2008 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament

| valign=top |

|-

| valign=top |

| valign=top |

|}

{{16TeamBracket

| RD1=First round
December 4–5

| RD2=Second round
December 5–6

| RD3=Regional semifinals
December 12

| RD4=Regional finals
December 13

| subgroup1=University Park, PA

| subgroup2=Dayton, OH

| subgroup3=Champaign, IL

| subgroup4=Berkeley, CA

| RD1-seed01= 1

| RD1-team01= Penn State

| RD1-seed02= 

| RD1-team02= Long Island

| RD1-score01=3

| RD1-score02=0

| RD1-seed03= 

| RD1-team03= Yale

| RD1-seed04= 

| RD1-team04= Ohio

| RD1-score03=3

| RD1-score04= 2

| RD1-seed05= 

| RD1-team05= Western Michigan

| RD1-seed06= 

| RD1-team06= Dayton

| RD1-score05=3

| RD1-score06=1

| RD1-seed07= 

| RD1-team07=Tennessee Tech

| RD1-seed08= 16

| RD1-team08= Tulane

| RD1-score07= 1

| RD1-score08=3

| RD1-seed09= 9

| RD1-team09= Illinois

| RD1-seed10= 

| RD1-team10= Milwaukee

| RD1-score09=3

| RD1-score10=0

| RD1-seed11= 

| RD1-team11= Cincinnati

| RD1-seed12= 

| RD1-team12= Western Kentucky

| RD1-score11= 3

| RD1-score12=2

| RD1-seed13= 

| RD1-team13= New Mexico State

| RD1-seed14= 

| RD1-team14= St. Mary's (Ca.)

| RD1-score13=3

| RD1-score14=1

| RD1-seed15= 

| RD1-team15= Siena

| RD1-seed16= 8

| RD1-team16= California

| RD1-score15=0

| RD1-score16=3

| RD2-team01=Penn State

| RD2-seed01= 1

| RD2-team02=Yale

| RD2-score01= 3

| RD2-score02=0

| RD2-seed03=

| RD2-team03= Western Michigan

| RD2-seed04=16

| RD2-team04=Tulane

| RD2-score03= 3

| RD2-score04= 2

| RD2-seed05= 9

| RD2-team05= Illinois

| RD2-seed06=

| RD2-team06=Cincinnati

| RD2-score05= 3

| RD2-score06= 0

| RD2-seed07=

| RD2-team07= New Mexico State

| RD2-seed08= 8

| RD2-team08= California

| RD2-score07= 1

| RD2-score08=3

| RD3-seed01=1

| RD3-team01=Penn State

| RD3-seed02=

| RD3-team02= Western Michigan

| RD3-score01=3

| RD3-score02=0

| RD3-seed03=9

| RD3-team03= Illinois

| RD3-seed04= 8

| RD3-team04= California

| RD3-score03= 0

| RD3-score04=3

| RD4-seed01=1

| RD4-team01=Penn State

| RD4-seed02=8

| RD4-team02=California

| RD4-score01=3

| RD4-score02=0

}}

Just as they had done all season, Penn State swept past Western Michigan, who was making their first Sweet 16 appearance in 21 years. When Penn State won the third set, they broke the NCAA record for consecutive sets won at 106 (The previous record of 105 was held by Florida from 2003.){{cite web| url = http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/121208aaa.html| title = No. 1 Women's Volleyball Sweeps Western Michigan| date = 2008-12-12| publisher = Penn State Athletics| access-date = 2009-02-04| archive-date = 2008-12-17| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217110226/http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/121208aaa.html| url-status = dead}}

In the other Sweet 16 match, California swept Illinois, setting up a rematch of the 2007 NCAA National Semifinals with Penn State.

