The hall of fame is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m.
Here is 2012 Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Stork's display at the hall, located in Holyoke
It’s a fast-growing sport, but even many residents of the Pioneer Valley aren't aware of the history of volleyball in their own backyard.
Invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan in Holyoke, volleyball around the world is celebrated at the Paper City’s Volleyball Hall of Fame.
The Volleyball Hall of Fame’s exhibit hall features the history of the sport in a timeline.
“You can travel around and see how it evolved through the years, since 1895,” says the hall’s executive director, George Mulry. “(You can learn about) the different ways it evolved through the World Wars, and how the YMCA expanded it.”
There’s also a replica of a full-sized volleyball court, and the actual net used in the 1996 Olympics is on display.
The hall’s most popular feature is the inductee gallery, which includes plaques for each of the hall’s 112 inductees.
“It’s not just the Volleyball Hall of Fame for the U.S.; we are the international hall of fame for 21 different countries,” Mulry said.
Inductees include men and women, coaches and players, and both indoor and beach volleyball players.
An interactive video kiosk teaches visitors about the history of the sport. Many are surprised to learn that Morgan, volleyball’s inventor, was recruited to go to Springfield College by James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.
Volleyball as a sport is growing steadily in Western Massachusetts, with about 36 high school teams for girls, and 20 teams for boys.
“It’s never going to be one of the big four or five sports in the U.S., but there’s a niche for it and it’s a fun game,” Mulry said. “Kids are really drawn to it.”
The hall hosted the Morgan Classic, a men’s college volleyball tournament in early February at Springfield College, and will host a boys’ all-star game in June.