Tall players may be the standard in volleyball, but that doesnโt mean youโre left out if youโre of modest height. These six short volleyball players prove height isnโt everything.
Height is undoubtedly an advantage when playing volleyball. After all, the standard volleyball net height for indoor and beach volleyball is slightly under eight feet.
Therefore, the taller you are, the better your chance of spiking the ball over the net and away from your opponent. However, height doesnโt determine success on the court.ย
In fact, six of the shortest menโs volleyball players have had an outsized influence on the sport. These men prove that hard work, dedication, and honing of skills are more important than height, especially in the game of volleyball.
Letโs take a closer look at the sport and the modest men who are accomplished and have made considerable contributions to the game.
Volleyball: Insight Into the Sport
Let’s learn more about the sport before we list the shortest volleyball players. Physical education instructor William Morgan invented Volleyball in 1895.
He saw an opportunity to create an alternative to basketball, which he found too much of a struggle for his students. He originally called volleyball โmintonetteโ and combined elements of basketball, tennis, and handball.
Volleyball quickly became popular, and by 1947, the International Volleyball Federation was created to provide oversight to the sport.ย
Typically, six team players are on half of the court during a game. In the front row, youโll find an outside hitter, middle blocker, and opposite hitter. There is a setter, libero, and defensive specialist in the back row.ย
All team members work together to score points, and there are several ways to earn points. First, a team can score a point by serving the ball and the opposing team not returning it. Second, if the opposing team hits the ball out of bounds or into the net and last by the other team faulting.ย
Because of the net’s height and the game’s logistics, tall players are common. Take the most recent Olympic team, for example. The shortest player was Eric Shoji, at 6โ0โ.
If youโre wondering who the tallest player was, there were actually three who all measure at the 6โ10โ mark. However, this doesnโt mean that short athletes arenโt desirable, and the following list of players is proof.
Six Short Professional Volleyball Players To Keep Your Eye On
Without further ado, here is the Modest Manโs list of the six shortest menโs volleyball players. Let them inspire you and remind you that you can do anything you put your mind to. Here they are, from shortest to tallest.
1. Farhad Zarif, Height: 5โ5โ
- Weight: 132 Pounds
- Spike: 114 Inches
- Position: Libero
Iranian-born Farhad Zarig is the shortest professional menโs volleyball player to have achieved wide success in the sport. At under five and a half feet tall, heโs as much as a whole foot shorter than many of his competitors.
However, his height gave him a unique advantage as his teamโs libero or back-row defense.ย
Zarig played at both the club and international volleyball levels. He was a member of the Iranian National team that won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games. His team also participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics.ย
Farhad Zarig retired from professional volleyball in 2014 due to family struggles. However, fans remember him for his exceptional libero skills and leadership on the court.ย
2. Taichiro Koga, Height: 5โ7โ
- Weight: 154 pounds
- Spike: 115 inches
- Position: Libero
Taichiro Koga is a professional volleyball player hailing from Japan. He has led his country to victory in several national championships. As a member of the Japanese National Team, heโs made several appearances at the FIVB Volleyball World Championships.
He was also a member of the Japanese Olympic team that won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.ย
Heโs still an active volleyball player, currently playing for the Tokyo Great Bears. Heโs smart on the court and delivers explosive spikes. Heโs also a great server and is ultra-precise.ย
3. Matias Sanchez, Height: 5โ8โ
- Weight: 141 pounds
- Spike: 120 inches
- Position: Setter
Pato might be the national sport of Argentina, but Matias Sanchez chose to take his athletic talents to the volleyball court as an expert setter. Since 2013, Sanchez has won a โBest Setterโ award eight times. Most recently, Sanchez won another award for volleyball โ a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.ย
Matias Sanchez often keeps himself very busy. At one point, he pulled double duty as part of the Argentine national volleyball team and the French club Tourcoing LM.
4. Masahiro Sekita, Height: 5โ9โ
- Weight: 159 pounds
- Spike: 122 inches
- Position: Setter
Masahiro Sekita and the players to follow may be above the height of modest men, but they are still short in the volleyball world. Sekita is a 30-year-old player from Japan who plays on the JTEKT Stings and the Japan menโs national volleyball team.ย
Sekita is an incredibly quick setter who sets the ball instantaneously to his hitters. Heโs known for his wicked serve and incredible floor defense.
He has played on several teams and earned medals along the way. He has five volleyball medals under his belt, including a historic silver medal (the first for Japan) obtained in the 2024 FIVB Nations League.ย
5. Kyle Dagostino, Height: 5โ9โ
- Weight: 165 pounds
- Spike: N/A
- Position: Libero
Most men on the USA Volleyball team are well over six feet tall. Kyle Dagostino, standing at 5โ9โ, bucks this trend. He made his volleyball debut on the U.S. Menโs National Team at the Pam Am Cup in 2018 and has played professionally abroad.
Heโs proud to have filled his passport playing volleyball professionally in Slovenia, Germany, Finland, and France. Most recently, he represented the USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.ย
Dagostino is accomplished on and off the volleyball court. He graduated from Stanford with an English degree and played soccer in high school.ย
6. Francisco Ruiz, Height: 5โ10โ
- Weight: 165 pounds
- Spike 135 inches
- Position: Outside spiker
Francisco Ruiz was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. He plays as an outside spiker for Italyโs Plus Volleyball Sabudia team. His nimble footwork and impressive vertical have made him quite an asset for the team. Since 2010, Ruiz has played for 12 different teams in Spain, Italy, and Greece.ย
Ruiz has won various awards, including seven โBest Outside Hitter,โ โBest Server,โ Best Receiver,โ and โMVP.โ Needless to say, heโs quite the asset to any team heโs on.ย
Frequently Asked Questions About Short Volleyball Players
If you have questions, we have you covered. Here are a few of the most common queries regarding volleyball and short volleyball players.ย ย
Can You Be a Short Volleyball Player?
Yes, you can be a short volleyball player. Your height does not determine your volleyball success. Even the shortest volleyball players will tell you that skill, agility, good technique, dedication, and hard work are more valuable on the court than your height.ย
What Are the Best Volleyball Positions for Short Players?
The Libero position is one of the best volleyball positions for short players. Youโve probably noticed that half of the players on our list are Liberos. The Libero is a defensive position in the back row.
They are responsible for receiving the opponent’s serve, setting up the team for attacks, and positioning themselves for effecting passing.ย
Is Being Short Good for Volleyball?
Depending on your position, being short has advantages in volleyball. Short players tend to be more agile and have a lower center of gravity. This allows you to stay balanced and react quickly to plays.
Closing Thoughts: Height and Volleyball
Did you know that the average height of a male volleyball player is a little over 6โ1โ? That really puts into perspective how significant the accomplishments of these short volleyball players are.
Despite the odds stacked against them, their athleticism and strategic thinking have allowed them to succeed. Isnโt that more impressive than winning the tall gene in the genetic lottery?ย
Is there a short volleyball player that impresses you with their skill? Let us know in the comments below.
literally everyone except the last one is invalid because you only need height to be a hitter??
That’s very impressive. They beat the odds and worked very hard to get where they are. It’s too bad schools restrict sports teams to taller people. It would be great if they let shorter people form their own teams.