Tampa wins the 2021 DII women's volleyball national championship

Tampa Athletics

How sweep it is. Four the fourth time in program history, the Tampa Spartans are your DII women's volleyball national champions. The Spartans swept Washburn in straight sets, 25-21, 26-24, 25-21. The victory puts Tampa alone with the second-most national championships among active DII programs, trailing only Concordia-St. Paul.  

Kudos to Tampa. The Spartans fed off the home court crowd that packed out the Bob Martinez Athletic Center in Tampa. It was loud from the first serve, and Tampa harnessed that energy in an aggressive and mostly clean attack. While no team ever plays the perfect game, Tampa came very close in an impressive performance. 

Tampa last won a national championship in 2018 at the DII festival. In fact, all three previous titles came at DII festivals, so now the Spartans have a bit of a monkey off their back — they have that elusive title in a non-festival season. You can relive all the moments from every round by scrolling below. 

Tampa sweeps for fourth national championship: Tampa 3, Washburn 0

Final stats:

Washburn

NCAA.com

Tampa

NCAA.com

Click or tap here to view the full 2021 DII women's volleyball bracket.

NCAA.com

While the scoreboard may read 3-1 in each of Friday's semifinals, these were two battles that took every last point to decide. In the end, Tampa will play Washburn for the national title on its home turf — the championship match will be played on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. ET from the Bob Martinez Athletic Center in Tampa, Florida.

Tampa last won a national championship in 2018 and will be playing for its fourth national title. A victory would give the Spartans the second-most DII women's volleyball championships among active DII programs. Washburn is the complete opposite end of the spectrum, looking to add its first trophy to the program's lore.  

• No. 1 Tampa vs. No. 3 Washburn, 5 p.m. ET

Let's take a quick look at Friday's semifinals action.

History made: Washburn advances to championship match on Saturday

No. 3 Washburn 3, No. 2 Western Washington 1| Final
It was a rematch 14 years in the making. Western Washington prevailed in that semifinals match, but Washburn flipped the script in 2021. Each set was seemingly better than the previous in this first. The Ichabods opened with a 25-23 victory in a a close first set to go up 1-0 on Western Washington and carried that momentum into Set 2. But Western Washington didn't go away. A Washburn service error and five-straight points from Tupu Lologo made it 24-21 and put a scare into Washburn before the 'Bods put it away for an early 2-0 lead.

That set up an incredible third set. Western Washington looked to have the set put away, but Washburn came storming back. Back and forth the two went through eleven ties and five leads changes, exchanging points until final the Vikings were able to lock up their first set of the semifinals, 29-27. However, Washburn's senior-laden roster wasn't going to see a fifth set. They dominated to a 25-11 clinching victory to advance to tomorrow's finals. 

2021 DII women's volleyball semifinal: Washburn vs. Western Washington full replay

Tampa in familiar territory: Advances to national championship

No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 5 Gannon 1 | Final
Gannon came out and silenced the hometown crowd to take an early lead in Set 1. But No. 1 Tampa clawed its way all the way back and an incredible dive by JJ Ramirez set up the game-winning point for the Spartans to take Set 1 25-21 and quickly improved to a 2-0 lead with a 25-20 second-set victory.

NCAA.com

Gannon battled and snuck past Tampa 25-23 to force a fourth set. The Golden Knights were playing aggressive and attacking the net, finding holes where they could and taking advantage of the Tampa miscues — the Spartans had 14 through three sets. Tampa cleaned up its game and dominated the final set, moving on behind a 25-19 score.
 

2021 DII women's volleyball semifinal: Gannon vs. Tampa full replay

Click or tap here to view the full 2021 DII women's volleyball bracket. You can stream the championship game tomorrow live at 5 p.m. ET right here at NCAA.com and follow for updates and analysis from the championship game. 

Tampa Athletics

The top seed in the DII women's volleyball quarterfinals got a scare on Thursday night.

No. 1 Tampa lost the first set to No. 8 Augusta 25-20 and looked to be in a major fight for a chance to reach the semifinals. But the Spartans hardly blinked, taking control of the match and rattling off wins in the next three sets -- 25-19, 25-21, and 25-20 -- to earn the victory.

You can watch the full replay of that match at the top of this page.

Tampa finalizes the semifinal field, joining Washburn, Western Washington, and Gannon. You can scroll down this post to check out full replays of each of their wins from today.

