Dates and site: The semifinals and final will be played May 2 and 4 at Recreation Hall, University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State will host.

Field: The championship field includes four teams -- one each from the West, Midwest and East regions and one selected at large.

2001 champion: Brigham Young

Top team contenders: Pepperdine, Hawaii, Brigham Young, Penn State, UCLA.

Players to watch: Brad Keenan, Pepperdine; Kostas Theocharidis, Hawaii; Joaquin Acosta, Brigham Young; Jose Quinones, Penn State; Scott Morrow, UCLA.

Though UCLA held the top ranking nine times this season, a loss to then-No. 2 Pepperdine knocked the Bruins from the No. 1 spot in the polls.