Hawaii’s home volleyball schedule and its slim postseason chances ended in a 27-25, 26-24, 20-25, 25-22 loss to Long Beach State on Saturday night in the Stan Sheriff Center.

The outcome before 1,925 fans dropped the Warriors to 7-18 overall and 4-16 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

The Warriors, who end their regular season with two road matches against UC Santa Barbara this coming weekend, have no chance to qualify for MPSF’s eight-team postseason tournament.

"Elimination?" UH head coach Charlie Wade said. "It sounds like, ‘Do we all have to take cyanide pills?’ "

The Warriors qualified for the playoffs in the first two years of Wade’s tenure.

"We’re disappointed we’re not going to make the playoffs, but we’re encouraged by the progress we’re making on and off the court, and in the classroom," Wade said. "We like how the program is being represented by the guys. The guys are working hard, and they’re buying in."

The Warriors expected to rebuild with the departures of setter Nejc Zemljak and outside hitter Joshua Walker at the end of the 2011 season. Further renovation was needed when the NCAA’s most prolific attacker, Jonas Umlauft, decided not to return for his junior season.

Limited to the equivalent of 4.5 scholarships, Wade noted, "It takes a while to build up a stable of talent. We’re starting the process. I like the players we have coming back and I like the players we’re bringing in."

The Warriors, to be sure, will miss senior Steven Hunt, who pounded 18 kills Saturday night. His 52nd swing, at aloha ball, landed inches past the end line. In the postmatch huddle, Wade told Hunt: "This isn’t the end. You’re going to have a long (professional) career."

The Warriors squandered several chances. They had leads of 24-22 in the first set and 24-23 in the second.

But the 49ers scored five of the final six points to seize the first set. UH middle Jarrod Lofy and outside hitter J.P. Marks were blocked at the 26th and 27th point — with the 49ers’ Ryan Meehan’s handprints on both rejections.

A 49ers triple block spurred a 3-0 finish to the second set.

"A couple of different swings and we could have won," Wade said. "It was even more of a microcosm of how things have been going. We were right there, and the guys are trying hard, but then they’re hitting into the block instead of off the block. We have to be better at it. They’re working at it, and they’re trying hard."

The Warriors tried several tactics. Middle blockers sometimes stepped out to hit from the right side. Hunt twice took swings from the middle. Scott Hartley, who has played sparingly this season, replaced Marks in the third set, with his serves breaking the 49ers’ rhythm.

But the 49ers responded, as they have in both matches this weekend, relying on accurate passes to open the offensive options. Taylor Crabb, a Punahou School graduate, slammed a match-high 20 kills and hit .421.

The 49ers’ other left-side hitter, Brad Hemmering, contributed 13 kills. Crabb and Hemmering were effective on spikes launched from behind the 3-meter line.

And Meehan helped the 49ers construct an 18.5 to 8 advantage in blocks.

"It was tough," Wade said. "But you have to admire the fight and tenacity of these guys."