# 2001 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament

The 2001 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament began on November 29, 2001, with 64 teams and ended December 15 when Stanford defeated Long Beach State 3 games to 0 in San Diego, California for the program's fifth NCAA title.
Led by future Olympians Logan Tom and Ogonna Nnamani, Stanford stunned previously unbeaten Long Beach State in the title match. Long Beach State was attempting to become the first program to go undefeated in more than one season, as they went 36-0 just 3 years before in 1998.
On their way to the title, Stanford was able to knock off defending champion Nebraska in the national semifinals. The other semifinal participant, Arizona, made the program's first NCAA Final Four appearance.
The win gave Stanford head coach John Dunning, who was in his first year as Stanford's head coach, his third NCAA title as he won two with Pacific in the 1980s.
This was the first year of rally point scoring in the NCAA Division I tournament, with games going to 30 points to win. Previous years used the side out scoring (SOS), with 15 points needed to win. Games became "sets" in 2008 and were reduced to 25 points to win.

## Records

Long Beach Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | DePaul | Conference USA | Automatic | 24-8 |
| | Eastern Washington | Big Sky | Automatic | 20-5 |
| | Fairfield | MAAC | Automatic | 19-12 |
| 9 | Hawaii | WAC | Automatic | 26-5 |
| 1 | Long Beach State | Big West | Automatic | 28-0 |
| | Minnesota | Big Ten | At-large | 17-12 |
| | Northern Illinois | MAC | Automatic | 24-5 |
| 16 | Northern Iowa | Missouri Valley | Automatic | 28-1 |
| | Oregon State | Pac-10 | At-large | 17-11 |
| | Penn | Ivy League | Automatic | 18-4 |
| | Penn State | Big Ten | At-large | 21-7 |
| | San Diego | West Coast | At-large | 21-8 |
| | San Diego State | Mountain West | At-large | 16-12 |
| | UC Santa Barbara | Big West | At-large | 17-13 |
| 8 | UCLA | Pac-10 | At-large | 18-8 |
| | Washington State | Pac-10 | At-large | 17-11 |
Los Angeles Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | Alabama A&M | SWAC | Automatic | 20-8 |
| 5 | Arizona | Pac-10 | At-large | 21-4 |
| | Cincinnati | Conference USA | At-large | 22-7 |
| | Duke | ACC | At-large | 22-4 |
| | Eastern Illinois | Ohio Valley | Automatic | 20-8 |
| | Georgia Tech | ACC | At-large | 19-7 |
| | Illinois | Big Ten | At-large | 20-8 |
| | Liberty | Big South | Automatic | 21-10 |
| | Louisville | Conference USA | At-large | 25-6 |
| | Missouri | Big 12 | At-large | 20-10 |
| 13 | Ohio State | Big Ten | At-large | 25-3 |
| 12 | Pacific | Big West | At-large | 26-7 |
| | Robert Morris | Northeast | Automatic | 29-5 |
| 4 | USC | Pac-10 | At-large | 22-3 |
| | William & Mary | CAA | Automatic | 21-5 |
| | Xavier | Atlantic 10 | Automatic | 25-5 |
Stanford Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | BYU | Mountain West | At-large | 20-8 |
| | Michigan State | Big Ten | At-large | 20-7 |
| | Milwaukee | Horizon | Automatic | 20-7 |
| | Nevada | WAC | At-large | 17-7 |
| | Northeastern | America East | Automatic | 23-10 |
| | Notre Dame | Big East | Automatic | 22-6 |
| | San Jose State | WAC | At-large | 24-7 |
| | Santa Clara | West Coast | At-large | 19-9 |
| 3 | Stanford | Pac-10 | Automatic | 27-2 |
| | Texas | Big 12 | At-large | 16-12 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | Big 12 | At-large | 23-5 |
| | Texas Tech | Big 12 | At-large | 18-13 |
| | Texas-Arlington | Southland | Automatic | 24-11 |
| 14 | Utah | Mountain West | Automatic | 23-6 |
| | Utah State | Big West | At-large | 18-11 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | Big Ten | Automatic | 25-3 |
Lincoln Regional :
| Seed | School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| | American | Patriot | Automatic | 26-3 |
| | Arkansas | SEC | At-large | 21-11 |
| | Baylor | Big 12 | At-large | 18-11 |
| | Colorado | Big 12 | At-large | 18-10 |
| 15 | Colorado State | Mountain West | At-large | 27-3 |
| | FIU | Sun Belt | Automatic | 22-7 |
| 10 | Florida | SEC | Automatic | 25-1 |
| | Florida A&M | MEAC | Automatic | 27-2 |
| | Georgia Southern | Southern | Automatic | 22-11 |
| | Kansas State | Big 12 | At-large | 19-7 |
| 2 | Nebraska | Big 12 | Automatic | 27-1 |
| | North Carolina | ACC | Automatic | 23-8 |
| | Oral Roberts | Mid-Continent | Automatic | 19-6 |
| 7 | Pepperdine | West Coast | Automatic | 21-3 |
| | South Carolina | SEC | At-large | 20-5 |
| | UCF | Atlantic Sun | Automatic | 19-6 |