The semifinals are tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 10. Here is the schedule and the matchups (all times Eastern):

• No. 2 Western Washington vs. No. 3 Washburn | 5 p.m.
• No. 1 Tampa vs. No. 5 Gannon | 7:30 p.m.

Fans will be able to watch both matches live on NCAA.com on Friday. The final will be Saturday, Dec. 11.

Click or tap here to view the full 2021 DII women's volleyball bracket.

• No. 3 Washburn 3, No. 6 West Texas A&M 1

2021 DII women's volleyball quarterfinal: West Texas A&M vs. Washburn full replay

• No. 2 Western Washington 3, No. 7 Daemen 0

2021 DII women's volleyball quarterfinal: Daemen vs. Western Washington full replay

• No. 5 Gannon 3, No. 4 Hillsdale 1 

2021 DII women's volleyball quarterfinal: Gannon vs. Hillsdale full replay

NCAA.com

What a win by Gannon. The Golden Knights came storming back after Hillsdale took the first set 25-20. Gannon won the next three in a row to advance. 

Fun fact: The last time Tampa won the national championship, both Western Washington and Washburn were in the semifinals. The Spartans beat the Ichabods in the semifinals and then the Vikings in the championship. Next up, the Spartans look to repeat that journey, but first a bout with Augusta stands in their way.

• Third set | No. 1 Tampa 1, No. 8 Augusta 1
• No. 3 Washburn 3, No. 6 West Texas A&M 1

2021 DII women's volleyball quarterfinal: West Texas A&M vs. Washburn full replay

• No. 2 Western Washington 3, No. 7 Daemen 0

2021 DII women's volleyball quarterfinal: Daemen vs. Western Washington full replay

• No. 5 Gannon 3, No. 4 Hillsdale 1 

2021 DII women's volleyball quarterfinal: Gannon vs. Hillsdale full replay

Western Washington Athletics

The eight remaining teams in the 2021 DII women's volleyball tournament have been re-seeded and paired up for their quarterfinal matches.

Tampa will be the top seed, and all four quarterfinal matches will be played on Thursday, Dec. 9. Fans will be able to stream all of them live on NCAA.com at the game links below. Here is the full schedule (all times Eastern):

• No. 1 Tampa vs. No. 8 Augusta | 7:30 p.m.
• No. 2 Western Washington vs. No. 7 Daemon | 2:30 p.m.
• No. 3 Washburn vs. No. 6 West Texas A&M | 12 p.m.
• No. 4 Hillsdale vs. No. 5 Gannon | 5 p.m.

Click or tap here for the full interactive bracket for the 2021 DII women's volleyball championship. For a printable version of the bracket, go here.

Winners will advance to the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 10, with the final set for Saturday, Dec. 11.

The DII women's volleyball third round gets underway this afternoon.

With eight games being played throughout the day there will be no shortage of action to follow.

All but two No. 1 seeds have advanced to the third round. No. 5 Cal State LA and No. 5 Washburn both managed to knock off a No. 1 seed in the second round of the tournament.

Here is the full slate of games for the third round:

*All games EST

• No. 1 Daemen 3, American International 1
• No. 3 Hillsdale 3, No. 1 Ferris State 1
• No. 6 Augusta 3, No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne 2
• No. 2 Tampa 3, No. 1 West Florida 1
• No. 2 Gannon 3, No. 1 Wheeling 0
• No. 5 Washburn 3, No. 7 Concordia-St. Paul 0
• No. 7 West Texas A&M 3, No. 1 MSU Denver 2
• No. 2 Western Washington 3, No. 5 Cal State LA 0

Click or tap here to view the full 2021 DII women's volleyball tournament bracket

Concordia-St. Paul Athletics

Sixty-four teams entered Thursday's action with DII women's volleyball national championship aspirations. The field was whittled in half, and 32 teams battle in the second round on Friday, Dec. 3.

Now we're down to 16.

There were no major upsets in the first round as all eight No. 1 seeds — including the defending national champion Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes — advanced. Concordia-St. Paul, sitting at an uncharacteristic No. 7 seed, upset No. 2 St. Cloud State while No. 7 West Texas A&M took down No. 2 Colorado School of Mines in a pair of surprising victories.

No. 6-seeded Nebraska-Kearney, the reigning national runners-up, had a tough match with No. 3 Northwest Missouri State, but came out the victors. That sets up a Friday showdown between UNK and Concordia-St. Paul, two of the more storied programs in DII women's volleyball history. UNK's run ended there in five sets.

