# 2000 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament

The 2000 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament began on November 30, 2000 with 64 teams and ended December 16 when Nebraska defeated Wisconsin 3 games to 2 in Richmond, Virginia for the program's second NCAA title.
Nebraska became the second team in NCAA history to finish the season undefeated, as they joined Long Beach State from 1998 to pull off the feat. The win gave John Cook his first national title in just his first year as Nebraska's head coach. Wisconsin, for whom Cook was the previous head coach, made the program's first Final Four appearance.
This was the last season that the NCAA used side out scoring, switching to rally scoring in 2001.

## Records

For the third straight year, the tournament field remained fixed at 64 teams. The Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-10 tied for the most bids in the 2000 NCAA Tournament with six bids each. The top six seeds each came from different conferences, the only such instance of this in the 64-team era. Nebraska went undefeated en route to a national championship, joining 1998 Long Beach State and later teams 2003 USC and 2008-09 Penn State as undefeated national champions.
Central Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | Alabama A&M | SWAC | Automatic | 31-2 |
| 8 | Arizona | Pac-10 | Auto (shared) | 25-4 |
| | Ball State | MAC | At-large | 25-6 |
| 9 | BYU | Mountain West | Automatic | 24-6 |
| | Cincinnati | Conference USA | At-large | 24-9 |
| | George Washington | Atlantic 10 | Automatic | 25-5 |
| | Hofstra | America East | Automatic | 23-10 |
| | Louisville | Conference USA | Automatic | 26-7 |
| | Michigan | Big Ten | At-large | 18-13 |
| | Missouri | Big 12 | At-large | 24-6 |
| 1 | Nebraska | Big 12 | Automatic | 28-0 |
| | Notre Dame | Big East | Automatic | 25-6 |
| 16 | Ohio State | Big Ten | At-large | 21-9 |
| | Princeton | Ivy League | Automatic | 20-8 |
| | South Carolina | SEC | At-large | 21-6 |
| | Utah State | Big West | At-large | 21-9 |
West Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | Arizona State | Pac-10 | At-large | 17-11 |
| | Cal State Sacramento | Big Sky | Automatic | 21-11 |
| | Davidson | Southern | Automatic | 24-11 |
| | Duke | ACC | At-large | 21-12 |
| 5 | Hawaii | WAC | Automatic | 27-1 |
| | Long Beach State | Big West | At-large | 22-7 |
| | Loyola Marymount | West Coast | At-large | 20-8 |
| 4 | Minnesota | Big Ten | At-large | 28-3 |
| | Robert Morris | Northeast | Automatic | 21-15 |
| | San Jose State | WAC | At-large | 22-9 |
| 12 | Santa Clara | West Coast | Automatic | 26-4 |
| | Stanford | Pac-10 | At-large | 18-11 |
| | Texas Tech | Big 12 | At-large | 24-8 |
| 13 | UC Santa Barbara | Big West | At-large | 23-7 |
| | Utah | Mountain West | At-large | 22-7 |
| | UTSA | Southland | Automatic | 24-8 |
Pacific Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | Ark.-Little Rock | Sun Belt | Automatic | 23-6 |
| | Cal Poly | Big West | At-large | 16-11 |
| | Colorado | Big 12 | At-large | 16-11 |
| 6 | Colorado State | Mountain West | At-large | 30-4 |
| 14 | Florida | SEC | Automatic | 27-4 |
| | Georgia State | Trans America | Automatic | 28-9 |
| | Georgia Tech | ACC | At-large | 25-7 |
| | James Madison | CAA | Automatic | 21-9 |
| | North Carolina | ACC | Automatic | 26-7 |
| 11 | Penn State | Big Ten | At-large | 27-5 |
| | Radford | Big South | Automatic | 28-6 |
| | South Florida | Conference USA | At-large | 28-5 |
| | Southeast Missouri State | Ohio Valley | Automatic | 22-8 |
| | Tennessee | SEC | At-large | 23-9 |
| 3 | USC | Pac-10 | Auto (shared) | 25-2 |
| | Washington State | Pac-10 | At-large | 18-9 |
Mideast Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | Bucknell | Patriot | Automatic | 17-14 |
| | Fairfield | MAAC | Automatic | 26-6 |
| | Houston | Conference USA | At-large | 21-10 |
| | Kansas State | Big 12 | At-large | 20-8 |
| | Loyola (IL) | Midwestern Collegiate | Automatic | 22-8 |
| | Michigan State | Big Ten | At-large | 17-12 |
| | Milwaukee | Midwestern Collegiate | At-large | 23-4 |
| | Morgan State | MEAC | Automatic | 25-15 |
| | Northern Iowa | Missouri Valley | Automatic | 28-4 |
| | Oral Roberts | Mid-Continent | Automatic | 21-11 |
| 2 | Pacific | Big West | Automatic | 26-3 |
| 10 | Pepperdine | West Coast | At-large | 23-6 |
| | Texas A&M | Big 12 | At-large | 19-8 |
| 15 | UCLA | Pac-10 | At-large | 22-7 |
| | Western Michigan | MAC | Automatic | 25-5 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | Big Ten | Automatic | 28-3 |

