Hannah Butler set a new rally-scoring school record with 43 digs as FPU defeated Hawaii Hilo in a five-set thriller on Saturday night. In what was a back-and-forth defensive battle all night, the Sunbirds would win out by having the reigning PacWest libero of the year on their side, finally taking control in the fourth set and hanging on to win the fifth.

Morghan Williams led FPU with 20 kills and Rupia Inck added 16 kills and 18 digs. Kathleen Anderson added 11 kills and eight blocks. Sarah McCann dished out 45 assists and Gabriela Macedo posted a double-double of 14 kills and 15 digs. Rebecca Waller added six blocks and eight kills.

FPU fell behind 5-2 in the final set but battled back on a 6-2 run to take an 8-7 lead at the switch after a kill by Macedo. The teams traded points with Williams providing two crucial kills down the stretch. Inck and Anderson combined on a block to make it 14-13 and bring the Sunbirds to match-point but the Vulcans responded to tie it up. Inck then delivered an excellent shot as the Sunbirds sided out and regained the lead. The Vulcans were called for a blocking error on the ensuing point to end it.

"To be able to close like that tonight was great because it's been a really tough week," said Winter, whose team was playing its 14th set in four days. "Emotionally and physically they were just exhausted and it took every bit of energy and strength to get through that. There were so many times they could have given up but we kept asking more of them and they just kept giving more."

Butler led a Sunbird defense that recorded 105 digs on the night. Her 43 digs broke the school record for the rally-scoring era, breaking her own record of 38 digs in last season's win over Cal State San Bernardino. The sideout scoring record is 61, held by Tracy Ainger.

"Hannah has just been a rock for us," said Winter. "She's all over the place no matter what position we ask her to play, she's in every single play. I can't ask for anything more out of my libero. She's hurt and she's injured but it doesn't matter, she's going to make the play."

The Sunbirds (9-6, 3-3 PacWest) suffered from 35 attack errors and 16 service errors, numbers they'll have to clean up moving forward.

Kyndra Trevino-Scott led the Vulcans (4-6, 3-4 PacWest) with 17 kills.

The Sunbirds travel to Oakland on Thursday to face Holy Names, the first of two consecutive matches against the Hawks.