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First Game of Volleyball Played
William G. Morgan created the game as a mix of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball for businessmen who wanted a game with less physical than basketball but still required high athletic ability. The first game was played using a raised tennis net and was held at Springfield College. -
The First Volleyball
A specific ball was designed for the sport, which previously was played with a basketball. The new design created the optimal ball for keeping it aloft over the net. It was made out of cloth and leather wrapped around a rubber interior. -
First YMCA National Championships
The first Volleyball national championship tournament was held in Brooklyn, N.Y. 27 teams from 11 states participated. -
USA Volleyball Formed
The United States Volleyball Association was started and the first U.S. Open of Volleyball along with it, which opened up competition for non-YMCA teams. -
FIVB Founded
The International Volleyball Federation was founded and recognized the USVBA as the official governing body for the sport in the U.S., not the YMCA. -
First Beach Volleyball Tournament
The first official two-man beach tournament was held at Will Rogers State Beach in Santa Monica, Cali. -
Volleyball introduced to Olympic Games
Both men's and women's indoor volleyball was first played at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The US Women finished in 5th while the Men finished in 9th place. -
First Women's FIVB Medal
The Women's National team finished in 2nd place at the FIVB World Championships in Tokyo Japan -
US Women's National team begins year-round training.
The Women's program began a year-round regime in Pasadena, Texas. Later moved to San Diego in 1985. -
US Men's National team begins year-round training
The Men's program begins their year-round regime in Dayton, OH but also moved to San Diego starting in 1985 -
US Teams qualify but don't compete in 1980 Olympics.
Both the men's and women's national teams qualify for the 1980 Summer games held in Moscow, Soviet Union (present-day Russia), but did not compete due to an Olympic boycott by the US and 65 other countries. -
FIVB Bronze for US Women
The Women's National team finish 3rd at the 1982 FIVB World Championship held in Peru. -
Team USA Wins First Olympic Medals
The Men take home gold, led by Karch Kiraly, and the women grab silver at the 1984 Olympic games held in Los Angeles. -
1986 World Champions
The US Men's National Team win gold at the 1986 FIVB World Championships in Paris -
Men's National Team Win Back to Back Gold
The US Men win their 2nd straight gold medal after defeating the Soviet Union at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. The Women finished in 7th place in their tournament. -
1990 FIVB World Championships
US Women win bronze at the 1990 FIVB Worlds in Shanghai, China -
Dual Bronze at Barcelona
Both the Men's and Women's National teams took home 3rd place finishes at the '92 Olympics in Barcelona. -
1996 Summer Olympics - Atlanta
The US Women grab 7th and the men finish in 9th indoor in the '96 indoor volleyball. -
Two-Person Beach Volleyball added to Olympics
Summer of '96 showcased the first Olympic Beach Volleyball matches in Atlanta, GA. The US men took home gold and silver, but the women did not place. Winning Gold was the duo of Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes, this was Kiraly's 3rd Olympic Gold ('84 and '88 indoor). Mike Dodd and Mike Whitmarsh claimed Silver. -
USA Volleyball Moves to Colorado
Both Men's and Women's National teams move to new Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO for year round training. -
U.S. Repeat Gold at Sydney Olympics
Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana win the gold in men's beach volleyball for the second straight games for the USA. On the indoor side, the US women took 4th while the men dropped to 11th. -
Women's Silver at FIVB Championship
The US Women finish in 2nd and take home the silver at the 2002 World Championships in Germany -
The Beginning of the Women's Beach Dynasty
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh take home the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. On the indoor side, the men placed 4th and the women 5th. -
USA Wins World League
Prior to the Beijing Olympics, the US Men's National team win the FIVB World League Title for the first time. -
US Sweeps Beach Volleyball Golds in Beijing
Misty-May Treanor and Kerri Walsh win back to back on the women's side. The men's gold was won by Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. -
Indoor Medals in Beijing
The US Men's national team return to the top of the podium, 20 years later, to reclaim the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Women's team claimed the silver on their side as well. -
Three-Peat for May-Treanor and Walsh
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh win their 3rd straight gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. The duo become the 2nd and 3rd US Volleyball players to win 3 gold medals (first being Karch Kiraly). US duo April Ross and Jennifer Kessy take home the silver. -
Repeat Silver for US Women's Indoor
The US Women's National Team takes home a second straight silver medal at the London Olympics. The men finish in 5th. -
Women Win FIVB Championship
The US Women's National team takes home their first ever gold medal at the 2014 FIVB World Championship in Milan, Italy. -
Walsh-Jennings becomes Most Decorated US Volleyball Player
Kerri Walsh-Jennings (formerly Kerri Walsh) and April Ross take home the Bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Her 4th medal moves her past former teammate Misty May-Treanor and Hall of Famer Karch Kiraly. -
Bronzes for TeamUSA
Both the men's and women's indoor national teams take home bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics -
2020* Summer Olympics - Tokyo
With the onset of Covid-19 worldwide, the 2020 Olympic games were postponed until the following summer. Kerri Walsh-Jennings previously planned on playing in her final games. Both the men's and women's indoor national teams have also qualified.
