Dates and sites: Preliminary-round matches will be on the campuses of competing institutions. First- and second-round matches will be held at 16 sites December 5-8, and regionals will be December 12-15. The semifinals and final will be December 19 and 21 at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans. The University of New Orleans and the Sun Belt Conference are cohosts.

Field: The NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee will select the 64-team field, including at least one team from each of the eight districts. A total of 31 conferences have been granted automatic qualification; the remaining teams will be selected at large.

Selection date: December 1.

2001 champion: Stanford.

Top team contenders: Southern California, Nebraska, Stanford, Hawaii, Florida.

Players to watch: Emily Adams (Southern California); Laura Pilakowski (Nebraska); Aury Cruz (Florida); Kim Willoughby (Hawaii); Logan Tom (Stanford).

Division II

Dates and sites: Regionals will be held at eight sites November 2124 on the campuses of competing institutions. The finals will be played December 5-7 on the campus of one of the participating institutions.

Field: Six teams from each of the eight regions will be selected to fill the 48-team bracket.

Selection date: November 17.

2001 champion: Barry.

Top team contenders: Cal State San Bernardino, BYU-Hawaii, Minnesota-Duluth and West Texas A&M.

Players to watch: Kim Morohunfola (Cal State San Bernardino); Shannon Stroud (West Texas A&M); Callie Zwettler (Minnesota-Duluth); Yu Chuan Weng. (BYU-Hawaii).

Division III

Dates and sites: All matches will be played at campus sites. Regionals will be played at eight sites November 14-16; quarterfinals will be November 23; and the semifinals and final will be December 6-7.

Field: Forty-eight teams will be selected based on conference and regional competition.

Selection date: November 10.

2001 champion: La Verne.

Top team contenders: Washington (Missouri), Juniata, Trinity (Texas), Wisconsin-Whitewater, Cal State Hayward.

Players to watch: Rebecca Rotello [Washington's (Missouri)]; Angie Wildish (Wisconsin-Whitewater); Ashley Farrimond [Trinity (Texas)]; Niki Mueller (Juniata); Elizabeth Hazell (Cal State Hayward).