The Highest Vertical Jumps In Volleyball 2024
Well known for their incredible jumping abilities, professional volleyballers are some of the most impressive athletes in all of sports.
Inquiring about the impressive vertical leaps of top volleyballers and identifying the athletes with the highest springiness in today’s game is a common curiosity.
The article explores the highest vertical jumps in volleyball, featuring notable athletes like Matey Kazyiski and highlighting factors influencing vertical jump heights. Matey Kazyiski of Bulgaria holds the current highest vertical jump in volleyball, reaching an astonishing spike height of 390cm.
Subject to considerable debate regarding their accuracy and the conversion to actual vertical jump height, these numbers will be further explored later on.
How High Can Professional Volleyball Players Jump?
Varying significantly in volleyball, vertical jumps are primarily influenced by the player’s position.
Due to their tall and lanky build, particularly observed in middle blockers, some players can effectively contact the ball without the need for particularly high leaps.
For backcourt specialists, there is no necessity to jump at all, highlighting the unique demands of their playing position.
When considering these numbers, the main focus is on outside and opposite hitters in volleyball.
Typically, elite men’s volleyball players can achieve a vertical jump ranging from 33 to 45 inches, with only a handful of athletes surpassing these heights.
In women’s volleyball, these numbers will be considerably lower, usually reduced by approximately 66-75%.
Derived from the vertical jump performance targets employed within the Australian National Elite Volleyball Development Program, these numbers serve as a basis for evaluation.
Having gained an extremely good feel for the actual jumping capabilities of top-level volleyballers and understanding the expectations for those aspiring to go pro, I have valuable insights into the sport’s physical demands.
What Is the Highest Vertical Jumps In Volleyball?
Depending on age, gender, height, and training age/experience, the answer to this question will vary significantly.
Considered quite good for a professional volleyball player, a vertical jump of 35 inches (89cm) or more is the benchmark in evaluating their performance.
Exceptional for a 13-year-old boy in his first season, a vertical jump of 25 inches is a noteworthy achievement.
Providing a decent idea of your standing within that skill bracket, and comparing your vertical jump height to your peers is a useful benchmark.
Top 5 Highest Vertical Jumps In Volleyball
To showcase the extraordinary feats achieved by these athletes, I’ve compiled what I believe is the current list of the most impressive vertical jumps in volleyball of all time.
As a disclaimer, obtaining consistent, accurate vertical jump data for top-level volleyballers is virtually impossible.
While it’s possible to determine someone’s height and often find a fairly accurate spike height, the absence of standing reach information renders the calculation of actual vertical jump height impossible.
Created based on my subjective assessment of overall impressiveness in an athlete’s vertical jumping ability, this list takes into account factors such as height, spike height, and the visual impact of their jumping technique.
Acknowledging that this list might be a little controversial, I believe it to be a pretty accurate representation based on my assessment of vertical jumping abilities in volleyball players.
1. Matey Kaziyski
I would imagine that the absence of Loenel Marshall in the top position might have been surprising to you!
Acknowledging that Marshall is widely recognized as the mentor of vertical jump in volleyball, it’s time to shine the spotlight on another incredible outside hitter from Bulgaria, emphasizing the wealth of talent in this aspect of the sport.
Earning the top spot on my list, Matey Kazyiski achieved this position when he recorded a 390cm spike height, currently holding the world’s highest spike touch, to the best of my knowledge.
Notably, Marshall achieved a 383cm spike reach, and what adds to the impressiveness is that Kazyiski, who is only 6cm taller than Marshall at a height of 202cm, surpassed him with a spike height of 390cm.
Assuming Marshall and Kazyiski have the same arm length (standing reach), Matey Kazyiski’s vertical would surpass Leonel Marshall’s by 1cm.
Harboring a sneaking suspicion that this may not be the case, the nonetheless impressive athleticism of Matey Kazyiski remains undeniable.
Believed to have held the record for the hardest spike at one stage, Matey Kazyiski’s achievements in volleyball underscore his exceptional skills and impact on the sport.
2. Leonel Marshall
Undisputedly crowned the king of vertical jump, at least within the realm of volleyball, Matey Kazyiski’s prowess stands as a testament to his unparalleled athleticism in the sport.
Standing at a relatively average height of 6’5″ (196cm), Leonel Marshall of Cuba showcased an obnoxious 383cm spike height, making it a truly remarkable sight to witness the jumping prowess of this exceptional player.
While well-publicized to have had a 50-inch (127cm) vertical jump, there is no available data to confirm the accuracy of this claim regarding Leonel Marshall’s leaping ability.
Expressing a lack of surprise, it wouldn’t be astonishing if Leonel Marshall’s vertical jump exceeded the reported 50 inches.
Regrettably, there is no particularly amazing footage capturing Leonel Marshall’s jumps.
3. Mireya Luis
Mireya Luis, hailing from Cuba, is a volleyballer who might not be widely known to most people.
With an extraordinary ability to jump, this woman possesses a truly impressive and somewhat extraordinary bounce in the realm of volleyball.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend watching highlights on YouTube of Mireya Luis spiking the ball; it’s a truly incredible spectacle.
Standing at a height of only 175cm, Mireya Luis boasts a phenomenal 339cm spike reach, a feat virtually unheard of for female volleyball players. The fact that she is not even close to 6 feet makes this achievement all the more ridiculously impressive.
Possibly constituting the most impressive vertical jump in the history of volleyball, Mireya Luis could easily have secured the top spot on my list with her extraordinary athleticism.
