Final answer:
Volleyball was originally named mintonette by its inventor, William G. Morgan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The game of volleyball was originally named mintonette by its inventor William G. Morgan in 1895. It was designed as a blend of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball, intended to be less physically demanding than basketball, which was also a relatively new sport at that time.
The name volleyball was suggested during a demonstration game when a spectator remarked that the game involved much "volleying" and proposed that the name be changed to volleyball, a term that readily described the nature of the game where the ball is hit back and forth over the net. Morgan quickly adopted the name, and it has been known as volleyball ever since.