Second-seeded Dimond advanced in the winner's bracket and sixth-seeded Chugiak advanced in the loser's bracket Thursday to stay alive in the Cook Inlet Conference volleyball tournament at Service.
Dimond beat third-seeded East 25-19, 15-25, 25-20, 26-24 to set up a Friday match with top-seeded South.
Dimond's Claire Dieckgraeff and Alissa Pili added 13 kills apiece while Teuila Lolotai had 31 assists and 10 digs in the win.
Dimond coach Kim Lauwers said the win was important since it guaranteed an automatic berth to the state tournament, which starts Thursday.
"Both teams battled, it could've went either way," she said.
In Chugiak's 25-14, 25-16, 25-17 win over Eagle River, Mustangs middle hitter Emily Moorhead controlled the net with 10 kills and a whopping nine blocks. Sinjin Acuna added 14 digs for Chugiak.
The CIC volleyball tournament continues Friday at Service with Chugiak and West at 4 p.m., Bartlett and East at 5:45 p.m. and South and Dimond at 7 p.m.