NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament Annual american volleyball tournament
NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament Sport Volleyball Founded 1981 No. of teams 64 Country United StatesMost recent champion(s) Penn State (8)Most titles Stanford (9)TV partner(s) ABC Official website NCAA.com
The NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament is an annual event that leads to the championship in women's volleyball from teams in Division I contested by the NCAA each winter since 1981. Penn State won the most recent tournament, defeating Louisville 3–1 at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky .
History
From 1970 through 1980, before the NCAA governed women's collegiate athletics, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women conducted the women's collegiate volleyball championships.
Volleyball was one of twelve women's sports added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981–82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in battle with the AIAW for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The AIAW continued to conduct its established championship program in the same twelve (and other) sports; however, after a year of dual women's championships, the NCAA won the fight and assumed the AIAW's authority and membership.
The first NCAA championship tournament was held in 1981, with 20 schools competing for the title. The tournament expanded gradually, moving to 28 teams in 1982, 32 in 1986, 48 in 1993, 56 in 1997, and finally to its current size of 64 in 1998.[ 1]
There is also an NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship , which until 2012 was open to members of all three NCAA divisions,, as there are far fewer men's programs than women's. However, starting in the 2011–12 school year (2011 women's season, 2012 men's season), a Division III championship was established. The National Collegiate championship now involves only Division I and II members; under NCAA rules, D-II schools can compete under D-I rules in any sport that does not have a dedicated D-II national championship.
Champions
The following is a list of Division I champions and runners-up with the champion's overall record, city, site and other national semifinal participants.
See Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women championships for the Division I volleyball champions from 1970 to 1981. NOTE: In 1981 there were both NCAA and AIAW champions.
NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship[ 2]
Year
Host City (University)
Host Arena
Final
Third Place Final / Semifinalists
Winner
Score
Runner-up
Third Place
Score
Fourth Place
1981
Los Angeles (UCLA )
Pauley Pavilion
USC (27–10)
3–2
UCLA
San Diego State
3–0
Pacific
1982
Stockton, California (Pacific )
Alex G. Spanos Center
Hawaiʻi (33–1)
3–2
USC
San Diego State
3–2
Stanford
1983
Lexington, Kentucky (Kentucky )
Memorial Coliseum
Hawaiʻi (2) (34–2)
3–0
UCLA
Stanford
3–1
Pacific
1984
Los Angeles (UCLA )
Pauley Pavilion
UCLA (33–6)
3–2
Stanford
Pacific
3–1
San Jose State
1985
Kalamazoo, Michigan (Western Michigan )
Read Fieldhouse
Pacific (36–3)
3–1
Stanford
USC
3–2
UCLA
1986
Stockton, California (Pacific )
Alex G. Spanos Center
Pacific (2) (39–3)
3–0
Nebraska
Texas , Stanford
1987
Indianapolis
Market Square Arena
Hawaiʻi (3) (37–2)
3–1
Stanford
Illinois , Texas
1988
Minneapolis (Minnesota )
Williams Arena
Texas (34–5)
3–0
Hawaiʻi
Illinois, UCLA
1989
Honolulu, Hawaii (Hawaiʻi )
Blaisdell Arena
Long Beach State (32–5)
3–0
Nebraska
UT Arlington , UCLA
1990
College Park, Maryland (Maryland )
Cole Field House
UCLA (2) (36–1)
3–0
Pacific
LSU , Nebraska
1991
Los Angeles (UCLA )
Pauley Pavilion
UCLA (3) (31–5)
3–2
Long Beach State
LSU, Ohio State
1992
Albuquerque, New Mexico (New Mexico )
University Arena
Stanford (31–2)
3–1
UCLA
Long Beach State, Florida
1993
