College Volleyball: History And Awards

Volleyball playersare hoping to get noticed during college volleyball recruiting. In the U.S., a collegiate circuit which oversees the processes involved in college athletic scholarships is organized by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

William Morgan studied at Springfield College, Massachusetts, where he met James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. Morgan was motivated by Naismith’s game of basketball to formulate a game suitable for the older members of the YMCA. He also made the then popular and similar German game of Faustball as a basis for volleyball, as well as a few other sports including tennis, baseball and handball.

Volleyball was first played with a tennis net raised 6 and 1/2 feet from the floor. It utilized many of the rules of baseball, tennis, handball and basketball. In the early stages of volleyball, teams were allowed to have any number of players, each game was played for nine endings, and there was no limit to the number of hits on each side. However, as the sport began to increase in popularity, it soon became clear that specific rules were needed in order for the game to be played well, and to flourish. In 1890 the first ball specifically designed for volleyball was put into play, and the net was raised a foot higher.

The Morgan Trophy Award is a prize presented every year to the most outstanding male and female collegiate volleyball player in the United States. It was established by the William G. Morgan Foundation in 1995, in celebration of the centennial year of volleyball, and was is named in honor of William Morgan.

The Internet has proven to be a useful venue for both students and coaches involved in the applying for college athletic scholarships. There are many websites and online forums wherein students and scouts can come together and interact. D1Athletes is an online community wherein students and coaches alike can share and exchange information they need during college volleyball recruiting. D1Athletes offers them a place to build an online presence and gain important public exposure.