| NCAA men's volleyball tournament | |
| Year: | 1986 |
| Dates: | May 1986 |
| Num Teams: | 4 |
| Winners: | Pepperdine (3rd title) |
| Second: | USC (6th title match) |
| Matches: | 4 |
| Attendance: | 6925 |
| Award: | Steve Friedman (Pepperdine) |
| Prev Season: | 1985 |
| Next Season: | 1987 |
The 1986 NCAA men's volleyball tournament was the 17th annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate volleyball. The tournament was played at Rec Hall in University Park, Pennsylvania during May 1986.[1]
Pepperdine defeated USC in the final match, 3–2 (7–15, 15–13, 15–11, 5–15, 16–14), to win their third national title. This was a rematch of the previous year's final, also won by Pepperdine. The Waves (22–7) were coached by Rod Wilde.
Pepperdines's Steve Friedman was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Friedman, along with six other players, also comprised the All-tournament team.
Until the creation of the NCAA Men's Division III Volleyball Championship in 2012, there was only a single national championship for men's volleyball. As such, all NCAA men's volleyball programs, whether from Division I, Division II, or Division III, were eligible. A total of 4 teams were invited to contest this championship.
| Team | Appearance | Previous | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 9th | 1983 | |
| Penn State | 4th | 1983 | |
| Pepperdine | 7th | 1985 | |
| USC | 7th | 1985 |