What Is 2018 NCAA men's volleyball tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2018 NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament was held from May 1 to May 5, 2018, featuring 7 teams, and culminated in UCLA defeating Long Beach State 3–2 in the final to claim their 20th national title.

Key Facts

The 2018 tournament included 7 teams, with 4 automatic qualifiers and 3 at-large bids.
UCLA won the championship on May 5, 2018, defeating Long Beach State 3–2 in the final match.
The semifinals and final were hosted at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.
UCLA claimed their 20th NCAA men's volleyball title, the most in tournament history.
The tournament format used a single-elimination bracket with best-of-five sets per match.

Overview

The 2018 NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament was the 49th edition of the championship, determining the top collegiate men's volleyball team in Division I and II. Held from May 1 to May 5, the tournament featured a compact field of seven teams competing in a single-elimination format.

Hosted at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, the event brought together conference champions and at-large selections from across the country. The tournament concluded with UCLA capturing its 20th national title, the most in NCAA history, after a dramatic five-set victory over Long Beach State.

Seven teams participated, including four automatic qualifiers from conference tournaments and three at-large selections chosen by the NCAA Selection Committee.
The tournament began on May 1, 2018, with two first-round matches to narrow the field to the final four semifinalists.
UCLA, as the top seed and host, received a bye into the semifinals, a privilege awarded due to their high national ranking and hosting rights.
All matches were played at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, marking the first time since 2012 that UCLA hosted the national semifinals and final.
The championship match lasted over two hours and featured multiple set-point rallies, with UCLA winning the decisive fifth set 15–13.

How It Works

The NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament uses a hybrid selection and seeding process to determine participants and bracket placement. The format is designed to balance conference representation with national rankings.

Automatic Qualifier: Each of the four conference tournament champions—MIVA, EIVA, MPSF, and Big West—earned an automatic bid to the tournament. This ensured regional champions had a path to the national stage.
At-Large Bids: Three teams were selected by the NCAA Selection Committee based on RPI, strength of schedule, and regular-season performance. These bids allowed strong non-champions to compete.
Seeding: The four highest-ranked teams were seeded and placed to avoid early matchups. UCLA received the top seed due to their 23–5 record and No. 1 national ranking.
Single-Elimination Format: Each match was a best-of-five sets contest, with the winner advancing and the loser eliminated. Matches were played to 25 points, with a 15-point fifth set.
Hosting Rights: The NCAA awarded hosting duties to the highest-seeded team remaining, which in 2018 was UCLA. This gave them home-court advantage in the semifinals and final.
Set Scoring Rules: A team must win three sets to win a match. Each set is played to 25 points, with a two-point advantage required, except for the fifth set, which ends at 15.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2018 tournament compared to recent editions in key structural and competitive aspects:

Year	Teams	Champion	Runner-Up	Host Venue
2018	7	UCLA	Long Beach State	Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles
2017	4	Ohio State	BYU	Stevens Gym, Columbus, OH
2016	4	Ohio State	UC Irvine	Irving Gym, Columbus, OH
2015	4	UC Irvine	BYU	Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles
2014	4	UC Irvine	Wisconsin–Parkside	Rec Hall, University Park, PA

The 2018 tournament marked a significant expansion from the previous four-team format to seven teams, allowing more programs to participate. This change reflected growing interest in men's collegiate volleyball and increased competitive balance. Unlike earlier years dominated by Ohio State and UC Irvine, 2018 saw UCLA return to the top after a 15-year title drought.

Why It Matters

The 2018 NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament had lasting implications for collegiate sports, athlete development, and conference prestige. It highlighted the competitive depth of men's volleyball and the value of postseason expansion.

UCLA's 20th title reinforced their status as the most successful program in NCAA men's volleyball history, surpassing all other schools in championships won.
The expansion to seven teams increased access for mid-major conferences and boosted national visibility for the sport.
Long Beach State's appearance in the final underscored the rising strength of the Big West Conference in men's volleyball.
The tournament drew record attendance at Pauley Pavilion, with over 9,000 fans attending the final, signaling growing fan engagement.
Television coverage on ESPN3 increased exposure, helping recruit high school athletes to collegiate programs.
The format change set a precedent for future tournaments, influencing how the NCAA evaluates expansion and hosting rights.

Ultimately, the 2018 tournament served as a turning point, blending tradition with innovation and setting a new standard for competitiveness and fan involvement in collegiate men's volleyball.