1998 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament
| 1998 NCAA Women's Division I Volleyball Tournament | |
|---|---|
1998 NCAA Final Four logo
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| Champions | Long Beach State (3rd NCAA (5th National) title) |
| Runner-up | Penn State (3rd title match) |
| Semifinalists | |
| Winning coach | Brian Gimmillaro (3rd title) |
| Most outstanding player |
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| Final Four All-Tournament Team |
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The 1998 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on December 3, 1998, with 64 teams and ended December 19 when Long Beach State defeated Penn State 3 games to 2 in Madison, Wisconsin, for the program's third NCAA title and fifth national title overall.
Long Beach State became the first team in NCAA history to finish the season undefeated. Penn State, who was also undefeated before the championship, fell in the finals for the second year in a row.
The NCAA's expansion from 56 teams to 64 began in 1998.
Long Beach advanced to the finals easily, taking the 10-0 lead in the opening game before winning 15-2. Florida staved off seven game points in the second game before falling 15-8. Long Beach then won a closer third game to sweep the Gators.
Misty May put down 11 kills and had two service aces, while Jessica Alvarado led the 49ers with 12 kills.
Lauren Cacciamani had 20 kills, Christy Cochran had 19 and the three-time all-American Bonnie Bremner had 13 to help Penn State beat No. 3 Nebraska in four games. The Huskers ended their season 32-2 while Penn State improved to 35-0 and advanced to the program's third title match.
Long Beach took the first two games easily, 15-3 and 15-10. However, like the 1997 NCAA championship, Penn State took the next two games to force a fifth game.
In the decisive rally-scoring fifth game, Penn State led 7-2, but Long Beach tied it up at 8. Tied at 12, Long Beach State's Jessica Alvardo put down two kills before Veronica Wall's 19th kill of the night ended the match, 15-12. Long Beach State's Misty May, also the AVCA National Player of the Year, was named the co-MVP of the Championship along with Penn State's Lauren Cacciamani.
There are two NCAA tournament records that were set in the 1998 tournament.
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