Collegiate women’s volleyball became extremely popular after the passing of Title IX in 1972, which required schools to add more athletic opportunities for their female students. Since then, a handful of programs have bloomed, their players and coaches working together to create extraordinary teams, with many of the players going on to have exceptional professional careers.
Find out more about these volleyball team names, their history, their rankings, and more.
| School | Team Name | Conference | NCAA Championship Wins | AVCA Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | The Cornhuskers | Big Ten | 5 | 2 |
| Stanford University | Cardinal | ACC | 9 | 5 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | The Badgers | Big Ten | 1 | 7 |
| University of Louisville | The Cardinals | ACC | 0 | 4 |
Brief History of Volleyball
Before we dive into the teams themselves, let’s get familiar with the basic facts about volleyball.
Volleyball was invented in 1895 in Holyoke, MA by William G. Morgan, who wanted to create an alternative to basketball that had less contact. He combined the features of other sports that he liked: a net like tennis, a ball like basketball, and the use of hands like handball. Together he invented a new sport that required little equipment and allowed players to be competitive without needing to make physical contact like they do in basketball. At that time, the sport was called Mintonette.
Later, he added the concept of innings, as in baseball, which was later changed to sets.
Volleyball in Colleges
Volleyball has been implemented in colleges across the nation, resulting in a complex and well-renowned sport complete with leagues, conferences, and an NCAA designation.
But it wasn’t always the case!
The first exhibition match of volleyball was held at Springfield College in Springfield, MA. Slowly and steadily, the sport became more popular abroad and in colleges in the U.S., especially men’s teams in the 80s and 90s. The first men’s NCAA tournament in volleyball took place in 1970 and only 8 teams participated.
Also in the 70s, women’s volleyball started popping up in colleges, too, but they were not part of the NCAA. The first time women’s teams were included in the NCAA volleyball tournament was in 1981, with only 20 schools competing. This was about 9 years after Title IX was passed, which is a federal law that requires colleges to provide equitable athletic opportunities to female students. Volleyball was an easy sport for schools to add since it requires very little equipment and can be played on a school’s existing basketball court.
Since then, women’s volleyball programs have become exponentially more popular than men’s volleyball in colleges; there are now about 1,069 programs in NCAA women’s college volleyball versus only 287 men’s programs.
Volleyball was invented in Holyoke, MA by William G. Morgan, who was a director at the YMCA. He created the game in 1895.
How to Play Volleyball
To understand the skills of the players on a volleyball team, it helps to know the basic volleyball facts about the technical aspects of the game.
How Many People Are on a Volleyball Team?
In regulation volleyball, there are 6 players on each team playing at once. For Division I colleges, their roster can consist of up to 18 athletes.
Volleyball Positions and Roles
There are six volleyball positions on court:
- Setter
- Outside hitter (left-side)
- Middle hitter
- Opposite hitter (right-side)
- Libero
- Defensive specialist
Each one corresponds to a specific spot on the court, and there is almost always one of each type of player per team in every game.
In the volleyball world, players do not use the words “bump” and “spike.” Instead, they say “pass” and “hit.”
Setters are responsible for setting up the volleyballs to be hit over the net by one of the hitters.
Hitters are responsible for sending the ball to the other side of the net.
The libero operates under special rules and wears a different-colored jersey. They typically serve the ball and are responsible for receiving it and sending it towards the setter. They can also act as a setter when the typical setter has to dig the ball, making them unable to get up and set in time. Liberos can be swapped in and out of any of the back-row positions while the ball is not in play, and it does not count towards the substitution limit per game.
The defensive specialist, like the libero, typically receives the ball and sends it toward the setter.
All players are responsible for defensive moves, but only the hitters make the vollying offensive moves.
The Basic Gameplay of Volleyball
The goal of volleyball is to send the ball over the net and into the opposing team’s court while preventing them from doing the same. Each team can touch the ball up to three times before it must go over the net, typically using a bump (forearm pass), set (overhead pass), and spike (attack).
The game begins with a serve, where a player hits the ball over the net from behind the back boundary line. The opposing team must return the ball within three hits. Points are scored when the ball touches the ground on the opponent's side, or if the opponent fails to return it properly. Games are usually played until there is a volley scoring of 25 points, with a team needing to win by at least two points. So, a game can go beyond 25 points if there is only a 1-point difference in score.
If the game goes to 5 sets, the fifth set is only played to 15 points rather than 25.
How long is a volleyball game? A typical game is 3-5 sets. The game ends when a team wins the best of 5 sets.
There are many other volleyball rules not stated here; like many sports, there is a long list of rules that players will learn from their coaches so they can play properly.
For international and collegiate volleyball, the courts are 9m by 18m, and the attack line is 3m back from the center line. For beach volleyball, the dimensions are 8m by 16m, with no attack line. The net height varies depending on whether it’s men’s or women’s volleyball. For women’s, the net must be 7ft and 4 ⅞ in high at the antennae, and 7ft 4 ⅛ in in the middle.