Madison, Wisconsin (Wisconsin )
UW Field House
Long Beach State (2) (32–2)
3–1
Penn State
BYU , Florida
1994
Austin, Texas (Texas )
Frank Erwin Center
Stanford (2) (32–1)
3–1
UCLA
Penn State, Ohio State
1995
Amherst, Massachusetts (Massachusetts )
Mullins Center
Nebraska (32–1)
3–1
Texas
Stanford, Michigan State
1996
Cleveland , Ohio (Cleveland State )
CSU Convocation Center
Stanford (3) (31–2)
3–0
Hawaiʻi
Nebraska, Florida
1997
Spokane, Washington (Washington State )
Spokane Arena
Stanford (4) (33–2)
3–2
Penn State
Long Beach State, Florida
1998
Madison, Wisconsin (Wisconsin )
Kohl Center
Long Beach State (3) (36–0)
3–2
Penn State
Nebraska, Florida
1999
Honolulu, Hawaii (Hawaiʻi )
Stan Sheriff Center
Penn State (36–1)
3–0
Stanford
Long Beach State, Pacific
2000
Richmond, Virginia (VCU )
Richmond Coliseum
Nebraska (2) (34–0)
3–2
Wisconsin
Hawaiʻi, USC
2001
San Diego (San Diego State )
Cox Arena
Stanford (5) (33–2)
3–0
Long Beach State
Arizona , Nebraska
2002
New Orleans (New Orleans )
New Orleans Arena
USC (2) (31–1)
3–1
Stanford
Hawaiʻi, Florida
2003
Dallas
Reunion Arena
USC (3) (35–0)
3–1
Florida
Hawaiʻi, Minnesota
2004
Long Beach, California (Long Beach State )
Long Beach Arena
Stanford (6) (30–6)
3–0
Minnesota
USC, Washington
2005
San Antonio (UTSA )
Alamodome
Washington (32–1)
3–0
Nebraska
Santa Clara , Tennessee
2006
Omaha, Nebraska (Nebraska )
Qwest Center
Nebraska (3) (33–1)
3–1
Stanford
UCLA, Washington
2007
Sacramento, California (Sacramento State )
ARCO Arena
Penn State (2) (34–2)
3–2
Stanford
California , USC
2008
Omaha, Nebraska (Nebraska )
Qwest Center
Penn State (3) (38–0)
3–0
Stanford
Nebraska, Texas
2009
Tampa, Florida (South Florida )
St. Pete Times Forum
Penn State (4) (38–0)
3–2
Texas
Hawaiʻi, Minnesota
2010
Kansas City, Missouri (UMKC )
Sprint Center
Penn State (5) (32–5)
3–0
California
Texas, USC
2011
San Antonio (UTSA )
Alamodome
UCLA (4) (30–6)
3–1
Illinois
Florida State , USC
2012
Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville )
KFC Yum! Center
Texas (2) (29–4)
3–0
Oregon
Michigan , Penn State
2013
Seattle, Washington (Washington )
KeyArena
Penn State (6) (34–2)
3–1
Wisconsin
Texas, Washington
2014
Oklahoma City (Oklahoma )
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Penn State (7) (36–3)
3–0
BYU
Stanford, Texas
2015
Omaha, Nebraska (Nebraska )
CenturyLink Center Omaha
Nebraska (4) (32–4)
3–0
Texas
Kansas , Minnesota
2016
Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State )
Nationwide Arena
Stanford (7) (27–7)
3–1
Texas
Minnesota, Nebraska
2017
Kansas City, Missouri (UMKC & Kansas )
Sprint Center
Nebraska (5) (33–4)
3–1
Florida
Penn State, Stanford
2018
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minnesota )
Target Center
Stanford (8) (34–1)
3–2
Nebraska
BYU, Illinois
2019
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Duquesne )
PPG Paints Arena
Stanford (9) (30–4)
3–0
Wisconsin
Baylor , Minnesota
2020 [ a]
Omaha, Nebraska (Nebraska )
CHI Health Center Omaha
Kentucky (24–1)
3–1
Texas
Washington, Wisconsin
2021
Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State )
Nationwide Arena
Wisconsin (31–3)
3–2
Nebraska
Louisville , Pittsburgh
2022
Omaha, Nebraska (Nebraska )
CHI Health Center Omaha
Texas (3) (28–1)
3–0
Louisville
Pittsburgh, San Diego
2023
Tampa, Florida (South Florida )
Amalie Arena
Texas (4) (28–4)
3–0
Nebraska
Pittsburgh, Wisconsin
2024
Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville )
KFC Yum! Center
Penn State (8) (35–2)
3–1
Louisville
Pittsburgh, Nebraska
2025
Kansas City, Missouri (Kansas )
T-Mobile Center
2026
San Antonio, Texas (UTSA )
Alamodome
2027
Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State )
Nationwide Arena
^ Due to COVID-19 , the NCAA moved its 2020–21 championship events in fall sports from fall 2020 to spring 2021. The NCAA is labeling the tournament as the "2020" edition, but the season as "2020–21".