Two No. 1 seeds fell on Friday, however: Central Missouri and Cal State San Bernardino.

Friday's scores:

• No. 2 Gannon 3, No. 6 West Virginia State 0
• No. 2 Daemen 3, No. 3 Stonehill 1
• No. 3 Hillsdale 3, No. 2 Michigan Tech 2
• No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne 3, No. 4 Wingate 1
• No. 7 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney 2
• No. 2 Tampa 3, No. 3 Nova Southeastern 1
• No. 7 West Texas A&M 3, No. 6 Texas-Tyler 1
• No. 1 American International 3, No. 5 Holy Family 0
• No. 1 Wheeling 3, No. 4 Edinboro 1
• No. 6 Augusta 3, No. 2 Anderson (SC) 2
• No. 1 Ferris State 3, No. 5 Missouri-St. Louis 0
• No. 2 Western Washington 3, No. 6 Central Washington 1
• No. 5 Washburn 3, No. 1 Central Missouri 1
• No. 1 West Florida 3, No. 4 Embry-Riddle 1
• No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 4 Angelo State 1
• No. 5 Cal State LA 3, No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino 0

Click or tap here to view the full 2021 DII women's volleyball tournament bracket. And for a printable version of the bracket, go here. Be sure to scroll down for all the information on the DII women's volleyball championship you need including previous round's scores and the championship history. 

The first round of the 2021 DII women's volleyball tournament begins today. 

Click or tap here to view the full bracket

Here is the entire schedule of games today listed by region, as well as score updates. All times are Eastern.

Atlantic: Wheeling

• Final | #3 Shepherd 1, #6 West Virginia State 3
• Final | #2 Gannon 3, #7 East Stroudsburg 2
• Final | #4 Edinboro 3, #5 Clarion 1
• Final | #1 Wheeling 3, #8 Fayetteville State 0

Central: Central Missouri

• Final | #3 Northwest Missouri State 2, vs. #6 Nebraska-Kearney 3
• Final | #2 St. Cloud State 1, vs. #7 Concordia-St. Paul 3
• Final | #1 Central Missouri 3, #8 Arkansas Tech 0
• Final | #5 Washburn 3, #4 Winona State 1

East: American International

• Final | #3 Stonehill 3, #6 Jefferson 0
• Final | #2 Daemen 3, #7 Bentley 2
• Final | #1 American Int’l. 3, #8 Southern Connecticut St. 0
• Final | #5 Holy Family 3, #4 New Haven 2

Midwest: Ferris State

• Final | #2 Michigan Tech 3, #7 Wayne State (Michigan) 2
• Final | #3 Hillsdale 3, #6 Grand Valley State 0
• Final | #1 Ferris State 3, #8 Rockhurst 2
• Final | #5 Missouri-St. Louis 3, #4 Lewis 2

South: West Florida

• Final | #3 Nova Southeastern 3, #6 Alabama Huntsville 0
• Final | #2 Tampa 3, #7 Palm Beach Atlantic 0
• Final | #4 Embry-Riddle (Florida) 3, #5 Lynn 0
• Final | #1 West Florida 3, #8 Spring Hill 0

South Central: MSU Denver

• Final | #3 Colorado Mesa 1, #6 UT-Tyler 3
• Final | #2 Colorado School of Mines 2, #7 West Texas A&M 3
• Final | #4 Angelo State 3, #5 Regis (Colorado) 2
• Final | #1 MSU Denver 3, #8 CSU Pueblo 0

Southeast: Anderson (South Carolina)

• Final | #1 Lenoir-Rhyne 3, #8 Francis Marion 0
• Final | #4 Wingate 3, #5 Flagler 0
• Final | #2 Anderson (SC) 3, #7 Mars Hill 1
• Final | #6 Augusta 3, #3 Tusculum 0

West: California State San Bernardino

• Final | #3 Chaminade 1, #6 Central Washington 3
• Final | #2 Western Washington 3, #7 Simon Fraser 1
• Final | #5 Cal State LA 3, #4 Cal State Poly Pomona 1
• Second Set |#1 Cal State San Bernardino 1, #8 Alaska Anchorage 1

Second round action will begin Friday, Dec. 2, and the third round starts Saturday, Dec. 4. 

