The 2018 season crowned Tampa the 38th DII volleyball champion since the inaugural championship in 1981. Debby Colberg led Sacramento State to the first national championship in DII volleyball history, defeating Lewis in straight sets on the campus of UC Riverside.
In the nearly four decades since, there have been plenty of repeat champions in DII volleyball, 10 to be exact. Let's take a look at the programs that have captured the most titles in championship history.
MORE: Tampa wins 2018 national championship
Concordia-St. Paul, 9 (2007-13, 16, 17)
The Golden Bears are the benchmark when it comes to DII volleyball greatness. The Brady Starkey era has been one of the most dominant in all of DII volleyball's history. Starkey took over in 2003 and led the Golden Bears right to the championship match. They fell that season to North Alabama, but by 2007, the Golden Bears were championship-bound on an annual basis. Not only did they go on to win every national championship from 2007 to 2013, but they also went on a 43-match unbeaten streak, not losing until they were eliminated from the 2014 tournament. Currently the two-time defending champs, it appears Concordia-St. Paul is not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
MORE: Championship History
Portland State, 4 (1984, 85, 88, 92)
Portland State joined Division I officially in 1996, but not before the Vikings left their mark on the DII scene. In 1983, Portland State lost the national championship to Cal State Northridge by a score of 3-2. The Vikings would avenge that loss, becoming the first repeat champions in DII volleyball history, both times defeating the same Cal State Northridge team that spoiled their first trip to the title game.
West Texas A&M, 3 (1990, 91, 97)
The Lady Buffs were the second team in DII volleyball history to repeat, claiming the title in 1990 and '91. They have since become a familiar tournament face, racking up 26 appearances over the years, becoming one of the many to fall to the Golden Bears in their return to the 2009 title match. West Texas A&M is one of the most dominant programs in Lone Star Conference history with 19 regular season titles and 15 tournament titles to add to its trophy case.
Barry, 3 (1995, 2001, 2004)
The Bucs entered the DII volleyball scene in 1988 with a modest 16-12 record. Seven short years later they were national champions, capturing the first of three titles spread out over ten seasons. It has been quite some time since Barry has been the dominant Sunshine State Conference force it once was, but a 12-0 start in 2018 could see the Bucs turn that corner once again.
MORE: Latest AVCA rankings | 2018 tournament final bracket
Tampa, 3 (2006, 2014, 2018)
The Spartans are the latest to move up the all-time list. If there is a DII fall festival, you can pencil in Tampa to make the finals. All three of Tampa's titles have come at fall festivals, and the Spartans even finished as national runners-up at the 2010 festival. The most recent 2018 team was ahead of the curve and are in a prime position to move up the list again in 2019.
Five teams have won two championships. Cal State Northridge is one of those five teams, and perhaps the most perplexing. The Matadors went to every national championship match from 1982 to 1988 but were only able to walk away victorious in 1983 and '87. Northern Michigan has two titles as well and those trophies came in repeat fashion, winning in 1993 and '94. Hawaii Pacific, BYU-Hawaii, and UC Riverside round out the two-time winners.
See the year-by-year results below.
