Volleymaster inspired me to this topic :)
Loong time ago I was looking for the information what was the longest set in the history of volleyball. I have found this:
| 1 | 87:85 | Men Czechoslovak League | 1979 | ??? - Triest Baranovice |
| 2 | 56:54 | Men Korean League | 28.11.2013 | Korean Air Jumbos - Rush & Cash |
| 3 | 54:52 | Men Italian Serie A | 13.01.2002 | Bre Banca Cuneo - Sisley Treviso |
| 4 | 52:54 | Men Greek A1 | 31.10.2007 | AEK Athens - PAOK Thessaloniki |
| 5 | 50:48 | Men German League | 21.12.2019 | Alpen Volleys - Luneburg |
| 6 | 48:46 | Women Italian League | 04.02.2002 | Modena - Perugia |
| 7 | 48:46 | Men Russian Superleague | 15.04.2018 | Fakel Novy Urengoy - Lokomotiv Novosibirsk |
| 8 | 48:46 | Men Italian Serie A2 | 14.05.2003 | Lamezia - Cagliari |
| 9 | 48:46 | 3rd division | 28.10.2018 | Harnes - Rennes EC |
| 10 | 46:44 | Men Spanish Superliga | Malaga - CV Andorra | |
| 11 | 44:46 | Men Italian Serie A1 | 05.12.2004 | Modena - Vibo Valentia |
| 12 | 46:44 | NCAA | 08.11.2013 | Millsaps - Birmingham |
| 13 | 44:46 | Women Champions League | 21.02.2019 | Minchanka Minsk - RC Cannes |
| 14 | 45:43 | World League | 11.06.2017 | Qatar - Venezuela |
| 15 | 45:43 | Men V.Premier League | Sunbirds - Toray Arrows | |
| 16 | 45:43 | Women Lithuanian League | 26.01.2019 | Dextera - Gargždu |
| 17 | 45:43 | Women NCAA | 24.10.2009 | Manhattan - Rider |
| 18 | 45:43 | Men French Pro B | 03.11.2018 | AS Illac - Plessis-Robinson |
| 19 | 45:43 | Women Italian Supercup | 22.12.2006 | Novara - Perugia |
| 20 | 44:42 | Men Greek A1 | 09.02.2002 | Aris Thessaloniki - AE Nikaia |
Me too I wasn't aware of , for example, a 25-18 set who was 87 minutes long!! Or, just to say, another match where 39!! overall stuff blocks were scored!
http://zapytaj.onet.pl/Category/012,002/2,13626304,Najdluzszy_set_w_historii.html
http://zapytaj.onet.pl/Category/012,002/2,5460612,Najdluzszy_set_w_histori_siatkowki_.html
But it could be urban legend:(
Talking about NTs matches people remember that set on the game Brazil vs. Argentina, at 2011 WL, that finished 42:40, but I saw the same score on the match Puerto Rico vs. Canada, at the 2008 Olympic qualifier – that set was won by the Ricans. In 1999 WL Brazil won a set against Canada 44:42.
You can see really long sets watching NCAA, but by their rules the sets are played to 30 (men’s game), not 25, so seeing score going over 40 is not so uncommon.
Guys, check the link above. I really like that website which is constantly updated by a Bulgarian fan. Dunno why, but I always liked to check scores.
Although Todor’s page focuses only on NTs, you’ll see that in the old points system a score going over 20 was quite rare.
BTW, Todor brings almost every score in major tournaments and also team rosters – very interesting.
Regarding that 87:85 set supposedly played in 1979 Czechoslovakian League, maybe our Slovakian friend Berny can check for us. Though the archives of former Czechoslovakian federation stayed with the Czech federation in Prague, perhaps our friend can verify this for us, once he speaks Czech.
That volleyball set reminds me of this one in tennis – the longest set in tennis history, in the longest match (11 hours and 5 minutes).
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon10/news/story?id=5322284
Here are the stats of the game:
http://www.sport.gr/default.asp?pid=98&mid=4325&cid=45
BTW, I also remember a very long set (i guess it ended smth like 42-40) in the first match of the final of 2011 Challenge Cup, Lube Banca Marche Macerata-Arkas Izmir
What a competition
This means that they have played 3 sets and a half
43:41 2:3 (25:18, 43:41, 22:25, 19:25, 12:15)
2nd set of Italy Seria A2 (Men) Volleyball
Date: 24th of Novenber, 2013
Champions League Women
Minchanka Minsk (W) v RC Cannes (W) 44-46 today ...
28/11/13 Korean Air Jumbos d. Rush & Cash : 25-22, 25-23, 56-54
04/02/02 Modena d. Perugia (women) : 25-20, 25-22, 25-27, 48-46
11/06/17 World League, Qatar d. Venezuela : 27-29, 25-16, 45-43, 25-13
14/05/03 Lamezia d. Cagliari (2nd division) : 48-46, 25-18, 23-25, 28-26
28/10/18 Harnes d. Rennes EC (3rd division) : 25-20, 28-26, 48-46
Spain 2004/2005 Malaga d. CV Andorra : 46-44
05/12/04 Modena d. Vibo Valentia : 26-24, 23-25, 26-24, 44-46, 17-15
08/11/13 Millsaps d. Birmingham (NCAA) : 25-15, 46-44, 23-25, 25-14
Japan 2008/2009 Sunbirds d. Toray Arrows : 45-43
26/01/19 Dextera d. Gargzdai (Lithuania, women) : 25-16, 26-24, 45-43
24/10/09 Manhattan d. Rider (NCAA) : 45-43, 26-24, 25-16
03/11/18 AS Illac d. Plessis-Robinson (2nd division) : 14-25, 18-25, 45-43, 25-14, 15-12
22/12/06 Novara d. Perugia (Supercup, women) : 25-12, 25-21, 45-43
That's all I have for teams who reached at least 45 points. For some of them I don't have the precise date and the exact score. I'm pretty disappointed that I found nothing on the 87-85 and 63-61 that you listed, I'm not sure those scores really happened.
Yesterday in Turkish League :
Arhavi Spor Kulübü 25-20, 25-18, 41-43, 25-23 Inegol Belediyesi
Today in German League.
AlpenVolleys 25-21, 24-26, 50-48, 25-22 Luneburg
@PhilipFreere By the way the German federation confirmed that it is a record for the championship, so the unknown 63-61 in this article can be removed, it is fake.
@Sherlock @PhilipFreere thank you guys. Table have been updated.