# 2003 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament

The 2003 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament began on December 4, 2003 with 64 teams and ended December 18 when Southern California defeated Florida 3 games to 1 in Dallas, Texas for the program's third NCAA title and sixth national title overall.
It was Southern California's second consecutive NCAA title. The team capped off the 2003 season undefeated at 35-0, becoming the third team in NCAA history to accomplish the feat, the first repeat NCAA national champion to go undefeated, and the first team in the NCAA era to be ranked #1 in the coaches poll for the entire season.
Florida made the school's first national championship match in the program's seventh final four appearance. Minnesota also made the program's first NCAA final four appearance.

## Records

Three teams in the 2003 NCAA Volleyball Tournament qualified with either 0 or 1 losses: USC (29-0), Hawaii (32-1), and Florida (31-1). It is the most recent tournament to feature at least three such teams.
Lincoln Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | Arizona | Pac-10 | At-large | 17-14 |
| | Cal State Northridge | Big West | At-large | 16-12 |
| | Dayton | Atlantic 10 | Automatic | 25-9 |
| | Loyola Marymount | West Coast | At-large | 25-6 |
| | Michigan State | Big Ten | At-large | 19-11 |
| | Missouri | Big 12 | At-large | 18-10 |
| 9 | Nebraska | Big 12 | At-large | 26-4 |
| | New Hampshire | America East | Automatic | 23-11 |
| | Nicholls State | Southland | Automatic | 18-14 |
| | San Diego | West Coast | At-large | 17-12 |
| 16 | Texas A&M | Big 12 | At-large | 21-9 |
| | UC Irvine | Big West | At-large | 23-9 |
| 8 | UCLA | Pac-10 | At-large | 21-8 |
| 1 | USC | Pac-10 | Automatic | 29-0 |
| | Valparaiso | Mid-Continent | Automatic | 27-7 |
| | Wisconsin | Big Ten | At-large | 21-10 |
Long Beach Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | Green Bay | Horizon | Automatic | 23-10 |
| | Kansas | Big 12 | At-large | 21-10 |
| | Long Beach State | Big West | At-large | 19-10 |
| | Manhattan | MAAC | Automatic | 21-13 |
| 13 | Minnesota | Big Ten | At-large | 22-10 |
| | Northern Iowa | Missouri Valley | Automatic | 27-5 |
| | Northwestern | Big Ten | At-large | 18-14 |
| | Pacific | Big West | At-large | 17-13 |
| 4 | Pepperdine | West Coast | Automatic | 25-2 |
| | Sacramento State | Big Sky | Automatic | 23-11 |
| | San Francisco | West Coast | At-large | 23-7 |
| | Santa Clara | West Coast | At-large | 20-10 |
| 5 | Stanford | Pac-10 | At-large | 23-6 |
| | UC Santa Barbara | Big West | Automatic | 19-8 |
| | Utah | Mountain West | At-large | 20-8 |
| 12 | Washington | Pac-10 | At-large | 19-8 |
Gainesville Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | American | Patriot | Automatic | 22-9 |
| | Arkansas | SEC | At-large | 26-6 |
| | Cincinnati | Conference USA | At-large | 27-5 |
| 14 | Colorado State | Mountain West | Automatic | 28-4 |
| 3 | Florida | SEC | Automatic | 31-1 |
| | George Mason | CAA | Automatic | 16-14 |
| | Georgia Southern | Southern | Automatic | 27-9 |
| 6 | Kansas State | Big 12 | Automatic | 28-4 |
| | Maryland | ACC | Automatic | 26-7 |
| | Ohio | MAC | Automatic | 28-4 |
| | Penn | Ivy League | Automatic | 20-6 |
| 11 | Penn State | Big Ten | Automatic | 28-4 |
| | Pittsburgh | Big East | Automatic | 25-5 |
| | Robert Morris | Northeast | Automatic | 23-11 |
| | Southwest Missouri State | Missouri Valley | At-large | 27-5 |
| | UCF | Atlantic Sun | Automatic | 22-6 |
Honolulu Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | Alabama A&M | SWAC | Automatic | 23-5 |
| | BYU | Mountain West | At-large | 22-8 |
| 10 | California | Pac-10 | At-large | 23-6 |
| | Colorado | Big 12 | At-large | 21-9 |
| | Florida A&M | MEAC | Automatic | 26-3 |
| 7 | Georgia Tech | ACC | At-large | 31-3 |
| 2 | Hawaii | WAC | Automatic | 32-1 |
| | Idaho | Big West | At-large | 19-10 |
| 15 | Illinois | Big Ten | At-large | 24-6 |
| | Louisville | Conference USA | Automatic | 24-5 |
| | Michigan | Big Ten | At-large | 20-11 |
| | Murray State | Ohio Valley | Automatic | 24-5 |
| | New Mexico State | Sun Belt | Automatic | 30-4 |
| | Notre Dame | Big East | At-large | 23-6 |
| | Saint Mary's | West Coast | At-large | 20-12 |
| | Winthrop | Big South | Automatic | 24-12 |

