On a Senior Night when Hawai'i looked more like the volleyball team playing for a place in the NCAA Tournament, the 11th-ranked Rainbow Wahine swept Loyola Marymount, 30-22, 30-24, 30-27, to give Juliana Sanders, Raeceen Woolford, Kari Gregory and Caroline Blood a sweet sendoff Wednesday night.

The 'Bows (26-5) won the Western Athletic Conference's automatic NCAA berth when they captured their 10th consecutive championship last weekend. They find out Sunday where they will go for next week's NCAA subregional. The selection show will be broadcast live at 3 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Lions (16-13), who finished fourth in the West Coast Conference, hope to receive one of 31 at-large bids. They didn't help their cause Wednesday night, or maybe the Rainbow Wahine were just too good before a Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 4,714.

Hawai'i had four players with double-digit kills in a show of balance that bodes well for the postseason. WAC Player of the Year Jamie Houston, fifth in the nation in kills, had a match-high 22 and hit .429. Sanders added 13 on .647 hitting. Tara Hittle's 11 kills and 15 digs left her one Tuesday kill short of three straight double-doubles, and Aneli Cubi-Otineru powered through enough blocks for 13 kills and .296 hitting.

Gregory, an all-WAC selection as a junior, got the start over Amber Kaufman for Senior Night. She responded by dropping in on five of Hawai'i's 12 blocks. Walk-ons Woolford and Blood both got in the match, a great dig denying Blood a kill at match point. When it was over, the four seniors were honored for their time, talent and dedication — gifts each gave in a unique way.

"Raeceen just makes you want to be a better person," captain Hittle said. "She's really a tremendous leader in more ways than just volleyball. She makes you want to be a better person."

Blood came to volleyball after spending her freshman year as a softball pitcher, and found a family that embraced her. She, Hittle and Gregory are roommates. Hittle's description of her was simply as a "very genuine person." Teammate Jessica Keefe called Blood someone "with a great heart who would do anything for anyone, and that goes far beyond volleyball."

Keefe admired Sanders, an honorable mention All-American last year, for having the guts "to never be afraid to be herself." That was obvious after the match, as Sanders pretended to surf through her teammates when she was introduced.

Neither Keefe nor Hittle could come up with someone who will be able to fill Gregory's "big Mother Hen footsteps" next season, but both know it will be a desperate need.

"She has the ability to reach out to anyone," Hittle said, "and make people feel involved."

NOTES: The Lions also have four seniors this season — Hawai'i's Ashley Dutro, Fresno State graduate Christianna Reneau, Jania Motton and Heather Hughes. Kaua'i High graduate Tina Moger is a sophomore for LMU.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.