With new head coach John Dunning, Stanford's success was a surprise to many after a 19-12 record in 2000. However, the Cardinal showed the country what to expect with a 10-1 start. Stanford finished the season with 19 consecutive victories on the way to winning its seventh Pac-10 title in eight years and a 33-2 overall record. In the NCAA final in San Diego, Stanford faced undefeated Long Beach State, which beat the Cardinal earlier in the season. In a close contest, Stanford was able to hold strong and win 31-29, 30-28, 30-25, giving Stanford its fifth national championship. Logan Tom was named the National Player of the Year and earned MVP honors for the final four, while Cardinal teammates Ashley Ivy, Ogonna Nnamani and Robyn Lewis earned all-tournament honors.

Stanford earned back-to-back NCAA championships after a thrilling 15-10, 15-6, 2-15, 15-17, 15-9 championship victory over Penn State, the only team to beat the Cardinal in its 33-2 season, in Spokane, Wash. For seniors Kristin Folkl, Barbara Ifejika, Debbie Lambert, Paula McNamee and Lisa Sharpley, the victory was the 125th in their four-year careers and enabled them to be the first class ever to win three women's volleyball national titles. The Cardinal had an impeccable season leading up to the championships, going undefeated in Pac-10 play.

Stanford routed Hawai'i in the championship match, 15-7, 15-3, 15-5, in a 91-minute long final in Cleveland, Ohio, to complete a season in which the Cardinal dominated much of its competition. The 15 points allowed were the fewest in championship match history and the second-fewest in NCAA final four history. Stanford went 31-2 in a season led by veterans Lisa Sharpley and Kristin Folkl. Future Olympic beach gold medalist Kerri Walsh was the National Freshman of the Year and final four MVP, and ended the championship match with a crosscourt kill to ensure Stanford's third NCAA title in five years.

As it had two years before, Stanford faced UCLA in the championship final after the Bruins had been the only team to beat Stanford during the season. And, in a repeat of 1992, the Cardinal again prevailed, this time 15-10, 5-15, 16-14, 15-13 in Austin, Texas. Trailing 13-10 in the fourth set, Stanford reeled off five consecutive points, capped by Eileen Murfee's block, to clinch the title. The victory completed the Cardinals best-ever season, a 32-1 campaign that began with a No. 1 ranking and three freshmen in the starting lineup. Junior Cary Wendell was named National Player of the Year and was joined on the All-America team by Marnie Triefenbach. Two newcomers, Kristin Folkl and Lisa Sharpley, were major contributors to Stanford's success.

Leading up to the NCAA Championships, the Cardinal had its best season yet, a 30-2 campaign that included a Pac-10 title and an 18-0 conference record. Stanford went on to win its first NCAA title by upsetting previously undefeated UCLA, 15-8, 15-9, 6-15, 15-10 in the championship match in Albuquerque, N.M. The result reversed two losses to the Bruins in the regular season. Bev Oden earned AVCA first-team All-America honors, with Carrie Feldman making the second team.