Despite getting a test from California in the first set,{{cite news | url =http://www.dailycal.org/article/103890/bears_can_t_sustain_hot_start_fall_to_penn_state_i| title = Bears can't sustain hot start, fall to Penn State in NCAA Quarterfinals| last = Dowd | first =Katie| date = 2008-12-13 | newspaper = The Daily Californian | access-date = 2009-02-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217103726/http://www.dailycal.org/article/103890/bears_can_t_sustain_hot_start_fall_to_penn_state_i |archive-date = December 17, 2008|url-status=dead}} Penn State swept the Bears again to head to their second straight Final Four, bringing the program's total to seven Final Four appearances. California ended their season at 26-7, which was the most wins in the program's history in a single season.

{{refbegin}}University Park Regional All-Tournament Team:

• Megan Hodge (MVP) - Penn State
• Christa Harmotto - Penn State
• Nicole Fawcett - Penn State
• Alisha Glass - Penn State
• Blair Brown - Penn State
• Am'ra Soloman - California
• Laura DeBruler - Illinois{{refend}}

{{16TeamBracket

| RD1=First round
December 4–5

| RD2=Second round
December 5–6

| RD3=Regional semifinals
December 12

| RD4=Regional finals
December 13

| subgroup1=Seattle, WA

| subgroup2=Clemson, SC

| subgroup3=Lexington, KY

| subgroup4=Lincoln, NE

| RD1-seed01= 5

| RD1-team01= Washington

| RD1-seed02= 

| RD1-team02= Portland State

| RD1-score01=3

| RD1-score02=0

| RD1-seed03= 

| RD1-team03= Santa Clara

| RD1-seed04= 

| RD1-team04= Kansas State

| RD1-score03=3

| RD1-score04= 1

| RD1-seed05= 

| RD1-team05= Tennessee

| RD1-seed06= 

| RD1-team06= Clemson

| RD1-score05= 2

| RD1-score06=3

| RD1-seed07= 

| RD1-team07= Furman

| RD1-seed08= 12

| RD1-team08= Utah

| RD1-score07= 0

| RD1-score08=3

| RD1-seed09= 13

| RD1-team09= St. Louis

| RD1-seed10= 

| RD1-team10= Alabama A&M

| RD1-score09=3

| RD1-score10=0

| RD1-seed11= 

| RD1-team11= Kentucky

| RD1-seed12= 

| RD1-team12= Michigan

| RD1-score11= 2

| RD1-score12= 3

| RD1-seed13= 

| RD1-team13= UAB

| RD1-seed14= 

| RD1-team14= Missouri State

| RD1-score13=3

| RD1-score14=0

| RD1-seed15= 

| RD1-team15= Liberty

| RD1-seed16= 4

| RD1-team16= Nebraska

| RD1-score15=1

| RD1-score16=3

| RD2-team01=Washington

| RD2-seed01= 5

| RD2-team02=Santa Clara

| RD2-score01= 3

| RD2-score02=0

| RD2-seed03=

| RD2-team03= Clemson

| RD2-seed04=12

| RD2-team04= Utah

| RD2-score03=0

| RD2-score04= 3

| RD2-seed05= 13

| RD2-team05= St. Louis

| RD2-seed06=

| RD2-team06= Michigan

| RD2-score05= 2

| RD2-score06= 3

| RD2-seed07=

| RD2-team07= UAB

| RD2-seed08= 4

| RD2-team08= Nebraska

| RD2-score07= 0

| RD2-score08=3

| RD3-seed01=5

| RD3-team01=Washington

| RD3-seed02= 12

| RD3-team02= Utah

| RD3-score01=3

| RD3-score02=0

| RD3-seed03=

| RD3-team03= Michigan

| RD3-seed04= 4

| RD3-team04= Nebraska

| RD3-score03= 0

| RD3-score04=3

| RD4-seed01=5

| RD4-team01=Washington

| RD4-seed02=4

| RD4-team02=Nebraska

| RD4-score01=2

| RD4-score02=3

}}

Washington and Nebraska both swept past their Sweet 16 opponents with ease, to set up a rematch of the 2005 NCAA National Championship.

