UCLA Wins 82nd NCAA Team Championship

May 6, 2000

FT. WAYNE, IN -- Earlier today, UCLA captured the NCAA men's volleyball team championship, defeating Ohio State 15-8, 15-10, 17-15 at Ft. Wayne, IN. The championship was the 18th for head coach Al Scates and his Bruins, the most by any coach in a single sport.

UCLA took early leads in the first two games, then battled back from a 13-8 deficit in the third Saturday to sweep Ohio State and win the NCAA men's volleyball title for the 18th time. Ohio State built a 5-point lead before UCLA had 5-0 run and eventually forced overtime in the final match. The Bruins won it 17-15 after taking the first two games 15-8 and 15-10.

UCLA finished the season 29-5. Ohio State went 25-4.

The championship is the fourth for UCLA during the 1999-2000 school year. Earlier in the year, the school won team titles in men's water polo, women's indoor track and field and, most recently, women's gymnastics. This marks the first time since the 1983-84 school year that UCLA has won four NCAA team championships.

The volleyball championship is UCLA's 82nd NCAA team title, the highest total in the nation. Stanford and USC currently ranked second with 76 each.