| NCAA men's volleyball tournament | |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Dates: | May 1996 |
| Num Teams: | 4 |
| Winners: | UCLA (16th title) |
| Second: | Hawaiʻi (1st title match) |
| Matches: | 3 |
| Attendance: | 11396 |
| Award: | Yuval Katz (Hawaiʻi) |
| Prev Season: | 1995 |
| Next Season: | 1997 |
The 1996 NCAA men's volleyball tournament was the 27th annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate volleyball. The single elimination tournament was played at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California during May 1996.[1]
UCLA defeated Hawaiʻi in the final match, 3–2 (15–13, 12–15, 9–15, 17–15, 15–12), to win their sixteenth, and second consecutive national title. The Bruins (26–5) were coached by Al Scates.
Hawaiʻi's Yuval Katz was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Katz, along with five other players, comprised the All-Tournament Team. This was the first time the Most Outstanding Player did not come from the championship 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. For the first time, a third place match was not held.
| Team | Appearance | Previous | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi | 2nd | 1995 | |
| Lewis | 1st | Never | |
| Penn State | 12th | 1995 | |
| UCLA | 19th | 1995 |
Yuval Katz, Hawaiʻi (Most outstanding player)