Avenging an early-season loss to an opponent is satisfying. Doing it for the national championship is even better.

Stanford's women's volleyball team discovered that for itself December 15 at San Diego State's Cox Arena when the Cardinal downed favored Long Beach State, 31-29, 30-28, 30-25, in an all-California final.

The victory avenged a September 25 Cardinal loss to the 49ers and ended Long Beach State's hopes of an undefeated season.

Neither squad was a stranger to the championship final. Long Beach State had won in 1989, 1993 and 1998, while Stanford claimed titles in 1992, 1994 1996 and 1997.

Entering championship play, Stanford had lost to Long Beach State and Southern California, but the Cardinal also had 2000 Olympian and 2001 national player of the year Logan Tom. The 49ers boasted 6-7 outside hitter Tayyiba Haneef and standout middle blocker Cheryl Weaver. The championship outcome hinged on which team could contain the other's hitter.

Tom and freshman Oganna Nnamani blasted Long Beach State for 25 and 19 kills, respectively. The 49ers' typical staunch defense faltered.

In game one, Tom was a one-woman show. She pounded 10 kills on 18 swings with no errors. Still, the score remained close, with both teams making impressive blocks and rallies. Stanford held 20-14 and 26-24 leads, only to have Long Beach State reel off four consecutive points for a 29-27 lead. Tom powered the Cardinal back into the match and a 31-29 victory.

For the 49ers, it was the first time this year that game one hadn't gone their way.

In the second game, Tom continued her hitting streak and was bolstered by solid play from Nnamani, Sara McGee and the steady setting of Robyn Lewis. The Cardinal built leads of 20-13 and 27-20 only to see the 49ers storm back within one at 29-28. But Long Beach State's Keri Nishimoto served the ball long and ended the game.

Down two games, Long Beach State failed to overcome Stanford's momentum and seemingly error-free play. The Cardinal held four of the 49ers' five hitters to mid-.100 hitting clips. Haneef's success on the left side (she had 18 kills for the match) could not turn the tide. The third game ended at 30-25 with the Cardinal capturing a record fifth volleyball championship.

Stanford's first-year head coach John Dunning, who won titles at Pacific (California) in 1985 and 1986, said, "This is a really neat group of 14 players that did a good job together with a new coach who they weren't sure whether he knew anything."

To set up the championship showdown, Long Beach State dominated Arizona in the first semifinal to push its record to 33-0. Haneef unleashed 21 kills for a .500 hitting clip in the three-game match while teammates Brittany Hochevar and Weaver contributed 10 kills apiece to overwhelm the Wildcats' defense.

In the second semifinal, Stanford surprised Nebraska by sweeping the previously once-beaten Cornhuskers. Tom posted 22 kills despite an imposing Husker block.

Named to the all-tournament team were Stanford's Ashley Ivy, Lewis and Nnamani. Long Beach State placed Weaver, Hochevar and Haneef on the team. Tom was named the most outstanding player of the tournament.

Semifinals

Long Beach St. def. Arizona, 30-27, 30-25, 30-20; Stanford def. Nebraska, 31-29, 30-28, 30-21.

Championship