The 2004 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament began on December 2, 2004, with 64 teams and ended December 18 when Stanford defeated Minnesota 3 games to 0 in Long Beach, California for the program's sixth NCAA title.

Behind 18 kills from Minnesota's Erin Martin, the Golden Gophers knocked out two-time defending NCAA Champion USC with a 3–1 decision to advance to their first NCAA Championship match in school history.

[2] Behind 29 kills from Nnamani, Stanford completed their NCAA run by sweeping the Golden Gophers.

Early in the third set, Minnesota's All-American libero, Paula Gentil, collided with a teammate while trying to dig a ball which left her unable to move on the court for over five minutes.

However, the Cardinal found momentum in the middle of the season, winning their last 15 matches including an upset of then-#1 and undefeated Washington in five sets.