Winning coach Chuck Erbe (1st title) | ||
Champions Southern California (1st NCAA (4th National) title) Runner-up UCLA (1st NCAA (7th National) title match) Semifinalists Pacific (1st Final Four)
San Diego State (1st Final Four) Final Four All-Tournament Team Jeanne Beauprey (UCLA)
Jayne Gibson (Pacific)
Patty Orozco (UCLA)
Linda Robertson (UCLA)
Dana Smith (Southern California)
Cathy Stukel (Southern California) | ||
The 1981 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament was the first year that the NCAA sponsored women's volleyball, following 12 years in which the AIAW conducted the women's national intercollegiate championships. The tournament consisted of just 20 teams.
The Final Four was held on the campus of UCLA, where the heavily favored Bruins lost in the national title match against Southern California in five games: 9-15, 15-7, 10-15, 15-13, 15-7. Southern California finished the year 27-10.
In the consolation match, San Diego State swept Pacific, 3-0, to claim third place.
NCAA Tournament record
There is one NCAA tournament record that was set during the 1981 tournament that still stands today.
References
1981 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA