TURLOCK — It was basically a playoff match for both teams — win and get into the CCAA Tournament, or be done for the 2018 season. And the atmosphere inside Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena sure was like a postseason epic battle was on the court.

In the end, Stanislaus State won the thrilling, see-saw battle, over Chico State in five sets, 25-22, 25-17, 14-25, 20-25, 15-10. The win earns the Warriors an invitation to the dance they are hosting, beginning on Thursday.

Stan State, the No. 3 seed in the North, will face No. 2 South Cal Poly Pomona to start the tournament, Thursday at Noon.

It will the Warriors' third appearance in the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament in the last four years since the event's inception.

Senior Ramey Gardner didn't want Saturday night's match to be her last. Plus, she had family down from Oregon to see her smash that volleyball. Smash away she did as the outside hitter from Gresham, Ore., had a career-high 21 kills to carry the Warriors.

Gardner had nine of her 21 kills in the fifth and decisive set, including the final three points.

Gardner was prolific on the night, hitting at a .349 average with 43 swings. Sierra Adams had an "off" night with 10 kills and Jordon Wilson spiked nine kills to go with three service aces and three blocks. Breanna Cannon recorded 46 assists and Chelsey Berry led with 12 of the team's 53 digs.

The Warriors took control early and won the first two sets by hitting in the .300's as a team. But after the short intermission, Chico State rallied back. The Wildcats won set three with ease, 25-14, by hitting .524 while the Warriors hit negative. A closer set four went Chico State's way, too, to force the nail-biting fifth set.

The decisive set was tight, too, with a tie as late as 9-9. But, the Warriors pushed ahead. Gardner spiked two kills and a Wilson ace swung the final momentum Stan State's way. A sideout later, Gardner smashed three straight kills to end the match.