Washington, who had never lost an NCAA regional that they hosted, seemed to be heading to the Final Four after going up 2-0 on Nebraska. Out of the break, however, Nebraska regained focus and easily beat Washington in set 3, before winning a close set 4. In the decisive fifth set, Washington looked to be on the brink of victory after building a seemingly insurmountable 9-3 lead. Nebraska mounted a stunning comeback, though, and took 9 straight points. The Huskies tied it up at 13, before a Husky hitting error gave the Huskers match point. Nebraska senior Jordan Larson served out an ace to close out the stunning comeback. Nebraska advanced to their third Final Four in four years, and eleventh overall. Washington finished their season 27-5 and was the Pac-10 runners-up.{{cite news | url =http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2008514441_webvolley14.html| title = Nebraska comeback overtakes Washington in volleyball| date = 2008-12-13 | newspaper = The Seattle Times | access-date = 2009-02-04}}

{{refbegin}}Seattle Regional All-Tournament Team:

• Tara Mueller (MVP) - Nebraska
• Jordan Larson - Nebraska
• Sydney Anderson - Nebraska
• Lindsey Licht - Nebraska
• Becky Perry - Washington
• Tamari Miyashiro - Washington
• Jenna Hagglund - Washington{{refend}}

{{16TeamBracket

| RD1=First round
December 4–5

| RD2=Second round
December 5–6

| RD3=Regional semifinals
December 12

| RD4=Regional finals
December 13

| subgroup1=Austin, TX

| subgroup2=Los Angeles, CA

| subgroup3=Washington, DC

| subgroup4=Minneapolis, MN

| RD1-seed01= 3

| RD1-team01= Texas

| RD1-seed02= 

| RD1-team02= Lamar

| RD1-score01=3

| RD1-score02=0

| RD1-seed03= 

| RD1-team03= Wichita State

| RD1-seed04= 

| RD1-team04= Rice

| RD1-score03=3

| RD1-score04= 1

| RD1-seed05= 

| RD1-team05= San Francisco

| RD1-seed06= 

| RD1-team06= Duke

| RD1-score05= 2

| RD1-score06=3

| RD1-seed07= 

| RD1-team07= LSU

| RD1-seed08= 14

| RD1-team08= UCLA

| RD1-score07= 1

| RD1-score08=3

| RD1-seed09= 11

| RD1-team09= Oregon

| RD1-seed10= 

| RD1-team10= Delaware

| RD1-score09=3

| RD1-score10=0

| RD1-seed11= 

| RD1-team11= American

| RD1-seed12= 

| RD1-team12= North Carolina

| RD1-score11= 0

| RD1-score12=3

| RD1-seed13= 

| RD1-team13= Northern Iowa

| RD1-seed14= 

| RD1-team14= Iowa State

| RD1-score13=1

| RD1-score14=3

| RD1-seed15= 

| RD1-team15= North Dakota State

| RD1-seed16= 6

| RD1-team16= Minnesota

| RD1-score15=0

| RD1-score16=3

| RD2-team01=Texas

| RD2-seed01= 3

| RD2-team02=Wichita State

| RD2-score01= 3

| RD2-score02=0

| RD2-seed03=

| RD2-team03= Duke

| RD2-seed04=14

| RD2-team04= UCLA

| RD2-score03= 0

| RD2-score04= 3

| RD2-seed05= 11

| RD2-team05= Oregon

| RD2-seed06=

| RD2-team06= North Carolina

| RD2-score05= 3

| RD2-score06= 1

| RD2-seed07=

| RD2-team07= Iowa State

| RD2-seed08= 6

| RD2-team08= Minnesota

| RD2-score07= 3

| RD2-score08=1

| RD3-seed01=3

| RD3-team01=Texas

| RD3-seed02= 14

| RD3-team02= UCLA

| RD3-score01=3

| RD3-score02=1

| RD3-seed03= 11

| RD3-team03= Oregon

| RD3-seed04=

| RD3-team04= Iowa State

| RD3-score03= 2

| RD3-score04= 3

| RD4-seed01=3

| RD4-team01=Texas

| RD4-seed02=

| RD4-team02= Iowa State

| RD4-score01=3

| RD4-score02=1

}}

Texas defeated UCLA in four sets to advance to their third straight NCAA Regional Final. Iowa State continued their dream run, upsetting 11th-seeded Oregon in five sets, just after upsetting sixth-seeded Minnesota in four sets in Minneapolis in the second round.

