VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball is a popular sport that is played professionally, as well as in recreational leagues, on school teams, in backyards, sandlots, or beaches. The game of volleyball can be enjoyed virtually anywhere a net can be set up, including over a swimming pool. A typical volleyball game uses six players on each side. The aim is to deliver the ball over the net and "ground" it (have it touch the ground) on the opposing side while preventing the ball from touching the ground on their side.

1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Mass., decided to blend elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create a game for his classes of businessmen which would demand less physical contact than basketball. He created the game of Volleyball (at that time called mintonette).

International Events

United States Volleyball Association (USVBA, now USA Volleyball)
The Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB)
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) designated volleyball as an Olympic team sport, to be included in the 1964 Olympic Games.
The California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA)
The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP)
The Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) World League

National Champs

Jimmy George

Jimmy George (born March 8, 1955 in Peravoor, died November 30, 1987) is often considered one of the greatest volleyball players of all time and was a member of India men's national volleyball team.He was the first Indian volleyball player to become a professional and played club volleyball in Italy.

At age 21, Jimmy George was the youngest volleyball player to win the Arjuna Award. He was given the G.V. Raja Award in 1975 and won the Manorama Award, for the best sportsman of Kerala, in 1976. He was judged the best player in the Gulf Region while playing for Abu Dhabi Sports Club, from 1979-82. He played as a professional in Italy from 1982-1984 and 1985-1987, and in his prime was considered one of the best attackers of the world.

K. J. Kapil Dev

K. J. Kapil Dev is an Indian volleyball player from Kerala. He represented India in many international competitions. Kapil also led the Indian National Volleyball Team on a number of occasions, including the Rashid Memorial International Volleyball Tournament held atDubai in July 2006 and 15th Asian Games at Doha.He was also a member of Indian team that won the title in South Asian Games at Dhaka in 2010.At the national level championships, Kapil represents Indian Railways.

Kapil employed with Indian railways, where he works in the Commercial Branch of the Divisional office in Thiruvananthapuram. Kapil Dev hails from Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district. His wife Radhika is also a volleyball player in the Indian Railway Team.Kapil Dev has been selected for the Arjuna Award on 29 August 2010 for his contribution to Indian volleyball.

International Champs

Gilberto Amauri

Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho, known as Giba (born 23 December 1976 in Londrina), is a former Brazilian professional volleyball player who played as an outside hitter. For much of the 2000s, he was widely regarded as one of the best volleyball players in the world. During his professional career he played in Brazil, Italy, Russia, Argentina and briefly in the United Arab Emirates. He is mostly remembered for his successes with the national team.

With the Brazilian National Team he won a total of 8 South American Championships, 3 America's Cups, 8 World League titles, 2 World Grand Champions Cups, three World Championships (2002, 2006, 2010) and the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, the silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he was the non-playing captain.

During summer 2014, Giba retired from professional volleyball at the age of 37.

Ivan Zaytsev

Ivan Zaytsev (born October 2, 1988) is an Italian volleyball player of Russian origins, a member of Italy men's national volleyball team and Russian club VC Dynamo Moscow, a bronze medalist of the Olympic GamesLondon 2012, silver medalist of the European Championship (2011, 2013), bronze medalist of the World League (2013, 2014), Italian Champion (2014).

Logan Maile Lei Tom

Longan Maile Lei Tom (born May 25, 1981) is an American indoor volleyball and beach volleyball player. She is a four-time Olympian at the outside hitter position. At age 19, Logan became the youngest woman ever to be selected for an American Olympic volleyball team when she made the 2000 Games in Sydney. She is a skilled all-around player who brings stability to the American serve receive and defense, while also providing the team with a solid attack and block at the net. She has been a huge part of the national team for many years. In Beijing, Tom helped Team USA win a silver medal and was named Best Scorer.