Statistics
Team titles
Schools with national championships — 9 championships,
– 8 championships,
– 5 championships,
– 4 championships,
– 3 championships
– 2 championships,
– 1 championship
Team
Number
Year won
Stanford
9
1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2016, 2018, 2019
Penn State
8
1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2024
Nebraska
5
1995, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2017
Texas
4
1988, 2012, 2022, 2023
UCLA
4
1984, 1990, 1991, 2011
Hawaiʻi
3
1982, 1983, 1987
Long Beach State
3
1989, 1993, 1998
USC
3
1981, 2002, 2003
Pacific
2
1985, 1986
Kentucky
1
2020
Washington
1
2005
Wisconsin
1
2021
Results by team and year
• First Round (48 teams 1993 through 1996, 56 teams 1997, 64 teams 1998 through present, except 2020 )
20 28 32 Second Round (20 teams 1981, 28 teams 1982 through 1985, 32 teams 1986 to present )
16 Round of 16
QF Quarterfinals
SF Semifinals
RU National Runner-up
CH National Champion
16 32 The team achieved the placement shown, but the participation was later vacated. These vacated appearances are not included in the total columns.
Starting in 1993, the top 4 teams in each region were seeded. The 4 teams seeded No. 1 are shown with double underline , and 12 teams seeded between No. 2 and No. 4 are shown with .
Champions by decade
1980s
1
Long Beach State, Texas, UCLA, USC
1990s
2000s
2
Nebraska, Stanford, USC
2010s
Winners of two or more consecutive championships
Wins
Team
Years
4
Penn State
2007–2010
2
Hawaiʻi
1982, 1983
Pacific
1985, 1986
UCLA
1990, 1991
Stanford
1996, 1997, 2018, 2019
USC
2002, 2003
Penn State
2013, 2014
Texas
2022, 2023
Common matchups in Championship Final
# of Times
Matchup
Record
Years Played
4
Penn State vs Stanford
Penn State 3–1
1997, 1999, 2007, 2008
3
Nebraska vs Texas
Nebraska 2–1
1995, 2015, 2023
Stanford vs UCLA
Stanford 2–1
1984, 1992, 1994
2
Hawaiʻi vs Stanford
Tied 1–1
1987, 1996
Long Beach State vs Penn State
Long Beach State 2–0
1993, 1998
Nebraska vs Stanford
Tied 1–1
2006, 2018
Nebraska vs Wisconsin
Tied 1–1
2000, 2021
Champions by state
Final Four appearances
Team
Number
Champion
Runner-up
Semifinalist
Stanford
23
9
8
6
Cal
2
0
1
1
Arizona
1
0
0
1
UCLA
12
4
4
4
USC
10
3
1
6
Washington
5
1
0
4
Oregon
1
0
1
0
Nebraska
17
5
6
6
Penn State
14
8
3
3
Minnesota
6
0
1
5
Wisconsin
6
1
3
2
Illinois
4
0
1
3
Ohio State
2
0
0
2
Michigan State
1
0
0
1
Michigan
1
0
0
1
Florida
8
0
2
6
LSU
2
0
0
2
Kentucky
1
1
0
0
Tennessee
1
0
0
1
Texas
14
4
5
5
BYU
3
0
1
2
Baylor
1
0
0
1
Kansas
1
0
0
1
Pittsburgh
4
0
0
4
Louisville
3
0
2
1
Florida State
1
0
0
1
Pacific
7
2
1
4
Santa Clara
1
0
0
1
San Diego
1
0
0
1
Hawaiʻi
9
3
2
4
Long Beach State
8
3
2
3
San Diego State
2
0
0
2
San Jose State
1
0
0
1
UT Arlington
1
0
0
1
Current conference key
Pac 12
Big Ten
SEC
Big 12
ACC
West Coast
Big West
Mountain West
WAC
Records
Highest attendance: 21,860 (2024 Louisville-Penn State championship match)
Lowest attendance for a championship match: 0 (2020 )[ 3] [ a]
Lowest seed to win championship: 11 (Stanford, 2004)
Lowest seed in championship game: Unseeded (BYU, 2014)
Most championships: Stanford (9)
Most consecutive championships: Penn State (4, 2007–10)
Most consecutive postseason victories: Penn State (26)
Most championships by a head coach: Russ Rose (7)
Most championships by conference: Pac-12 (17)
Most appearances in championship match: Stanford (17)
Most semifinal appearances: Stanford (23)
Most semifinal appearances without a championship: Florida (8)
Undefeated seasons (since 1981): Long Beach State (1998), Nebraska (2000), USC (2003), Penn State (2008, 2009)
[ 2] [ 4]
^ The lowest attendance for a championship match with no artificial attendance restrictions was 2,000 for the 1983 final.
Most Outstanding Player
In 1991 and now annually since 1996, the NCAA has awarded the most outstanding player(s) of the NCAA championship.[ 2]
See also
References
External links
Organizations
National teams
Professional leagues
NCAA competitions
Defunct leagues
Categories
Tournaments Records & statistics Rankings