Top Programs According to NCAA D1 Volleyball Rankings
When you’re a student-athlete evaluating which college program you want to attend, you have to balance the aspects of the school that are most important to you, like the reputation of the team and athletic and academic scholarships available.
A team with a more impressive rank may open up more opportunities in sports and more because of their visibility, connections, and reputation, but they may also cost a lot more. So, be sure to check out all the aspects of a college or university when making your decision!
The top 4 schools for women’s volleyball according to the DI committee are:
- Nebraska
- Stanford
- Wisconsin
- Louisville
These four programs are among the top consistently performing NCAA women’s volleyball programs.
Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s volleyball program, established in 1975, quickly became one of the most successful programs in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women’s (AIAW) National Volleyball Championships and later the NCAA. Thanks to assistant athletic director Dr. Aleen Swofford and coach Pat Sullivan, the Huskers’ women’s volleyball team was quick to ascend in college volleyball rankings.
Under legendary coach Terry Pettit, the team won its first NCAA Championship in 1995. John Cook took over as head coach in 2000, leading the Huskers to four more NCAA titles, in 2000, 2006, 2015, and 2017. Nebraska is known for its passionate fan base, with home matches at the Devaney Center regularly drawing sold-out, record-breaking crowds.
Biggest Rivalries and Memorable Matches
- Rivalry with Texas: Nebraska’s rivalry with Texas has been one of the fiercest in college volleyball, often featuring battles for the Final Four or national title. Their 2015 NCAA Championship victory sweep over Texas is one of the most memorable games in the rivalry.
- Rivalry with Wisconsin: In recent years, Wisconsin has emerged as a strong Big Ten rival, bringing fans of both teams out when they have a match together. The 2023 Nebraska vs Wisconsin volleyball match was the most-watched regular season volleyball broadcast ever with 612,000 viewers on the Big Ten Network.
Stanford
Stanford University
Founded in 1976, Stanford has set the gold standard in women’s college volleyball. The Cardinal won their first NCAA title in 1992 and quickly topped the NCAA women’s volleyball rankings by winning a record-setting nine titles. Stanford’s success is attributed to their ability to recruit top talent and maintain a tradition of excellence. Under coaches like Don Shaw and Kevin Hambly, they have continued to dominate both in the Pac-12 conference and nationally.
Biggest Rivalries and Memorable Matches
- Rivalry with USC: Stanford’s rivalry with USC is a classic in the Pac-12, with both teams regularly competing for conference supremacy.
- Rivalry with Nebraska: Matches against Nebraska have been some of the most intense volleyball games, including their 2018 NCAA Championship clash, where Stanford triumphed in five sets.
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s volleyball program has grown significantly since its debut in 1974. Under current head coach Kelly Sheffield, Wisconsin has become a national contender in D1 volleyball rankings. The Badgers won their first NCAA Championship in 2021, affirming their status as a top-tier program. The team consistently competes at a high level in the challenging Big Ten Conference, even though they have yet to win nearly as many NCAA titles as their D1 peers.
Biggest Rivalries and Memorable Matches
- Rivalry with Minnesota: The annual “Border Battle” with Minnesota is one of the most anticipated matches of the season, with high stakes in the Big Ten.
- Rivalry with Nebraska: Wisconsin and Nebraska have faced off in many key matches, including the 2021 national semifinal, where Wisconsin advanced after a brutal five-set game.
Louisville
University of Louisville
The women's volleyball program at Louisville has been a rising force in recent years, slowly but surely catching up to the other top programs. Founded in 1977, Louisville saw a surge under head coach Dani Busboom Kelly, who took over in 2017. The Cardinals reached the Final Four for the first time in 2021 and finished as national runner-up in 2022, establishing themselves as one of the elite programs in the NCAA.
While they may not have any NCAA titles, they are currently on an upward trajectory and are sure to join the other teams in the D1 women’s volleyball rankings soon. The team has won a total of 19 conference titles over the years, spanning across Metro, C-USA, Big East, American Athletic, and ACC. The fact that they don’t have any NCAA wins are are still number four on the list is a testament to how strong the program is in all other respects.
Biggest Rivalries and Memorable Matches
- Rivalry with the University of Kentucky: Louisville’s matches against Kentucky are highly anticipated, with both programs consistently competing for supremacy in the state.
- NCAA Tournament Match against Texas: Louisville’s 2022 national championship game against Texas, although ending in a loss, marked a significant milestone for the program’s progress. It was the first time the Cards made it to the women’s volleyball final and they finished as runners-up.
Women’s college volleyball is an exciting sport that has garnered a lot more attention than the coaches, athletic directors, players, and fans could have imagined in the 70s. It has led to incredible opportunities for many volleyball girls in terms of fame and glory, with many graduates going on to become professional athletes and/or coaches themselves.
Furthermore, the programs help allow more girls to attend a great college with financial aid from their athletic scholarships. College volleyball is worth knowing about, especially if you’re interested in playing as well!
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