Volleyball is known as a game of height. But is it actually? And how tall do you need to be to reach the top of the sport?
The data is hard to find when you look for the real numbers. So where better to look than the pinnacle of the sport?
That’s right, I’m talking about the USA National Teams.
According to official data from USA Volleyball, the average height is 6 feet 3.21 inches (191.03 centimeters) across both the women’s and men’s national teams.
I crunched the numbers for a more detailed breakdown below – from women’s volleyball to men’s, and position-by-position for each.
Average Height of Women’s Volleyball Players
When looking at the data from the USA Women’s National Team, the average height of a women’s volleyball player is 6 feet 1.37 inches (186.37 centimeters).
Here’s how the average height breaks down at each position in women’s volleyball:
- Libero = 5 feet 6.5 inches (168.91 centimeters)
- Setter = 6 feet 0.43 inches (183.97 centimeters)
- Outside Hitter = 6 feet 1.67 inches (187.11 centimeters)
- Middle = 6 feet 3.27 inches (191.19 centimeters)
- Opposite = 6 feet 3.43 inches (191.59 centimeters)
5’5″ Libero Kendall White is the shortest player on the USA Women’s National Team. She is a full 15 inches shorter than her teammate, 6’8″ Middle Blocker Dana Rettke, the tallest player on the national team.
If you’re wondering, the average top-tier women’s volleyball player is about 0.72 inches taller than the average WNBA player.
Average Height of Men’s Volleyball Players
Upon analyzing the numbers on the USA Men’s National Team, the average height of a men’s volleyball player is 6 feet 5.57 inches (197.02 centimeters).
That’s over 4 inches taller than the average height on the women’s team!
Here’s how the average height breaks down at each position in men’s volleyball:
- Libero = 5 feet 11.25 inches (180.98 centimeters)
- Setter = 6 feet 3.25 inches (191.14 centimeters)
- Outside Hitter = 6 feet 5.55 inches (196.97 centimeters)
- Middle = 6 feet 8.86 inches (205.38 centimeters)
- Opposite = 6 feet 8.8 inches (205.23 centimeters)
At 6’11”, Middle Blocker Tyler Mitchem is 14 inches taller than 5’9″ Libero Kyle Dagostino, the shortest player on the men’s national squad.
Compared to other men’s sports, the average men’s volleyball player is nearly 1 inch shorter than the average NBA player but roughly 3.4 inches taller than the typical NFL player.
Across both the men’s and women’s national teams, there are a total of 8 players listed under 6 feet tall. Sure, they might be considered “undersized” by volleyball standards, but they still make up 11% of all players who’ve reached the top of their sport.
So if you’re a volleyball player who’s on the shorter side with dreams of competing at a higher level, there is plenty of hope for you.
Look at players like Kendall White, Zoe Fleck, and Kyle Dagostino as proof of what’s possible!
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