HONOLULU, Hawai`i—One team likely punched its ticket to post-season play while the other saw their dreams slip away during a five-set war on Saturday night at McCabe Gym.

Host Chaminade won the island battle over Hawai`i Hilo, 25-20, 17-25, 25-13, 17-25, 15-9 and thus should feel pretty comfortable when Sunday's NCAA selection show airs. Ranked seventh in Wednesday's poll (top eight qualify), the Silverswords held serve this weekend with a pair of victories.

Meanwhile, a young UH Hilo team knew that it had to win out since a loss to first-place Azusa Pacific on October 31—and they did win three in a row until tonight's nail-biting loss. The Vulcans and the Silverswords finish the regular season tied for third place in the Pacific West Conference with 17-5 records. Chaminade is a school-best 23-5 overall, while UH Hilo finishes 21-7.

Still, the 2018 Vulcan team posted the most wins for the program since the 2009 UHH team went 25-2. And, another one for the record books—senior libero Mina Grant became the school's all-time leader in digs with 1,564, surpassing Tanya Fuamatu (1992-95), who had 1,559. Grant got the record on a diving lunge on set-point in the fourth set to keep the Vulcan hopes alive.

The regular season finale went back and forth, literally set-by set. The Silverswords and Vulcans took turns dominating sets, right up until the end when Chaminade won the clincher.

The hosts took the first set, breaking a 15-15 tie with four straight points on their way to a 25-20 win. But in the second set, the Vulcans controlled play, busting out to a 12-5 lead after back-to-back blocks and they wouldn't trail, eventually winning 25-17.

In the third set, it was Chaminade that broke away from a 13-12 game off the serve of Danielle Wiley who zipped in four aces. The hosts would roll to a 25-13 win. But with their backs to the wall, the Vulcans responded in set four, leading 24-15 at one point. Grant saved a point with her record-breaking dig and Teisa Tuioti finished off the set with a kill (25-17).

The fifth ran true to chronological form. Chaminade jumped out to a big early, 8-3 at the changeover. The Vulcans wouldn't recover as Alana Handy finished the night with her 18^th kill and the Silverswords celebrated (15-9).

Bria Beale led the Vulcans with 14 kills, while Evelin Solyomvari had nine kills and four total blocks in her final collegiate match. Ashton Jessee had seven block assists as the Vulcans had nine overall. Maile Powell had three service aces. Handy had her 18 kills for Chaminade on a .403 attack percentage. Teammate Emma Tecklenburg added 16 kills.