After Texas took the 2-0 lead, Iowa State bounced back to take the third set and extend the match. However, Texas responded in the fourth set, defeating the Cyclones easily to advance to the program's first final four since 1995. Iowa State ended their season at 22-13 and made their first Elite Eight appearance in school history.

{{refbegin}}Austin Regional All-Tournament Team

• Lauren Paolini (MVP) - Texas
• Destinee Hooker - Texas
• Michelle Kocher - Texas
• Victoria Henson - Iowa State
• Kaylee Manns - Iowa State
• Ali Daley - UCLA
• Heather Myers - Oregon{{refend}}

{{16TeamBracket

| RD1=First round
December 4–5

| RD2=Second round
December 5–6

| RD3=Regional semifinals
December 12

| RD4=Regional finals
December 13

| subgroup1=Los Angeles, CA

| subgroup2=West Lafayette, IN

| subgroup3=Gainesville, FL

| subgroup4=Palo Alto, CA

| RD1-seed01= 7

| RD1-team01= Hawai{{okina}}i

| RD1-seed02= 

| RD1-team02= Belmont

| RD1-score01=3

| RD1-score02=0

| RD1-seed03= 

| RD1-team03= San Diego

| RD1-seed04= 

| RD1-team04= Southern California

| RD1-score03=1

| RD1-score04= 3

| RD1-seed05= 

| RD1-team05= Middle Tennessee

| RD1-seed06= 

| RD1-team06= Miami (OH)

| RD1-score05= 3

| RD1-score06=2

| RD1-seed07= 

| RD1-team07= Louisville

| RD1-seed08= 10

| RD1-team08= Purdue

| RD1-score07= 2

| RD1-score08=3

| RD1-seed09= 15

| RD1-team09= Florida

| RD1-seed10= 

| RD1-team10= Florida A&M

| RD1-score09=3

| RD1-score10=0

| RD1-seed11= 

| RD1-team11= Florida International

| RD1-seed12= 

| RD1-team12= Colorado State

| RD1-score11= 1

| RD1-score12=3

| RD1-seed13= 

| RD1-team13= Pepperdine

| RD1-seed14= 

| RD1-team14= Long Beach State

| RD1-score13=1

| RD1-score14=3

| RD1-seed15= 

| RD1-team15= Albany (NY)

| RD1-seed16= 2

| RD1-team16= Stanford

| RD1-score15=0

| RD1-score16=3

| RD2-team01=Hawai{{okina}}i

| RD2-seed01= 7

| RD2-team02=Southern California

| RD2-score01= 3

| RD2-score02=0

| RD2-seed03=

| RD2-team03= Middle Tennessee

| RD2-seed04=10

| RD2-team04= Purdue

| RD2-score03= 2

| RD2-score04= 3

| RD2-seed05= 15

| RD2-team05= Florida

| RD2-seed06=

| RD2-team06=Colorado State

| RD2-score05= 3

| RD2-score06= 0

| RD2-seed07=

| RD2-team07= Long Beach State

| RD2-seed08= 2

| RD2-team08= Stanford

| RD2-score07= 0

| RD2-score08=3

| RD3-seed01=7

| RD3-team01=Hawai{{okina}}i

| RD3-seed02= 10

| RD3-team02= Purdue

| RD3-score01=3

| RD3-score02=1

| RD3-seed03= 15

| RD3-team03= Florida

| RD3-seed04= 2

| RD3-team04= Stanford

| RD3-score03= 0

| RD3-score04=3

| RD4-seed01=7

| RD4-team01=Hawai{{okina}}i

| RD4-seed02=2

| RD4-team02=Stanford

| RD4-score01=0

| RD4-score02=3

}}

Second seeded Stanford had no troubles with 15th-seeded Florida, sweeping them to earn their spot in the Elite Eight. Hawai{{okina}}i defeated Purdue in four close sets to advance.