Cal State San Bernardino Athletics

Thirty-two matches will tip off the 2021 NCAA DII women's volleyball tournament on Thursday, Dec. 2. All 64 teams will play their first-round match in a packed day on the court tomorrow from noon until midnight.

The field is split into eight regions, where teams will have to win three matches in a row from Thursday-Saturday in order to reach the quarterfinals. All regional matches will be played on campus sites of eight host schools.

Click or tap here to view the full 2021 DII women's volleyball tournament bracket. And for a printable version of the bracket, go here.

Here is the Thursday schedule, organized by region, with the host school listed in bold alongside the region (all times Eastern): 

Atlantic: Wheeling

• 12 p.m. | #3 Shepherd (Home) vs. #6 West Virginia State (Visitor)
• 2:30 p.m. | #2 Gannon (Home) vs. #7 East Stroudsburg (Visitor)
• 5 p.m. | #4 Edinboro (Home) vs. #5 Clarion (Visitor)
• 7:30 p.m. | #1 Wheeling (Home) vs. #8 Fayetteville State (Visitor)

Central: Central Missouri

• 1 p.m. | #3 Northwest Missouri State (Home) vs. #6 Nebraska-Kearney (Visitor)
• 3:30 p.m. | #2 St. Cloud State (Home) vs. #7 Concordia-St. Paul (Visitor)
• 6 p.m. | #1 Central Missouri (Home) vs. #8 Arkansas Tech (Visitor)
• 8:30 p.m. | #4 Winona State (Home) vs. #5 Washburn (Visitor)

East: American International

• 12 p.m. | #3 Stonehill (Home) vs. #6 Jefferson (Visitor)
• 2:30 p.m. | #2 Daemen (Home) vs. #7 Bentley (Visitor)
• 5 p.m. | #1 American Int’l. (Home) vs. #8 Southern Connecticut St. (Visitor)
• 7:30 p.m. | #4 New Haven (Home) vs. #5 Holy Family (Visitor)

Midwest: Ferris State

• 12 p.m. | #2 Michigan Tech (Home) vs. #7 Wayne State (Michigan) (Visitor)
• 2:30 p.m. | #3 Hillsdale (Home) vs. #6 Grand Valley State (Visitor)
• 5 p.m. | #1 Ferris State (Home) vs. #8 Rockhurst (Visitor)
• 7:30 p.m. | #4 Lewis (Home) vs. #5 Missouri-St. Louis (Visitor)

South: West Florida

• 1 p.m. | #3 Nova Southeastern (Home) vs. #6 Alabama Huntsville (Visitor)
• 3:30 p.m. | #2 Tampa (Home) vs. #7 Palm Beach Atlantic (Visitor)
• 6 p.m. | #4 Embry-Riddle (Florida) (Home) vs. #5 Lynn (Visitor)
• 8:30 p.m. | #1 West Florida (Home) vs. #8 Spring Hill (Visitor)

South Central: MSU Denver

• 2 p.m. | #3 Colorado Mesa (Home) vs. #6 UT-Tyler (Visitor)
• 4:30 p.m. | #2 Colorado School of Mines (Home) vs. #7 West Texas A&M (Visitor)
• 7 p.m. | #4 Angelo State (Home) vs. #5 Regis (Colorado) (Visitor)
• 9:30 p.m. | #1 MSU Denver (Home) vs. #8 CSU Pueblo (Visitor)

Southeast: Anderson (South Carolina)

• 12 p.m. | #1 Lenoir-Rhyne (Home) vs. #8 Francis Marion (Visitor)
• 2:30 p.m. | #4 Wingate (Home) vs. #5 Flagler (Visitor)
• 5 p.m. | #2 Anderson (SC) (Home) vs. #7 Mars Hill (Visitor)
• 7:30 p.m. | #3 Tusculum (Home) vs. #6 Augusta (Visitor)

West: California State San Bernardino

• 3 p.m. | #3 Chaminade (Home) vs. #6 Central Washington (Visitor)
• 5:30 p.m. | #2 Western Washington (Home) vs. #7 Simon Fraser (Visitor)
• 8 p.m. | #4 Cal State Poly Pomona (Home) vs. #5 Cal State LA (Visitor)
• 10:30 p.m. | #1 Cal State San Bernardino (Home) vs. #8 Alaska Anchorage (Visitor)

The second round will be Friday, Dec. 2, and the third round will be Saturday, Dec. 4.