# 1986 NCAA Division II women's volleyball tournament

The 1986 NCAA Division II women's volleyball tournament was the sixth annual tournament hosted by the NCAA to determine the team national champions of Division II women's collegiate volleyball among its member programs in the United States.
UC Riverside defeated Cal State Northridge in the final in straight sets, 3–0 (15–9, 15–6, 15–6), to claim the Highlanders' second NCAA Division II national title.
The championship matched was hosted by Sacramento State University in Sacramento, California.
UC Riverside was coached by Sue Gozansky.

## Qualifying

The tournament field remained fixed at sixteen teams.
Three teams made their debut in the NCAA Division II tournament: Grand Valley State, Minnesota–Duluth, and Navy.

## Bracket

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Championship Sacramento, CA | Championship Sacramento, CA | Championship Sacramento, CA | Championship Sacramento, CA | Championship Sacramento, CA | Championship Sacramento, CA |
| Cal State Northridge | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Florida Southern | 11 | 11 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Florida Southern | 11 | 11 | 9 | | Cal State Northridge | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Mississippi Women | 11 | 5 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mississippi Women | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | Mississippi Women | 11 | 5 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Navy | 8 | 9 | 17 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Navy | 8 | 9 | 17 | 7 | | | | | | | Cal State Northridge | 16 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Nebraska–Omaha | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Nebraska–Omaha | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nebraska–Omaha | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | | | | | |
| New Haven | 7 | 8 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| New Haven | 7 | 8 | 2 | | Nebraska–Omaha | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Grand Valley State | 15 | 10 | 10 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ferris State | 12 | 15 | 10 | 7 | Grand Valley State | 15 | 10 | 10 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Grand Valley State | 15 | 8 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Grand Valley State | 15 | 8 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cal State Northridge | 9 | 6 | 6 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UC Riverside | 15 | 15 | 15 | | |
| Minnesota–Duluth | 2 | 5 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UC Riverside | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Sacramento State | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sacramento State | 15 | 15 | 15 | | Sacramento State | 15 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 10 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | North Dakota State | 13 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 15 | | | | | | |
| North Dakota State | 15 | 15 | 15 | | North Dakota State | 13 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 15 | | | | | | |
| Portland State | 6 | 2 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Portland State | 6 | 2 | 10 | | | | | | | | North Dakota State | 4 | 14 | 8 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | UC Riverside | 15 | 16 | 15 | | |
| UC Riverside | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | UC Riverside | 15 | 16 | 15 | | | | Third place match | Third place match | Third place match | Third place match | Third place match | Third place match |
| Northern Colorado | 7 | 8 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Northern Colorado | 7 | 8 | 3 | | UC Riverside | 11 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | Nebraska–Omaha | 15 | 15 | 15 | | |
| | | | | | Central Missouri State | 15 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 11 | | | | | | | | North Dakota State | 4 | 10 | 3 | | |
| Central Missouri State | 15 | 15 | 15 | | Central Missouri State | 15 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 11 | | | | | | | | North Dakota State | 4 | 10 | 3 | | |
| Regis (CO) | 11 | 8 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## All-tournament team

* Sherry Benson, UC Riverside
* Angela Brinton, Cal State Northridge
* Joyce Jackson, UC Riverside
* Melanie Jones, UC Riverside (Most Outstanding Player)
* Donna Melcher, Nebraska–Omaha
* Allie Nuzum, Nebraska–Omaha