## Lincoln Regional

| First round December 4–5 | First round December 4–5 | First round December 4–5 | Second round December 5–6 | Second round December 5–6 | Second round December 5–6 | Regional semifinals December 12 | Regional semifinals December 12 | Regional semifinals December 12 | | Regional finals December 13 | Regional finals December 13 | Regional finals December 13 |
| 1 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | New Hampshire | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | New Hampshire | 0 | 1 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | | Loyola Marymount | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Cal St. Northridge | Cal St. Northridge | 0 | | Loyola Marymount | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Loyola Marymount | Loyola Marymount | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loyola Marymount | Loyola Marymount | 3 | | | | 1 | Southern California | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 16 | Texas A&M | 0 | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 1 | | | | | | | 16 | Texas A&M | 0 | | | | |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 3 | | Wisconsin | 0 | | | | | | | |
| College Station, TX | College Station, TX | College Station, TX | | Wisconsin | 0 | | | | | | | |
| College Station, TX | College Station, TX | College Station, TX | 16 | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Nicholls St. | 0 | 16 | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | | 1 | Southern California | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 8 | UCLA | 1 |
| 9 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | UCLA | 1 |
| | Valparaiso | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Valparaiso | 0 | 9 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | |
| East Lansing, MI | East Lansing, MI | East Lansing, MI | 9 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | |
| East Lansing, MI | East Lansing, MI | East Lansing, MI | | Dayton | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Dayton | Dayton | 3 | | Dayton | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 2 | | | | 9 | Nebraska | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | |
| Missouri | Missouri | 2 | | | | | | | 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | |
| UC Irvine | UC Irvine | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| UC Irvine | UC Irvine | 3 | | UC Irvine | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | | UC Irvine | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | San Diego | 0 | 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Long Beach Regional

| First round December 4–5 | First round December 4–5 | First round December 4–5 | Second round December 5–6 | Second round December 5–6 | Second round December 5–6 | Regional semifinals December 12 | Regional semifinals December 12 | Regional semifinals December 12 | | Regional finals December 13 | Regional finals December 13 | Regional finals December 13 |
| 5 | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sacramento St. | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sacramento St. | 0 | 5 | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | 5 | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | | Pacific | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Pacific | Pacific | 3 | | Pacific | 0 | | | | | | | |
| San Francisco | San Francisco | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| San Francisco | San Francisco | 0 | | | | 5 | Stanford | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 12 | Washington | 3 | | | | |
| Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 2 | | | | | | | 12 | Washington | 3 | | | | |
| Utah | Utah | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Utah | Utah | 3 | | Utah | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA | | Utah | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA | 12 | Washington | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Northwestern | 0 | 12 | Washington | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Washington | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Washington | 3 | | | | | | | | 12 | Washington | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Minnesota | 3 |
| 13 | Minnesota | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Minnesota | 3 |
| | Wisconsin-Green Bay | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Wisconsin-Green Bay | 0 | 13 | Minnesota | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN | 13 | Minnesota | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN | | Northern Iowa | 1 | | | | | | | |
| UCSB | UCSB | 2 | | Northern Iowa | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | 13 | Minnesota | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Pepperdine | 2 | | | | |
| Kansas | Kansas | 3 | | | | | | | 4 | Pepperdine | 2 | | | | |
| Long Beach St. | Long Beach St. | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Long Beach St. | Long Beach St. | 0 | | Kansas | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Malibu, CA | Malibu, CA | Malibu, CA | | Kansas | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Malibu, CA | Malibu, CA | Malibu, CA | 4 | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Manhattan | 0 | 4 | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Gainesville Regional

| First round December 4–5 | First round December 4–5 | First round December 4–5 | Second round December 5–6 | Second round December 5–6 | Second round December 5–6 | Regional semifinals December 12 | Regional semifinals December 12 | Regional semifinals December 12 | | Regional finals December 13 | Regional finals December 13 | Regional finals December 13 |
| 3 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Georgia Southern | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Georgia Southern | 0 | 3 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | 3 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | | Central Florida | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Cincinnati | Cincinnati | 2 | | Central Florida | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Central Florida | Central Florida | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Central Florida | Central Florida | 3 | | | | 3 | Florida | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 14 | Colorado St. | 0 | | | | |
| Maryland | Maryland | 3 | | | | | | | 14 | Colorado St. | 0 | | | | |
| American | American | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| American | American | 0 | | Maryland | 0 | | | | | | | |
| College Park, MD | College Park, MD | College Park, MD | | Maryland | 0 | | | | | | | |
| College Park, MD | College Park, MD | College Park, MD | 14 | Colorado St. | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | George Mason | 0 | 14 | Colorado St. | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Colorado St. | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Colorado St. | 3 | | | | | | | | 3 | Florida | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Penn St. | 0 |
| 11 | Penn St. | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Penn St. | 0 |
| | Robert Morris | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robert Morris | 0 | 11 | Penn St. | 3 | | | | | | | |
| University Park, PA | University Park, PA | University Park, PA | 11 | Penn St. | 3 | | | | | | | |
| University Park, PA | University Park, PA | University Park, PA | | Pittsburgh | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | 3 | | Pittsburgh | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 1 | | | | 11 | Penn St. | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Kansas State | 1 | | | | |
| SW Missouri St. | SW Missouri St. | 1 | | | | | | | 6 | Kansas State | 1 | | | | |
| Arkansas | Arkansas | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Arkansas | Arkansas | 3 | | Arkansas | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Manhattan, KS | Manhattan, KS | Manhattan, KS | | Arkansas | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Manhattan, KS | Manhattan, KS | Manhattan, KS | 6 | Kansas State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Ohio | 0 | 6 | Kansas State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Kansas State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Honolulu Regional