Stanford dominated Hawai{{okina}}i in the regional final, which included winning the second set 25-9. Hawai{{okina}}i recorded 29 hitting errors in the match, while Stanford had just 7. Hawai{{okina}}i ended their season at 31-4 as the WAC co-champions. Stanford advanced to their third Final Four in a row, bringing the school total to an NCAA record 18 appearances.

{{refbegin}}Fort Collins Regional All-Tournament Team

• Foluke Akinradewo (MVP) - Stanford
• Cassidy Lichtman - Stanford
• Alix Klineman - Stanford
• Kanani Danielson - Hawai{{okina}}i
• Jamie Houston - Hawai{{okina}}i
• Kristin Arthurs - Purdue
• Stephanie Lynch - Purdue{{refend}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1=National Semifinals
December 18

| RD2=National Championship
December 20

| RD1-seed1= 1

| RD1-team1= Penn State

| RD1-score1= 3

| RD1-seed2=4

| RD1-team2= Nebraska

| RD1-score2=2

| RD1-seed3= 3

| RD1-team3= Texas

| RD1-score3= 2

| RD1-seed4= 2

| RD1-team4= Stanford

| RD1-score4= 3

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1= Penn State

| RD2-score1=3

| RD2-seed2= 2

| RD2-team2= Stanford

| RD2-score2=0

}}

In a rematch of the 2008 AVCA Showcase, Stanford once again beat Texas in five sets to advance to their 14th NCAA title match in school history.

After Texas went up two sets to none, Stanford came back to win in five sets behind play from seniors Foluke Akinradewo and Cynthia Barboza. It was the first time in the history of the NCAA tournament that a team came back to win after being down two sets to none in the National Semifinals.{{Cite web |url=http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/121808aaa.html |title=Stanford overcomes 0-2 deficit to stun Texas in NCAA semifinal |access-date=2008-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222175832/http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/121808aaa.html |archive-date=2008-12-22 |url-status=dead }} Stanford advanced to their third straight title match, while Texas, who had advanced to their first Final Four since 1995, finished their season at 29-4.

Penn State, unbeaten in both matches and individual sets, seemed to be easily heading to their second straight final after going up 2 sets to 0 on Nebraska in front of an NCAA record crowd of 17,430, mostly Husker fans. The Nittany Lions NCAA record of consecutive sets won stood at 111 before it being snapped by Nebraska.

Coming out of the break, Nebraska mounted a big comeback. The Huskers forced a game five off of Penn State. The Huskers, unbeaten at the Qwest Center with a 14–0 record and never having lost a match in the state of Nebraska in 96 matches, went up 10–8 in the decisive fifth set.{{cite web | url =http://www.cornnation.com/2008/12/19/697400/volleyball-nebraska-loses| title = Nebraska loses, but wins. Penn State just wins.| date = 2008-12-19 | publisher = Corn Nation | access-date = 2008-12-24| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081221220855/http://www.cornnation.com/2008/12/19/697400/volleyball-nebraska-loses| archive-date= 21 December 2008 | url-status= live}} However, AVCA National Player of the Year Nicole Fawcett served six straight points, which included a service ace, to swing the momentum to the Nittany Lions at 14–10. Nebraska fought off one match point before Megan Hodge crushed her 23rd kill of the night to finish the match and set up a rematch of the 2007 NCAA championship.

For the first time in NCAA tournament history, the same two teams met for the national title in consecutive years. Stanford's senior class, appearing in their third straight title match, was attempting to win their first national title. A Stanford class had not gone through without winning at least one NCAA championship since the program won their first national championship in 1992.{{cite web | url =http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=10494| title = Stanford volleyball ends era without a title| last =Eymer | first =Rick| date = 2008-12-22 | publisher = Palo Alto Online | access-date = 2008-12-24}} Penn State and Stanford met for the fourth time in the NCAA championship - all of which have occurred since 1997 - which is the most meetings between any two schools. Penn State and Stanford are the only two programs to appear in every NCAA tournament since the NCAA started to sponsor women's volleyball in 1981.{{Cite web |url=http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/121908aaa.html |title=2008 Stanford vs. Penn State championship notes |access-date=2008-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223054808/http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/121908aaa.html |archive-date=2008-12-23 |url-status=dead }}

Stanford started the match on fire, going up 10-5, then 15-10 at the media timeout. However, Penn State went on a 15-5 run to close out the first set, 25-20. Both teams remained even in set 2, with a Hodge kill giving Penn State the narrow 15-14 lead heading into the media timeout.

