The 1996 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began with 48 teams and ended on December 21, 1996 when Stanford defeated Hawaiʻi 3 games to 0 in the NCAA championship match. Stanford's win over Hawaiʻi for the title was, and remains, one of the most lopsided finals in NCAA championship history. Stanford won 15-12, 15-0, 15-6. The 18 points scored by Hawaiʻi was the lowest in a NCAA championship match since the NCAA Tournament began in 1981.