SAN RAFAEL, Calif.—The University of Hawai`i Hilo volleyball team wrapped up the most improbable of trips with an improbable victory.

After being upset in back-to-back matches by Holy Names and Academy of Art, two squads in the lower half of the Pacific West Conference standings, the Vulcans bounced back with an upset of their own over former league contender Dominican, 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23 at the Conlan Center on Monday night.

The win snapped a three-match losing streak for UHH, improving its record to 10-14 overall and 8-11 in the PacWest. The Penguins, who were ranked tenth in the west region last week and in post-season contention, dropped their third straight to fall to 16-10 on the year and 12-6 in conference action.

Marley Strand-Nicolaisen led the Vulcans with 21 kills and 20 digs. Haylee Roberts had 13 kills, Kyndra Trevino-Scott had nine and Sienna Davis distributed 43 assists and had two service aces.

In the first set, UHH trailed 8-6 before going on a 7-0 run in front of a Dominican Senior Night crowd. The Vuls took a 13-8 lead, but the Penguins came right back with a 13-5 run of their own. The hosts led 22-19 and 23-21, but Hawaii Hilo scored the final four points of the set to steal the win—on kills by Strand-Nicolaisen and setter Davis, a Penguin attack error and a finisher by Armani Moultrie.

In the second set, the teams traded leads early on and through the middle of the game. They were tied at 18, 19, 20 and 21. Trailing 21-20, Roberts put down back-to-back balls helping spur her team on a 5-0 run and the set (25-21).

The third set was another teeter-totter battle. There were 11 ties by the time the two squads were locked at 19. But after a UHH service error and a Penguin ace, Dominican kept the lead for good and claimed the set 25-22.

The fourth set was more of the same drama. Trailing 21-19, and 22-21, the Vuls tied it on a shared block by Trevino-Scott and Strand-Nicolaisen (22-22), and then took the lead on the latter's kill (23-22). After a Penguin ball handling error, Kaila Lizama finished off the home team with her only kill of the night for the 25-22 victory.

Amanda Lee had 37 digs to lead the Dominican defense and Aimee Steinwand led five Penguins in double figure kill numbers with 12.

The Vuls will wrap up the 2016 season this coming Saturday night, hosting BYU-Hawaii at 7 p.m. It will be the final collegiate match for four UHH seniors—Strand-Nicolaisen, Davis, Mariya Heidenrich and Trevino-Scott. It will be the final volleyball match period for the BYU-Hawaii, who is dropping athletics after the 2016-17 year.