The national championship was halted in set 2 for at least 10 minutes, though, after a scoring discrepancy. Penn State seemingly earned the point to go up 21-19 after a Nicole Fawcett kill, but the scoring table had a miscommunication, thinking Stanford had gotten the point and that it was 20-20. Despite both Penn State head coach Russ Rose and Stanford head coach John Dunning agreeing the score was, in fact, 21-19 in favor of Penn State, the scoring table did not adjust the score and replayed the point. Another scoring miscommunication took place once again later in set 2, but Penn State eventually prevailed, 26-24, to take the 2-0 lead to the match. The incident led the NCAA Volleyball panel to recommend a protocol for score discrepancies.{{cite web | url =https://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=44581| title = Volleyball panel recommends protocol for score discrepancies | last =Johnson | first =Greg | date = 2009-01-30 | publisher = NCAA | access-date = 2009-02-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090205165552/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=44581 |archive-date = February 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}

File:Penn State Volleyball 2008 National Champions.jpg

In what was the final set, Penn State eased up to the 21-17 lead. Two consecutive kills from Megan Hodge put Penn State just two points away from their second straight national title at 23-18. Stanford, however, managed to pull within one at 23-22 after four consecutive kills from Alix Klineman. Another Hodge kill halted the run to give Penn State two championship points at 24-22. After Stanford scored another kill to stave off one championship point, Penn State senior Nicole Fawcett sealed the set with a tip off of the Stanford block to take the national championship and the match. Penn State extended their NCAA record of consecutive matches won to 64 while Stanford's 16 match winning streak was snapped.

Stanford became the first team to ever lose in three consecutive title matches. Penn State joined USC from 2003 to become the only repeat champions to go undefeated, while also joining Long Beach State's 1998 team and Nebraska's 2000 team to be the only undefeated teams in NCAA history. The Nittany Lions joined USC's 2003 team and Nebraska's 2006 team as the only schools to be ranked #1 in the coaches poll for the entire season.

With the dominance Penn State showed throughout the 2008 season - going 114-2 in individual sets, 38-0 in matches, breaking the NCAA record for consecutive matches and sets won, being the first team in NCAA history to go through the regular season without losing a single set, leading the NCAA in blocks per set, and breaking the NCAA rally-scoring era record for team hitting percentage in a season (.390), some think Penn State could perhaps be the best team to ever play women's college volleyball.{{cite web | url =https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=3784787| title = Undefeated Penn State champ could be best volleyball team ever | last =Voepel | first =Michelle | date = 2008-12-21 | publisher = ESPN | access-date = 2008-12-23}}{{cite news | url = http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/college/district/s_604144.html | title = Second straight title strengthens PSU claim | last = Mackall | first = David | date = 2008-12-23 | newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | access-date = 2008-12-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090203053511/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/college/district/s_604144.html | archive-date = 2009-02-03 | url-status = dead }}

Two of the best middle blockers in NCAA history ended their careers as well. Stanford senior Foluke Akinradewo broke the NCAA Division I all-time career hitting percentage, ending her career with a .443 overall percentage. Penn State senior Christa Harmotto finished her career second all time in NCAA history, hitting .433 for her career.

• NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship
• AVCA

{{reflist|2}}

{{NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008 Ncaa Women's Volleyball Championship}}

Category:NCAA women's volleyball tournaments

NCAA

Category:Volleyball in Nebraska

NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament

NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament

Category:Sports competitions in Omaha, Nebraska

Category:College sports tournaments in Nebraska

Category:Women's sports in Nebraska