## Long Beach Regional

| First round November 29–30 | First round November 29–30 | First round November 29–30 | Second round December 1–2 | Second round December 1–2 | Second round December 1–2 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | | Regional finals December 8–9 | Regional finals December 8–9 | Regional finals December 8–9 |
| 1 | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | San Diego State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | San Diego State | 0 | 1 | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Long Beach, CA | Long Beach, CA | Long Beach, CA | 1 | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Long Beach, CA | Long Beach, CA | Long Beach, CA | | San Diego | 0 | | | | | | | |
| UCSB | UCSB | 2 | | San Diego | 0 | | | | | | | |
| San Diego | San Diego | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| San Diego | San Diego | 3 | | | | 1 | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 16 | Northern Iowa | 0 | | | | |
| DePaul | DePaul | 0 | | | | | | | 16 | Northern Iowa | 0 | | | | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota | 3 | | Minnesota | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Cedar Falls, IA | Cedar Falls, IA | Cedar Falls, IA | | Minnesota | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Cedar Falls, IA | Cedar Falls, IA | Cedar Falls, IA | 16 | Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Northern Illinois | 0 | 16 | Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | | | | | 1 | Long Beach State | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 8 | UCLA | 0 |
| 9 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | UCLA | 0 |
| | Washington State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Washington State | 0 | 9 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Pullman, WA | Pullman, WA | Pullman, WA | 9 | Hawaiʻi | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Pullman, WA | Pullman, WA | Pullman, WA | | Eastern Washington | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Eastern Washington | Eastern Washington | 3 | | Eastern Washington | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Oregon State | Oregon State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oregon State | Oregon State | 2 | | | | 9 | Hawaiʻi | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | |
| Penn State | Penn State | 3 | | | | | | | 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | |
| Fairfield | Fairfield | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fairfield | Fairfield | 0 | | Penn State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| University Park, PA | University Park, PA | University Park, PA | | Penn State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| University Park, PA | University Park, PA | University Park, PA | 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Pennsylvania | 0 | 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | UCLA | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Los Angeles Regional

