Rally Scoring
A point on every rally, no matter which team served. FIVB switched to it in 1999 so matches would have a more predictable length, and the NCAA followed. You still play to 25, win by two, with a fifth set to 15 indoors. Before that, only the serving team could score. If the receiving team won the rally, they got the serve back and no point. That was side-out scoring, and a set could go on for a long time.
Example
Your team receives, passes, and kills the ball. You get a point and the next serve. Under the old rules you would have gotten the serve only.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did volleyball switch to rally scoring?
FIVB adopted rally scoring in 1999, and the NCAA followed soon after. Every rally awards a point, so the length of a match is easier to predict than it was under side-out scoring.
What was side-out scoring in volleyball?
Only the serving team could score. If the receiving team won the rally, they earned the serve and nothing on the scoreboard. Sets had no natural ending, so matches ran long.