Payback is rich.

On a loud senior night, 12th-ranked Hawaii swept Cal State Northridge 25-19, 25-20, 25-21 Saturday. It finished off a weekend of volleyball vengeance for the Rainbow Wahine — almost.

When the match was over, seniors Emily Hartong, Mita Uiato, Kaela Goodman, Kristiana Tuaniga, Courtney Lelepali, Ali Longo and Ashley Kastl were honored following the now traditional senior dance.

This year’s dance was clearly choreographed for everyone in the Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 8,005. It began with hula to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," rotated around the court and finished with a barrage of volleyballs fired at UH coach Dave Shoji.

The seniors have played a huge role in Hawaii’s success the past four years, including the 22-4 record this season that could keep the Wahine home for an NCAA subregional.

But Saturday, their younger teammates were instrumental in giving Hawaii its third Big West payback victory in as many second-half tries, and sixth straight win.

The Wahine are now 11-3 in the Big West, a match behind UC Santa Barbara and half a match behind the Matadors (22-6, 12-3 BWC) going into the final weekend. They lost to both those teams this season, and UC Davis, which went down in three here Friday.

They still have a shot to win the regular-season conference title because freshman Nikki Taylor (15), sophomore Tai Manu-Olevao (11) and junior Kalei Adolpho (nine) combined for all but 13 of Hawaii’s kills. Sophomore Jade Vorster was in on half its 10 blocks.

"Nikki was really strong the whole match and bailed us out of a lot of tough situations," Shoji said. "Tai got hot, then struggled at the end, and Ashley came in and gave us a little lift at the end."

All the seniors — four are reserves — got in and made crucial plays. Starters Uiato and Longo played audaciously well, as usual. And for once Hartong, the wondrous All-American, did not have to shoulder the offensive load.

"They put their best blocker against her," Shoji said. "When we can win without her leading the team in kills it’s a good night."

Hawaii didn’t blink, through an emotional introduction and a gritty, experienced Northridge team having the best season in its history.

When the match ended, CSUN senior and ‘Iolani graduate Mahina Haina stuck around to hug every Wahine — her practice partners in the summer — and she cried when she and her three senior teammates were given lei by UH.

"It was a nice feeling to be here tonight," Haina said. "Always special to play at home."

The Matadors led Hawaii at 5-4 in the first and 20-18 in the third. That was all, but they made the Wahine pay for every point.

A sweep filled with spectacular rallies ultimately ended with Longo serving five in a row to get UH to match point. CSUN held it off, again, then served into the net to start the party.

"We made plays at the end of Game 3 and that’s what we’ve been talking about," said Shoji. "Everybody took turns making one play and we closed them out."

After a phenomenal start, with wins over three teams in this week’s NCAA RPI top 20 (Hawaii is No. 10), the Wahine stumbled last month. This month they rediscovered their rhythm.

"We had to ‘re-peak,’ " Shoji said. "I think we turned the corner in certain aspects. We’ve got to take care of business next week (at UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton), but we’re pretty confident we’re going to be playing our best volleyball in two weeks."

That would be in the NCAA tournament. The Wahine’s mantra of "Make every day your masterpiece" this year has always revolved around bringing the postseason home again.

Shoji is already missing the seniors.

"It will be hard without this class. It’s such a big chunk of our team and personality," Shoji said. "It will be really hard to let them go.

"They take a lot of pressure away from the coaches, police themselves and have the respect of everybody else, so off the court, things aren’t a factor."