C. Thomas Howell -- Volleyball is 'DEAD' ... And It Ain't Comin' Back!

The party has gotta end sometime ... and for the sport of volleyball, it's LIGHTS OUT ... so says C. Thomas Howell -- who starred in one of the most famous volleyball movies ever!

Howell -- who starred in "Side Out" twenty five years ago -- was leaving LAX when he told us the sport bit the dust in the '90s ... along with Walkmen and pagers.

BTW, Howell's "Side Out" co-star Peter Horton went on to become a big deal in Hollywood ... producing a ton of stuff ... including "Grey's Anatomy."

Dig that.