| First round November 29–30 | First round November 29–30 | First round November 29–30 | Second round December 1–2 | Second round December 1–2 | Second round December 1–2 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | | Regional finals December 8–9 | Regional finals December 8–9 | Regional finals December 8–9 |
| 5 | Arizona | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eastern Illinois | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eastern Illinois | 0 | 5 | Arizona | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Champaign, IL | Champaign, IL | Champaign, IL | 5 | Arizona | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Champaign, IL | Champaign, IL | Champaign, IL | | Illinois | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Missouri | Missouri | 1 | | Illinois | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Illinois | Illinois | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Illinois | Illinois | 3 | | | | 5 | Arizona | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 12 | Pacific | 0 | | | | |
| Louisville | Louisville | 3 | | | | | | | 12 | Pacific | 0 | | | | |
| Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech | 2 | | Louisville | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Louisville, KY | Louisville, KY | Louisville, KY | | Louisville | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Louisville, KY | Louisville, KY | Louisville, KY | 12 | Pacific | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Alabama A&M | 0 | 12 | Pacific | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Pacific | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Pacific | 3 | | | | | | | | 5 | Arizona | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Southern California | 2 |
| 13 | Ohio State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Southern California | 2 |
| | Robert Morris | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robert Morris | 0 | 13 | Ohio State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | 13 | Ohio State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | | Cincinnati | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Cincinnati | Cincinnati | 3 | | Cincinnati | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Xavier | Xavier | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Xavier | Xavier | 1 | | | | 13 | Ohio State | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Southern California | 3 | | | | |
| Duke | Duke | 3 | | | | | | | 4 | Southern California | 3 | | | | |
| William & Mary | William & Mary | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| William & Mary | William & Mary | 0 | | Duke | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | | Duke | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 4 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Liberty | 0 | 4 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Stanford Regional

| First round November 29–30 | First round November 29–30 | First round November 29–30 | Second round December 1–2 | Second round December 1–2 | Second round December 1–2 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | | Regional finals December 8–9 | Regional finals December 8–9 | Regional finals December 8–9 |
| 3 | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nevada | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nevada | 0 | 3 | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | 3 | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | | San Jose State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| San Jose State | San Jose State | 3 | | San Jose State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 2 | | | | 3 | Stanford | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 14 | Utah | 1 | | | | |
| Utah State | Utah State | 3 | | | | | | | 14 | Utah | 1 | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 2 | | Utah State | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Salt Lake City, UT | Salt Lake City, UT | | Utah State | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Salt Lake City, UT | Salt Lake City, UT | 14 | Utah | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Texas Tech | 0 | 14 | Utah | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Utah | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Utah | 3 | | | | | | | | 3 | Stanford | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Texas A&M | 0 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Texas A&M | 0 |
| | UT Arlington | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | UT Arlington | 0 | 11 | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | |
| College Station, TX | College Station, TX | College Station, TX | 11 | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | |
| College Station, TX | College Station, TX | College Station, TX | | Texas | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Northeastern | Northeastern | 0 | | Texas | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Texas | Texas | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Texas | Texas | 3 | | | | 11 | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Wisconsin | 0 | | | | |
| Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 1 | | | | | | | 6 | Wisconsin | 0 | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 3 | | Michigan State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Madison, WI | Madison, WI | Madison, WI | | Michigan State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Madison, WI | Madison, WI | Madison, WI | 6 | Wisconsin | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | UW–Milwaukee | 0 | 6 | Wisconsin | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Lincoln Regional

| First round November 29–30 | First round November 29–30 | First round November 29–30 | Second round December 1–2 | Second round December 1–2 | Second round December 1–2 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | Regional semifinals December 6–7 | | Regional finals December 8–9 | Regional finals December 8–9 | Regional finals December 8–9 |
| 7 | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Georgia Southern | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Georgia Southern | 0 | 7 | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Chapel Hill, NC | Chapel Hill, NC | Chapel Hill, NC | 7 | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Chapel Hill, NC | Chapel Hill, NC | Chapel Hill, NC | | North Carolina | 0 | | | | | | | |
| North Carolina | North Carolina | 3 | | North Carolina | 0 | | | | | | | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina | 1 | | | | 7 | Pepperdine | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 10 | Florida | 3 | | | | |
| Florida International | Florida International | 3 | | | | | | | 10 | Florida | 3 | | | | |
| Central Florida | Central Florida | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Central Florida | Central Florida | 0 | | Florida International | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | | Florida International | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | Gainesville, FL | 10 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Florida A&M | 0 | 10 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | | 10 | Florida | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Nebraska | 3 |
| 15 | Colorado State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Nebraska | 3 |
| | Baylor | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Baylor | 1 | 15 | Colorado State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | 15 | Colorado State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | | Colorado | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Colorado | Colorado | 3 | | Colorado | 2 | | | | | | | |
| American | American | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| American | American | 0 | | | | 15 | Colorado State | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | |
| Kansas State | Kansas State | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | |
| Arkansas | Arkansas | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Arkansas | Arkansas | 2 | | Kansas State | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Manhattan, KS | Manhattan, KS | Manhattan, KS | | Kansas State | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Manhattan, KS | Manhattan, KS | Manhattan, KS | 2 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Oral Roberts | 0 | 2 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Nebraska | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final Four – Cox Arena, San Diego, CA

