In volleyball, how many points are needed to win the fourth set?

In indoor volleyball, the first four sets of a match are each won by the first team to score 25 points with a lead of at least two points. Only the fifth (deciding) set is shorter, played to 15 points with a two-point lead.

Scoring rules in volleyball:

Volleyball uses "rally point scoring", in which a point is scored on every rally, whichever team served. This was adopted by the FIVB in 1999 (before that, only the serving team could score, and sets were played to 15).

A match is won by the first team to win three sets (best of five).

If the score in a set reaches 24-24, play continues until one team leads by two points, for example 26-24 or 30-28. There is no upper limit.

In the fifth set, teams change ends when one team reaches 8 points.

Other basic rules:

Each team has 6 players on the court.

A team may hit the ball up to 3 times before returning it over the net. A block does not count as one of the three hits.

The same player cannot hit the ball twice in a row (except after a block).

Players rotate clockwise when their team wins the right to serve.

The "libero" is a defensive specialist who wears a different coloured shirt and can only play in the back row.

Court and equipment:

• Court: 18 m x 9 m.
• Net height: 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women.

Beach volleyball:

• Played with 2 players per team on sand.
• Matches are best of three sets; the first two sets are played to 21 points, and the third set to 15.

Why not the other options?

• ✗15 is the target score for the fifth (deciding) set.
• ✗21 is the target score for a set in beach volleyball (and a game in badminton).
• ✗30 is not a standard target in volleyball.