4. Yuji Nishida
Earning a well-deserved place on my list, Japan’s superstar Yuji Nishida has showcased his incredible jumping ability, solidifying his status as a remarkable athlete in the world of volleyball.
Estimated at 41.3 inches or 105cm, Yuji Nishida’s vertical jump stands as a testament to his exceptional leaping prowess in the realm of volleyball.
Despite being only 186cm tall, Yuji Nishida’s 346cm spike reach is deemed near world-class, showcasing a level of impressiveness that is truly remarkable for an athlete of his height.
More captivating than the numerical value is the beauty of Yuji Nishida’s jumping form. His flared legs captivate fans as he elevates into the air, seemingly gliding for seconds, adding an aesthetic grace to his already impressive vertical jump.
5. Ben Patch
Making my list is USA’s very own Ben Patch, showcasing one of the top vertical jumps in professional volleyball.
Incredibly impressive is the fact that this man, standing at only 203cm (yes, only), boasts a remarkable 382cm spike height, underscoring the exceptional nature of his vertical jumping ability in professional volleyball.
Exemplifying the characteristics of extremely high jumpers, Benjamin Patch is the definition of smooth as he launches into the air. His jumps appear effortless, adding to the overall grace and finesse of his athletic performance in volleyball.
What Is Spike Height In Volleyball?
Referred to as spike reach or spike touch, spike height is the highest point an athlete can reach in the air after executing a running vertical jump.
The earlier clip featuring Matey Kazyiski captures him in the act of testing his spike height or spike reach, showcasing his impressive vertical jump capabilities.
How Do You Measure Spike Height In Volleyball?
Calculated using various vertical jump measurement tools, the most common of which is the vertec, spike height provides a quantitative measure of an athlete’s vertical jumping ability.
Alternatively, a vertical jump mat or force plate can be employed to calculate vertical jump height. In this case, to obtain spike height, the athlete would need to add their standing reach to the calculated vertical jump height.
The simplest way to measure your spike height in volleyball, following Kazyiski’s example, is to use a vertec.
What Is A Good Spike Height In Volleyball?
Depending on factors such as age, gender, height, training age/experience, and position, the answer to this question regarding spike height in volleyball will vary significantly.
An elite-level men’s volleyball spike height typically falls around 350cm, representing the impressive vertical reach achieved by top-level athletes in the sport.
Set as a target by our national team coach for all junior national-level volleyballers, reaching a spike height of around 350cm was a challenging goal, and only a few athletes in the junior program were able to achieve it.
Matey Kazyiski’s 390cm spike reach is truly out of this world, especially considering that a 350cm spike height is already considered above average even for professional volleyball players.
In women’s volleyball, an elite spike height is typically around the 320cm mark, signifying the impressive vertical reach achieved by top-level athletes. In contrast, the college average for women is only 280cm.
What is The Olympic Average Spike Height In Volleyball?
While data regarding Olympic rosters may be challenging to obtain, the FIVB website provides a valuable resource by listing team rosters for events like the World Cup, which includes information on spike reach.
According to the FIVB website, the average spike height for USA men’s volleyball was recorded at 346cm, providing a statistical measure of the team’s overall vertical jumping capabilities.
As reported on the FIVB website, the average spike height for the Brazilian volleyball roster was measured at 325cm, indicating the team’s collective vertical jumping performance.
Challenging to determine the accuracy of these numbers, as the FIVB website lists Ben Patch’s reach at only 368cm, leaving room for potential discrepancies in the reported spike heights and reaches of volleyball players.
I would imagine that, on average, the spike heights for most Olympic-level men’s volleyball players fall somewhere between 320-345cm, reflecting the exceptional vertical jumping abilities of athletes at this elite level.
It’s important to note that these statistics include numbers from liberos, whose generally lower spike heights contribute to bringing down the overall average in men’s volleyball.
Volleyball Vertical Jump & Spike Height FAQ
Who jumps higher, volleyball or basketball?
While there isn’t an abundance of comparable data to definitively make a comparison, it’s worth noting that the average vertical jump in the NBA is around 28 inches. As mentioned earlier, a solid vertical jump in volleyball is typically considered to be around 35 inches, underscoring the differences in the athletic demands between the two sports.
Even if the average vertical jump in volleyball is lower than 35 inches, one can reasonably assume it would likely be higher than the NBA average of 28 inches, especially when excluding liberos whose jumping capabilities might skew the overall figures.
In contrast to basketball, where players need to maintain continuous movement up and down the court throughout the game, volleyball places a different demand on athletes. With less emphasis on continuous running, volleyball players can allocate more focus and training toward maximizing their vertical jump height.
It seems fair to assert that, on average, volleyball players achieve higher vertical jumps compared to basketball players. The nature of the two sports, with volleyball’s emphasis on explosive jumping over sustained running, contributes to this observed difference.
How do volleyball players jump so high?
To achieve impressive vertical jumps, volleyball players employ a combination of resistance training and plyometrics to enhance their explosive strength and jumping abilities.
What is the woman’s D1 volleyball average spike height?
Although specific Division 1 spike height stats are unavailable, it’s noted that the average spike height for women’s college-level spikers is reported to be 280cm or 9’2″.1 This figure provides a general reference for the vertical jumping capabilities of athletes at this level.
The top 80th percentile, set at 290cm or 9’6″, stands as a likely decent benchmark for spike height in Division 1 women’s volleyball, reflecting the elevated jumping abilities expected among elite athletes at this level.