Background.William Morgan, of Holyoke, Massachusetts YMCA created volleyball as a recreational sport in 1895. Morgan mixed elements of basketball with other sports to make it a less demanding game from the point physically compared to its cousin, basketball. (Goldblatt, 2011) He called the game "Mintonette", which was later changed to volleyball by Alfred T. Halstead. (Goldblatt, 2011) Originally designed to be slow and leisurely, gaming today is now a fast and plodding game. Played around the world, from youth leagues to the Olympic Games, in a wide variety of forms ranging from traditional indoor volleyball to beach and water games, volleyball is an exciting game. ("Volleyball - general information") Volleyball is a team sport consisting of two teams of six players separated by a net. Each team attempts to score points by grounding the ball on the other team's court according to organized rules. The full rules are extensive, but simple. Although usually played with the hands or arms, players can legally hit or push (brief contact) the ball with any part of the body. Numerous techniques have evolved in volleyball, including spikes and blocks. In play over the net, the vertical leap results in a valuable and heavily emphasized volleyball skill. Other skills emphasized include passing, setting and specialized player positions, and offensive and defensive structures. The game begins when a player from one of the teams initiates an action. rally' by serving the ball (throwing or releasing it and then hitting it with a hand or arm), from behind the back boundary line, over the net and into the receiving team's court. The receiving team must avoid touching the ground inside their court. They can touch the ball... in the center of the card... 2011 volleyball media guide. Retrieved from http://issuu.com/plafosse/docs/2011-vb-media-guide?viewMode=magazine&mode=embedMcNeese cumulative statistics of the football season. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.McNeesesports.com/custompages/statistics/football/2011/teamcume.htmMcNeese Volleyball Season Cumulative Statistics. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.McNeesesports.com/custompages/statistics/volleyball/2011/teamcume.htmSouthland Conference Volleyball Season Cumulative Statistics. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.southland.org/fls/18400/stats/wvolley/2011/confstat.htm?SPSID=94020&SPID=10821&DB_OEM_ID=18400Voepel, M. (2010, December 23). State of the Volleyball Union. Retrieved from http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=5951668General volleyball information. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.volleyball.org/history.html