Jacob Myers | NCAA.com | February 24, 2019 2018 NCAA volleyball championship: Stanford defeats Nebraska to win national championship Top Plays: Women's Volleyball Championship Share MINNEAPOLIS — The Stanford Cardinal is the 2018 NCAA Division I national champion. This is the Cardinal's Division I-high eighth national title. Meghan McClure delivered the decisive point in a thrilling five-set match (28-26, 22-25, 25-16, 15-25, 15-12) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Meghan McClure takes @TheAndyKatz through the last point that won the national championship! #NCAAVB pic.twitter.com/B2ZOdtsxxA— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 16, 2018 BRACKET: Interactive bracket | Printable bracket | Scoreboard | Buy Championship gear MORE: 7 takeaways from Stanford's 2018 NCAA championship win MORE: Why this Stanford junior class ranks among the elite SHOP: Buy Stanford volleyball championship gear The national championship match was nothing short of an instant classic between two of the most storied programs in the sport's history. After Stanford dominated the third set, it looked like it was clearly headed for a championship. But the Huskers countered by winning nine of the first 10 points of the fourth set and hitting .412 in the set to extend the match. Nebraska had the momentum, but to think that the fifth set would be anything but a back-and-forth nail-biter was to deny the fact that these were clearly the best two teams on the court. Nebraska outside hitter Lexi Sun had back-to-back kills to tie the match at nine. Stanford then countered with a huge 5-1 run, punctuated by a ace from defensive specialist Sidney Wilson. Nebraska coach John Cook challenged that the ball was out, but the call stood. Three points later, McClure broke through the Stanford block and dove to the floor as the Cardinal celebrated its second championship in three years. Stanford's two-time AVCA player of the year Kathryn Plummer was named co-Most Outstanding Player with libero Morgan Hentz, who had a career-high 32 digs. Plummer had a double-double with 19 kills and 10 digs. The difference-maker for Stanford on Saturday night had to be freshman middle Holly Campbell who had a career-high 15 kills and hit .483. Mikaela Foecke was outstanding once again for Nebraska. She had 27 kills and hit just less than .300 with 71 swings. She will be remembered as an all-time great at Nebraska. Lauren Stivrins was tremendous for the Huskers as well, with 19 kills and a .615 hitting percentage. Lastly, the All-tournament team was named as follows: Jacqueline Quade (Illinois), Lauren Stivrins (Nebraska), Mikaela Foecke (Nebraska), Audriana Fitzmorris (Stanford), Jenna Gray (Stanford), Morgan Hentz (Stanford), Kathryn Plummer (Stanford). That match will be a tough one to top at the 2019 national semifinals and championship in Pittsburgh. Thanks for tuning into another spectacular volleyball season. Be sure to look at the blog below with all the highlights from the 2018 national championship match. NCAA volleyball championship: Nebraska-Stanford highlights NCAA volleyball championship: Schedule NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Game Site Date Time (ET) Network Stanford 3, Nebraska 2 Minneapolis, Minn. Saturday, Dec. 15 9 p.m. ESPN2 NATIONAL SEMIFINALS Game Site Date Time (ET) Network No. 1 Stanford 3, No. 4 BYU 0 Minneapolis, Minn. Thursday, Dec. 