| First round December 4–5 | First round December 4–5 | First round December 4–5 | Second round December 5–6 | Second round December 5–6 | Second round December 5–6 | Regional semifinals December 12 | Regional semifinals December 12 | Regional semifinals December 12 | | Regional finals December 13 | Regional finals December 13 | Regional finals December 13 |
| 7 | Georgia Tech | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alabama A&M | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alabama A&M | 0 | 7 | Georgia Tech | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA | 7 | Georgia Tech | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA | | Florida A&M | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Winthrop | Winthrop | 0 | | Florida A&M | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Florida A&M | Florida A&M | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Florida A&M | Florida A&M | 3 | | | | 7 | Georgia Tech | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 10 | California | 0 | | | | |
| Colorado | Colorado | 0 | | | | | | | 10 | California | 0 | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 3 | | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Berkeley, CA | Berkeley, CA | Berkeley, CA | | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Berkeley, CA | Berkeley, CA | Berkeley, CA | 10 | California | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | St. Mary's | 0 | 10 | California | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 10 | California | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | California | 3 | | | | | | | | 7 | Georgia Tech | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Hawaiʻi | 3 |
| 15 | Illinois | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Hawaiʻi | 3 |
| | Murray St. | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Murray St. | 0 | 15 | Illinois | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Champaign, IL | Champaign, IL | Champaign, IL | 15 | Illinois | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Champaign, IL | Champaign, IL | Champaign, IL | | Louisville | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 0 | | Louisville | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Louisville | Louisville | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Louisville | Louisville | 3 | | | | 15 | Illinois | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | |
| New Mexico St. | New Mexico St. | 0 | | | | | | | 2 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 3 | | BYU | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Honolulu, HI | Honolulu, HI | Honolulu, HI | | BYU | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Honolulu, HI | Honolulu, HI | Honolulu, HI | 2 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Idaho | 0 | 2 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final Four – Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas

| National Semifinals December 18 | National Semifinals December 18 | National Semifinals December 18 | National Championship December 20 | National Championship December 20 | National Championship December 20 |
| 1 | Southern California | 3 | | | |
| 13 | Minnesota | 0 | | | |
| 13 | Minnesota | 0 | 1 | Southern California | 3 |
| | | | 3 | Florida | 1 |
| 3 | Florida | 3 | 3 | Florida | 1 |
| 2 | Hawaiʻi | 1 | | | |

## National Semifinals
### Southern California vs. Minnesota

| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| USC | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| MIN | 27 | 28 | 20 |
Minnesota, making their first NCAA Final Four appearance in program history, played top-seeded USC tough in the first two sets, falling 30-27, 30-28. USC rode the momentum in the third set, winning easily 30-20 to advance to the national championship match for the second consecutive year. USC's balanced attack consisted off three players with double digit kills, including Bibiana Candelas with 12, Keao Burdine with 13 and April Ross with 11. Minnesota was led by Cassie Busse with 23 kills and Erin Martin with 11.

### Florida vs. Hawaiʻi

| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 |
| FLA | 30 | 30 | 23 | 30 |
| HAW | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 |
Florida and Hawaiʻi battled in the second semifinal, with Florida looking to advance to their first final in school history after being 0-for-6 in previous NCAA semifinals, while Hawaiʻi was looking to advance to their first final since 1996.
Both teams played even in the first two games, but it was Florida who won them by the scores of 30-28, 30-28. Hawaiʻi answered back after the break to win 30-23. The 30-23 loss was the first individual game the Gators lost since August 23, breaking their NCAA record of 105 straight game wins. Florida and Hawaiʻi once again played even in the fourth set, but Hawaiʻi was unable to force a fifth set as Florida won the fourth set, 30-28. Hawaiʻi was paced by AVCA National Player of the Year Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku who both had 21 kills.

## National Championship: Southern California vs. Florida

| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 |
| USC | 25 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| FLA | 30 | 27 | 19 | 26 |
Florida started out the match well by winning the first set off of undefeated Southern California. USC answered back by taking the second set 30-27 and used a 6-0 run in the third set to win easily, 30-19. In the fourth set, USC never trailed and led 22-15 before Florida mounted a comeback to cut USC's lead to 25-23. USC did not let up and won the fourth and final set 30-26 to cap off an undefeated season at 35-0. Florida ended their season at 36-2 with their only other loss coming to USC in the season opening AVCA Showcase tournament.