## Central Regional (Lincoln)

| First round November 30-December 1 | First round November 30-December 1 | First round November 30-December 1 | Second round December 2–3 | Second round December 2–3 | Second round December 2–3 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | | Regional finals December 9–10 | Regional finals December 9–10 | Regional finals December 9–10 |
| 1 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Princeton | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Princeton | 0 | 1 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Lincoln, NE | Lincoln, NE | Lincoln, NE | 1 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Lincoln, NE | Lincoln, NE | Lincoln, NE | | South Carolina | 2 | | | | | | | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina | 3 | | South Carolina | 2 | | | | | | | |
| George Washington | George Washington | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| George Washington | George Washington | 0 | | | | 1 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 16 | Ohio State | 0 | | | | |
| Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 3 | | | | | | | 16 | Ohio State | 0 | | | | |
| Cincinnati | Cincinnati | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cincinnati | Cincinnati | 0 | | Notre Dame | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | | Notre Dame | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | 16 | Ohio State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Ball State | 1 | 16 | Ohio State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Ohio State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Ohio State | 3 | | | | | | | | 1 | Nebraska | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Arizona | 0 |
| 9 | BYU | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Arizona | 0 |
| | Hofstra | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hofstra | 0 | 9 | BYU | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Orem, UT | Orem, UT | Orem, UT | 9 | BYU | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Orem, UT | Orem, UT | Orem, UT | | Utah State | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Utah State | Utah State | 3 | | Utah State | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Missouri | Missouri | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Missouri | Missouri | 2 | | | | 9 | Brigham Young | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | Arizona | 3 | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 3 | | | | | | | 8 | Arizona | 3 | | | | |
| Louisville | Louisville | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Louisville | Louisville | 1 | | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Tucson, AZ | Tucson, AZ | Tucson, AZ | | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Tucson, AZ | Tucson, AZ | Tucson, AZ | 8 | Arizona | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Alabama A&M | 0 | 8 | Arizona | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Arizona | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## West Regional (Honolulu)