| YEAR | CHAMPION (RECORD) | COACH | SCORE | RUNNER-UP | SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Tampa (33-4) | Chris Catanach | 3-2 | Western Washington | Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| 2017 | Concordia-St. Paul (34-3) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | Florida Southern | Pensacola, Fla. |
| 2016 | Concordia-St. Paul (32-4) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | Alaska Anchorage | Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 2015 | Wheeling Jesuit (39-4) | Christy Benner | 3-0 | Palm Beach Atlantic | Tampa, Fla. |
| 2014 | Tampa (33-1) | Chris Catanach | 3-0 | S'west Minnesota State | Louisville, Ky. |
| 2013 | Concordia-St. Paul (35-3) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | BYU-Hawaii | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| 2012 | Concordia-St. Paul (34-4) | Brady Starkey | 3-2 | Tampa | Pensacola, Fla. |
| 2011 | Concordia-St. Paul (34-2) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | Cal State San Bernardino | Cal State San Bernardino |
| 2010 | Concordia-St. Paul (32-4) | Brady Starkey | 3-1 | Tampa | Louisville, Ky. |
| 2009 | Concordia-St. Paul (37-0) | Brady Starkey | 3-0 | West Texas A&M | Concordia-St. Paul |
| 2008 | Concordia-St. Paul (37-1) | Brady Starkey | 3-2 | Cal State San Bernardino | Concordia-St. Paul |
| 2007 | Concordia-St. Paul (36-4) | Brady Starkey | 3-1 | Western Washington | Washburn |
| 2006 | Tampa (35-1) | Chris Catanach | 3-1 | North Alabama | West Florida |
| 2005 | Grand Valley State (32-1) | Deanne Scanlon | 3-1 | Nebraska-Kearney | Nebraska-Kearney |
| 2004 | Barry (34-1) | Dave Nichols | 3-1 | Truman | Barry |
| 2003 | North Alabama (33-7) | Matt Peck | 3-0 | Concordia-St. Paul | Cal State San Bernardino |
| 2002 | BYU-Hawaii (27-2) | Wilfred Navalta | 3-0 | Truman | West Texas A&M |
| 2001 | Barry (32-2) | Dave Nichols | 3-0 | South Dakota State | Grand Valley State |
| 2000 | Hawaii Pacific (28-0) | Tita Ahuna | 3-0 | Augustana (S.D.) | Augustana (S.D.) |
| 1999 | BYU-Hawaii (30-2) | Wilfred Navalta | 3-0 | Tampa | Battle Creek, Mich. |
| 1998 | Hawaii Pacific (31-5) | Tita Ahuna | 3-1 | North Dakota State | Kissimmee, Fla. |
| 1997 | West Texas A&M (37-1) | Debbie Hendricks | 3-2 | Barry | Cal State Bakersfield |
| 1996 | Nebraska-Omaha (35-2) | Rose Shires | 3-2 | Tampa | Central Missouri |
| 1995 | Barry (34-2) | Lenid Yelin | 3-1 | Northern Michigan | Barry |
| 1994 | Northern Michigan (32-4) | Mark Rosen | 3-1 | Cal State Bakersfield | Cal State Bakersfield |
| 1993 | Northern Michigan (38-1) | Jim Moore | 3-1 | Cal State Bakersfield | Northern Michigan |
| 1992 | Portland State (36-1) | Jeff Mozzochi | 3-2 | Northern Michigan | Portland State |
| 1991 | West Texas A&M (36-2) | Jim Giacomazzi | 3-0 | Portland State | West Texas A&M |
| 1990 | West Texas A&M (38-1) | Kim Hudson | 3-0 | North Dakota State | Cal State Bakersfield |
| 1989 | Cal State Bakersfield (21-15) | David Rubio | 3-0 | Sacramento State | Cal State Bakersfield |
| 1988 | Portland State (36-5) | Jeff Mozzochi | 3-0 | Cal State Northridge | North Dakota State |
| 1987 | Cal State Northridge (35-6) | Walt Ker | 3-2 | Central Missouri | Nebraska-Omaha |
| 1986 | UC Riverside (29-7) | Sue Gozansky | 3-0 | Cal State Northridge | Sacramento State |
| 1985 | Portland State (36-5) | Jeff Mozzochi | 3-1 | Cal State Northridge | Portland State |
| 1984 | Portland State (33-4) | Jeff Mozzochi | 3-0 | Cal State Northridge | Portland State |
| 1983 | Cal State Northridge (30- 6) | Walt Ker | 3-2 | Portland State | Florida Southern |
| 1982 | UC Riverside (31-5) | Sue Gozansky | 3-0 | Cal State Northridge | Cal State Northridge |
| 1981 | Sacramento State (28-6) | Debby Colberg | 3-0 | Lewis | UC Riverside |
