Height Requirements for College Volleyball

Being tall is a plus in volleyball. That's a given. While many volleyball players are tall, the minimum height is 5 feet tall, so if you meet the height and sometimes jumping requirements in your division and tier, you may find yourself playing college volleyball. These requirements vary per governing board and position, as well as tier. The National Collegiate Scouting Association and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics differ on their minimum height standards for eligibility.

Libero/Defensive Specialist

The position of libero/defensive specialist has the lowest height requirement for the NCSA. Tier one players must be at least 5 feet tall. The range tier 1 is 5 feet, 5 inches to 6 feet for upper levels and 5 feet, 5 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches for mid-lower levels. For division two, the upper levels range is 5 feet, 2 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet to 5 feet, 8 inches for lower levels. All levels of division three have requirements of 5 feet to 5 feet, 8 inches.

NAIA schools have lower requirements in general with tier one 5 feet, 2 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches and tier two being only 5 feet to 5 feet, 8 inches.

Setter Height Requirements

The position with the next shortest height requirement is the setter. Upper and mid-lower level tier one players for NCSA must be between 5 feet, 8 inches and 6 feet, 1 inch. For division two, the upper levels range is 5 feet, 7 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches and 5 feet, 4 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches for lower levels. Division three requirements for upper level are 5 feet, 4 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches and 5 feet to 5 feet, 10 inches for the mid-lower level.

NAIA schools require a height range of 5 feet, 7 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches for tier one and 5 feet, 4 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches for tier two setters.

OH/RS Height Requirements

The height requirements go up a bit for OH/RS positions. Upper lever tier one height range is 5 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches and mid-lower level 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet for NCSA. Division two upper level range is 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 11 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches for lower levels. Division three requirements for upper level are 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches and 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 11 inches for the mid-lower level.

NAIA schools, of course, have slightly different height ranges. Upper level tier one has a player height range of 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 11 inches and 5 feet, 7 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches for lower level tier two players.

Middle Hitter Heights

The final position and the one with the tallest height requirements is middle hitters. Division one, tier one for NCSA is 6 feet to 6 feet, 4 inches. Division one, tier two is 5 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet, 3 inches. Division two, tier one is 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches and division two, tier two is 5 feet, 9 inches to 6 feet, 1 inch. Division three, tier one is 5 feet, 9 inches to 6 feet, 1 inch and tier two is 5 feet, 8 inches to 6 feet.

Middle hitters for the NAIA need only be 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches for tier one and 5 feet, 9 inches to 6 feet, 1 inch for tier two.