13 7 p.m. ESPN No. 7 Nebraska 3, No. 3 Illinois 2 Minneapolis, Minn. Thursday, Dec. 13 9 p.m. ESPN How they got here No. 1 Stanford (22nd appearance): First round: Alabama State, 3-0 Second round: Loyola Marymount, 3-0 Regional semifinal: No. 16 Washington, 3-1 Regional final: No. 8 Penn State, 3-1 No. 4 BYU (3rd appearance): First round: Stony Brook, 3-0 Second round: Utah, 3-0 Regional semifinal: Florida, 3-1 Regional final: No. 5 Texas, 3-0 No. 3 Illinois (4th appearance): First round: Eastern Michigan, 3-0 Second round: Louisville, 3-1 Regional semifinal: No. 14 Marquette, 3-0 Regional final: No. 6 Wisconsin, 3-1 No. 7 Nebraska (15th appearance): First round: Hofstra, 3-0 Second round: Missouri, 3-0 Regional semifinal: No. 10 Kentucky, 3-0 Regional final: No. 15 Oregon, 3-0 Championship History YEAR CHAMPION (RECORD) COACH SCORE RUNNER-UP SITE 2018 Stanford (34-1) Kevin Hambly 3-2 Nebraska Minneapolis 2017 Nebraska (32-4) John Cook 3-1 Florida Kansas City 2016 Stanford (26-7) John Dunning 3-1 Texas Columbus 2015 Nebraska (32-4) John Cook 3-0 Texas Omaha 2014 Penn State (36-3) Russ Rose 3-0 BYU Oklahoma City 2013 Penn State (34-2) Russ Rose 3-1 Wisconsin Seattle 2012 Texas (29-4) Jerritt Elliott 3-0 Oregon Louisville 2011 UCLA (29-6) Michael Sealy 3-1 Illinois San Antonio, Texas 2010 Penn State (32-5) Russ Rose 3-0 California UMKC 2009 Penn State (38-0) Russ Rose 3-2 Texas South Florida 2008 Penn State (38-0) Russ Rose 3-0 Stanford Nebraska 2007 Penn State (34-2) Russ Rose 3-2 Stanford Sacramento State 2006 Nebraska (33-1) John Cook 3-1 Stanford Nebraska 2005 Washington (32-1) Jim McLaughlin 3-0 Nebraska UTSA 2004 Stanford (30-6) John Dunning 3-0 Minnesota Long Beach State 2003 Southern California (35-0) Mick Haley 3-1 Florida Dallas 2002 Southern California (31-1) Mick Haley 3-1 Stanford New Orleans 2001 Stanford (33-2) John Dunning 3-0 Long Beach State San Diego State 2000 Nebraska (34-0) John Cook 3-2 Wisconsin VCU 1999 Penn State (36-1) Russ Rose 3-0 Stanford Hawaii 1998 Long Beach State (36-0) Brian Gimmillaro 3-2 Penn State Wisconsin 1997 Stanford (33-2) Don Shaw 3-2 Penn State Washington State 1996 Stanford (31-2) Don Shaw 3-0 Hawaii Cleveland State 1995 Nebraska (32-1) Terry Pettit 3-1 Texas Massachusetts 1994 Stanford (31-2) Don Shaw 3-1 UCLA Texas 1993 Long Beach State (32-2) Brian Gimmillaro 3-1 Penn State Wisconsin 1992 Stanford (31-2) Don Shaw 3-1 UCLA New Mexico 1991 UCLA (31-5) Andy Banachowski 3-2 Long Beach State UCLA 1990 UCLA (36-1) Andy Banachowski 3-0 Pacific Maryland 1989 Long Beach State (32-5) Brian Gimmillaro 3-0 Nebraska Hawaii 1988 Texas (34-5) Mick Haley 3-0 Hawaii Minnesota 1987 Hawaii (37-2) Dave Shoji 3-1 Stanford Indianapolis 1986 Pacific (39-3) John Dunning 3-0 Nebraska Pacific 1985 Pacific (36-3) John Dunning 3-1 Stanford Western Michigan 1984 UCLA (33-6) Andy Banachowski 3-2 Stanford UCLA 1983 Hawaii (34-2) Dave Shoji 3-0 UCLA Kentucky 1982 Hawaii (33-1) Dave Shoji 3-2 Southern California Pacific 1981 Southern California (27-10) Chuck Erbe 3-2 UCLA UCLA 5 legendary NCAA women's volleyball coaches It has come full circle for Penn State volleyball's new head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley Katie Schumacher-Cawley sat down with NCAA.com to discuss taking over the Penn State head coaching position from legendary head coach Russ Rose. 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