SAN DIEGO, Calif.--Host Point Loma broke open a nail biter with a decisive fifth set to defeat visiting Hawaii Hilo 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 26-28, 15-4 on Saturday afternoon at Golden Gymnasium.

The win moved the Sea Lions ahead of the Vulcans in the Pacific West Conference standings. PLNU improved to 3-2 in conference action and 5-9 overall, while the Vulcans wrapped up their four-match road trip at 5-6 on the year and they are now 3-3 in PacWest play.

Marley Strand-Nicolaisen led the Vulcans with 21 kills, and she also had 16 digs. Sienna Davis had 39 assists and 17 digs, while Armani Moultrie contributed seven assisted blocks and Mina Grant added 18 digs. Mariya Heidenrich added 13 digs for UHH.

Hawaii Hilo won the first set, leading for most of the game. Strand-Nicolaisen closed it out with a kill. The Vulcans hit 255 in the game and had 17 kills.

UHH took a 12-8 lead in the second set, but Point Loma rolled off five straight points and never trailed in a close set after that, winning 25-21. In the third set, the Sea Lions broke a 9-9 tie with six of seven points and never trailed again, winning, 25-17 and setting up a wild fourth set.

The Vulcans led for most of the must-win game, at 13-8 and 20-15. A Katrina Johnson kill made it 23-21, and a PLNU service error brought the Vuls one point away at 24-22. But the Sea Lions, who qualified for the NCAA tournament a year ago, faught back to 24-24. The two clubs were tied at 25-25 before a Kayla Balezentis kill made it 26-25, but Point Loma countered to tie it at 26-26. UHH finally grabbed the set after a kill by Kyndra Trevino-Scott and an ace by Balezentis (28-26).

As competitive as the fourth set was, the fifth was the opposite. The hosts jumped out to a 5-1 lead and still were on top 6-2 after a dump by the Hilo setter Davis. Then, the Sea Lions ran off five straight points (11-2) before settling for the 15-4 final. 

In the fifth, PLNU hit a scorching .562 while the Vulcans cooled off to .053. Brianna Sizemore led Point Loma with 22 kills, defensive specialist Christin Fisher had 36 digs and setter Cara Keturakis had 61 assists.

The Vulcans now return home for a long home stand with their next eight matches in Hilo. That begins on Monday, Oct. 10 at 7 pm against Chaminade.