpose. The opening questions cover the invention of the game, the basic skills and the number of players. Later ones move into net heights, substitution limits and court terminology, where club players start to separate from beginners.
Can I use these volleyball questions for a team night or a pub quiz?
Yes. Read the question and the three options out loud, have everyone write down a letter, then work through the answer key at the end and count the correct answers.
Is there a volleyball quiz for kids?
The first ten questions work well for younger players, because they stick to the rules, the positions and the basic skills. The questions on net heights and world championship history are aimed at older players.
What is a good score on this volleyball quiz?
Anything above half is a solid result. The scoring table under the last question turns your number of correct answers into a rank, from Net Novice at the bottom to Volleyball Virtuoso at the top.
What are some good questions to ask about volleyball?
The ones that work best have a single clear answer: who invented the game, how many hits a team gets per side, what a libero is allowed to do. Every question in this quiz is built that way.
How many points are needed to win a set in volleyball?
A set is played to 25 points, and a team must lead by at least two points to take it. The deciding fifth set is played to 15, again with a two point margin.
How high is the volleyball net?
The net is 2.43 meters, or 7 feet 11 5/8 inches, for men’s indoor volleyball and 2.24 meters, or 7 feet 4 1/8 inches, for women’s indoor volleyball.
Who invented volleyball and when?
William G. Morgan invented the game in 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and originally called it Mintonette. Both facts turn up as questions in the quiz above.
