ABSTRACT
Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan of the Ho-lyoke (Mass.) Y.M.C.A. as an alternative to the monotonous program of calisthenics, indoor track, and other gymnasium activities during the winter. The sport flourished in the Far West and the Midwest almost from its beginning; Fort Wayne was a leading volleyball center, possessing 200 organized teams and more than 8,000 players among a population of 114,000 by the mid-1930s. During the Depression, it ranked near the top among recreational pursuits and was played at beaches and parks in the warm months as well as indoors to escape inclement weather. Over five million Americans played volleyball during this period, encompassing all age groups and members of both sexes.
