How to keep score in volleyball

Volleyball uses rally scoring: every rally wins a point for one side, whoever served. A set goes to 25 and you have to win it by 2. The first team to win three sets wins the match, and a fifth set, if it's needed, goes to 15.

At a glance

• Players: 6 a side, or 2 in beach volleyball

• Who wins: First team to win 3 sets

• Sets: To 25, win by 2. A fifth set to 15

• Points: One every rally, whoever served

How a match is scored

The official rules for indoor and beach volleyball, side by side.

Rally scoring and serving

Every rally ends with a point, whichever side served. If the receiving team wins the rally, it scores and takes the serve too. Indoors, that team rotates one place clockwise before it serves.

There's no cap on a set. At 24 all, play on until one team leads by 2, whether that's 26 to 24 or 31 to 29.

When the match ends

Indoor matches are best of five sets, and beach matches best of three. As soon as a team has won the sets it needs, the match is over, so an indoor match can end 3 to 0, 3 to 1 or 3 to 2.

Teams change ends after every set. In the deciding set indoors, they also change when one team reaches 8. On the beach, teams change every 7 points, and every 5 in the third set.

Shorter matches and older scoring

• Best of three: a shorter match, with sets to 25 and a third set to 15.

• One set: for a quick game at the park, play one set to 25, or to 21 or 15, still winning by 2.

• Side-out scoring: the old way, where only the serving team could score and sets went to 15. Some casual games still play it.

A scoring example

An indoor match that went the full five sets.

At 24 all in set 3, play went on until Team A led by 2. Set 5 was the deciding set, so it went to 15, and Team A won the match 3 sets to 2.

Keep score in Tallynight

Volleyball is set up for you, in sets: 25 points a set, win by 2, best of five, with a fifth set to 15. Add each team as a player and tap + for every rally it wins.

When a team wins a set, the next one starts by itself, and the match ends when a team has won three. Change the points per set or the number of sets for a shorter game.

• A new set starts by itself once a team wins one by 2

• Sets won on each team's tile

• One set, best of three or best of five

• A winner card and a race chart at the end

• Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

Questions

How many points do you need to win a set of volleyball?

25, with a lead of 2. A deciding fifth set goes to 15, and beach volleyball sets go to 21.

Do you have to win by 2 in volleyball?

Yes, in every set. There's no cap, so at 24 all the set goes on until one team is 2 points ahead.

Can you score when you're not serving in volleyball?

Yes. With rally scoring, every rally wins a point, and the team that wins the rally serves next.

How many sets are in a volleyball match?

Indoor matches are best of five, so the first team to win three sets wins. Beach matches are best of three.

How is beach volleyball scored?

Sets go to 21, win by 2, and a third set, if needed, goes to 15. The first team to win two sets wins the match.

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