| First round November 30-December 1 | First round November 30-December 1 | First round November 30-December 1 | Second round December 2–3 | Second round December 2–3 | Second round December 2–3 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | | Regional finals December 9–10 | Regional finals December 9–10 | Regional finals December 9–10 |
| 5 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Davidson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Davidson | 0 | 5 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Honolulu, HI | Honolulu, HI | Honolulu, HI | 5 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Honolulu, HI | Honolulu, HI | Honolulu, HI | | Utah | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Texas Tech | Texas Tech | 2 | | Utah | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Utah | Utah | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Utah | Utah | 3 | | | | 5 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Long Beach State | 2 | | | | |
| Long Beach State | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | | | | | Long Beach State | 2 | | | | |
| San Jose State | San Jose State | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| San Jose State | San Jose State | 1 | | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Santa Clara, CA | Santa Clara, CA | Santa Clara, CA | | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Santa Clara, CA | Santa Clara, CA | Santa Clara, CA | 12 | Santa Clara | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Cal St. Sacramento | 0 | 12 | Santa Clara | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Santa Clara | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Santa Clara | 3 | | | | | | | | 5 | Hawaiʻi | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 13 | UCSB | 1 |
| 13 | UCSB | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | UCSB | 1 |
| | Texas San Antonio | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Texas San Antonio | 0 | 13 | UCSB | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara, CA | 13 | UCSB | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara, CA | | Stanford | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Loyola Marymount | Loyola Marymount | 0 | | Stanford | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Stanford | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stanford | Stanford | 3 | | | | 13 | UCSB | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Minnesota | 1 | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 3 | | | | | | | 4 | Minnesota | 1 | | | | |
| Duke | Duke | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Duke | Duke | 1 | | Arizona State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN | | Arizona State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN | 4 | Minnesota | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Robert Morris | 0 | 4 | Minnesota | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Minnesota | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Pacific Regional (Los Angeles)

| First round November 30-December 1 | First round November 30-December 1 | First round November 30-December 1 | Second round December 2–3 | Second round December 2–3 | Second round December 2–3 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | | Regional finals December 9–10 | Regional finals December 9–10 | Regional finals December 9–10 |
| 3 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Georgia State University | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Georgia State University | 0 | 3 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | 3 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | | Cal Poly | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Cal Poly | Cal Poly | 3 | | Cal Poly | 0 | | | | | | | |
| South Florida | South Florida | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| South Florida | South Florida | 1 | | | | 3 | Southern California | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 14 | Florida | 0 | | | | |
| North Carolina | North Carolina | 2 | | | | | | | 14 | Florida | 0 | | | | |
| SE Missouri State | SE Missouri State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| SE Missouri State | SE Missouri State | 3 | | SE Missouri State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | | SE Missouri State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | 14 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Arkansas-Little Rock | 0 | 14 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | | 3 | Southern California | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Penn State | 0 |
| 11 | Penn State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Penn State | 0 |
| | James Madison | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | James Madison | 0 | 11 | Penn State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| University Park, PA | University Park, PA | University Park, PA | 11 | Penn State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| University Park, PA | University Park, PA | University Park, PA | | Washington State | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Tennessee | Tennessee | 0 | | Washington State | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Washington State | Washington State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Washington State | Washington State | 3 | | | | 11 | Penn State | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Colorado State | 1 | | | | |
| Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech | 1 | | | | | | | 6 | Colorado State | 1 | | | | |
| Colorado | Colorado | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colorado | Colorado | 3 | | Colorado | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | | Colorado | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | 6 | Colorado State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Radford | 0 | 6 | Colorado State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Colorado State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Mideast Regional (Madison)

| First round November 30-December 1 | First round November 30-December 1 | First round November 30-December 1 | Second round December 2–3 | Second round December 2–3 | Second round December 2–3 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | Regional semifinals December 7–8 | | Regional finals December 9–10 | Regional finals December 9–10 | Regional finals December 9–10 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bucknell | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bucknell | 0 | 7 | Wisconsin | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Madison, WI | Madison, WI | Madison, WI | 7 | Wisconsin | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Madison, WI | Madison, WI | Madison, WI | | Northern Iowa | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Western Michigan | Western Michigan | 1 | | Northern Iowa | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | 7 | Wisconsin | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Kansas State | 1 | | | | |
| Kansas State | Kansas State | 3 | | | | | | | | Kansas State | 1 | | | | |
| Loyola (Ill.) | Loyola (Ill.) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loyola (Ill.) | Loyola (Ill.) | 1 | | Kansas State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Malibu, CA | Malibu, CA | Malibu, CA | | Kansas State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Malibu, CA | Malibu, CA | Malibu, CA | 10 | Pepperdine | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | Fairfield | 1 | 10 | Pepperdine | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | | | | | 7 | Wisconsin | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 15 | UCLA | 2 |
| 15 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | UCLA | 2 |
| | Morgan State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Morgan State | 0 | 15 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | 15 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA | | Michigan State | 2 | | | | | | | |
| UW–Milwaukee | UW–Milwaukee | 1 | | Michigan State | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 3 | | | | 15 | UCLA | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Pacific | 1 | | | | |
| Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | Pacific | 1 | | | | |
| Houston | Houston | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Houston | Houston | 0 | | Texas A&M | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Stockton, CA | Stockton, CA | Stockton, CA | | Texas A&M | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Stockton, CA | Stockton, CA | Stockton, CA | 2 | Pacific | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Oral Roberts | 0 | 2 | Pacific | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Pacific | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final Four – Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA

| National Semifinals December 14 | National Semifinals December 14 | National Semifinals December 14 | National Championship December 16 | National Championship December 16 | National Championship December 16 |
| 1 | Nebraska | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Hawaiʻi | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Hawaiʻi | 1 | 1 | Nebraska | 3 |
| | | | 7 | Wisconsin | 2 |
| 3 | Southern California | 0 | 7 | Wisconsin | 2 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 3 | | | |

## National Semifinals

| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 |
| NEB | 15 | 15 | 9 | 15 |
| HAW | 3 | 12 | 15 | 10 |

### Nebraska vs. Hawaiʻi

Aided by 23 team blocks, top seeded Nebraska cruised past Hawaiʻi in four sets. Nebraska junior Jenny Kropp had 16 kills to lead the way for the Huskers. Sophomore outside hitter Lily Kahumoku led Hawaiʻi with 18 kills, while freshman Kim Willoughby had 15.
| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| WISC | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| USC | 10 | 9 | 9 |

### Wisconsin vs. Southern California

Appearing in the program's first ever Final Four, Wisconsin swept USC to earn a spot in the title match against Nebraska.

## National Championship: Nebraska vs. Wisconsin

| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 |
| NEB | 15 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 15 |
| WISC | 9 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 9 |
Nebraska jumped on top to start out the match, with a block giving NU the first game, 15-9. In the second game, Wisconsin raced out to the 13-4 lead before winning, 15-9, to tie the match at one game a piece.
Leading 5-4 in the third game, Wisconsin pulled away by winning eight straight points to go up 13-4. Nebraska responded with three straight points of their own to cut the lead to 13-7, before two Badger kills ended the game, 15-7, to put the Badgers up 2-1 on the undefeated Huskers.
Nebraska responded strongly in set 4, crushing the Badgers, 15-2, to force a fifth game. In the decisive fifth game, Nebraska raced out to the 4-0 lead. Nebraska continued to roll, going up 11-5. Nebraska earned championship point on a kill, before Laura Pilakowski crushed her 23rd kill of the match to seal the victory.
The national title capped a season in which the Huskers achieved much success. The Huskers became just the second team in NCAA history to finish the season undefeated with a national title, joining the 1998 Long Beach State squad. Nebraska, ranked No. 1 in the AVCA/USA Today Coaches poll for 14 straight weeks, swept 26 of its 33 opponents in 2000. It was Nebraska head coach John Cook's first season with the program. Cook was previously the head coach at Wisconsin.

## NCAA Tournament records

There are three NCAA tournament record that were set in the 2000 tournament that still stands.
* Total attacks in NCAA tournament (team record) - Wisconsin, 1019 (56 vs. Bucknell, 178 vs. UNI, 182 vs. Kansas State, 260 vs. UCLA, 152 vs. Southern California, 191 vs. Nebraska).
* Total digs, tournament (team record) - Wisconsin, 200 (26 vs. Bucknell, 72 vs. UNI, 71 vs. Kansas State, 99 vs. UCLA, 67 vs. Southern California, 75 vs. Nebraska).
* Hitting percentage, tournament (individual record - min. 75 attempts) - .564%, Marissa Dalee, University of Arizona (.588 vs. Alabama A&M, .667 vs. Michigan, .294 vs. BYU, .654 vs. Nebraska).