| National Semifinals December 13 | National Semifinals December 13 | National Semifinals December 13 | National Championship December 15 | National Championship December 15 | National Championship December 15 |
| 1 | Long Beach State | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Arizona | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Arizona | 0 | 1 | Long Beach State | 0 |
| | | | 3 | Stanford | 3 |
| 3 | Stanford | 3 | 3 | Stanford | 3 |
| 2 | Nebraska | 0 | | | |

## National Semifinals
### Long Beach State vs. Arizona

| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| LBSU | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| ARIZ | 27 | 25 | 20 |
Top ranked and undefeated Long Beach State easily defeated Arizona in three sets. Tayyiba Haneef led Long Beach with 21 kills. Long Beach out-hit Arizona .384 to .216, out-blocked the Wildcats 10 to 8 and had 8 service aces while Arizona had just 3. Arizona was led by Shannon Torregrosas's 14 kills. Arizona ended their season at 25–5 with the program's first ever Final Four appearance. Long Beach upped their record to 33–0.

### Stanford vs Nebraska

| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| STAN | 31 | 30 | 30 |
| NEB | 29 | 28 | 21 |
Led by Logan Tom's 22 kills, Stanford knocked off defending national champion Nebraska in three sets. Ogonna Nnamani added 13 kills to help the Cardinal sweep. Stanford out-blocked Nebraska, 12 to 9, and hit .270 as a team while Nebraska hit just .186. Nancy Metcalf led Nebraska with 14 kills as Nebraska ended their season at 31–2. Stanford advanced to the program's ninth NCAA title match.

## National Championship: Long Beach State vs. Stanford

| Teams | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| LBSU | 29 | 28 | 25 |
| STAN | 31 | 30 | 30 |
In the title match, Stanford stunned top ranked and previously undefeated Long Beach State in three sets.
In game 1, Stanford went up 20–14 before Long Beach State closed the gap to 23–22. Down 26–24, Long Beach State rallied off four straight points, and eventually earned game point at 29–27. The 49'ers squandered both opportunities, with a Logan Tom kill and a Long Beach hitting error tying it up at 29. A Tom kill gave Stanford the game, 31–29. It was the first time all season that Long Beach lost the first game of a match.
In game 2, Stanford went up 11–7, then extended the lead to 20–13. Stanford remained in control, going up 27-20 and earning game point at 29–23. Long Beach State, however, did not go away and reeled off five consecutive points to cut the deficit to 29–28. The comeback ended, however, on a 49er service error giving Stanford the game, 30–28.
Game 3 remained even midway through. Stanford led 15–14 at the media timeout, before a Logan Tom service ace gave the Cardinal some separation at 25–21. Stanford remained ahead, going up 28–24 after an Ogonna Nnamani kill, before earning championship point after a Tom kill. A Stanford block ended the match, 30–25, ending Long Beach State's undefeated season, while Stanford ended their season at 33-2 - with one of the losses coming from Long Beach State earlier in the year.
Stanford won their fifth NCAA title. The win over Long Beach improved Stanford's record to 2–0 against undefeated teams in the national championship, as Stanford beat previously undefeated UCLA in the 1992 final. Stanford head coach John Dunning became the first Division I coach to win the national championship at two different schools, as he led Pacific to back-to-back titles in 1985 and 1986.