RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM At 5-foot-7, Chaminade's Patti Hardimon is relatively undersized for a college middle blocker, but Hardimon hasn't let that slow her down.

Hardimon has it

THERE is a theme here.

Patti Hardimon likes reading murder mysteries and watching TV shows such as "Law & Order" and "CSI."

NCAA Division II Volleyball Who: No. 14 Hawaii Pacific (17-2, 8-1) at No. 25 Chaminade (15-5, 8-2). When: Today, 2 p.m., McCabe Gym. Series: HPU leads, 48-20. TV/Radio: Kumu2, 1500 AM

The honors biology student is very good at figuring things out. It happens both in the classroom and on the court.

How else to explain the success that Hardimon has had as a middle blocker for Chaminade. But a 5-foot-7 middle blocker?

That's undersized for most positions in college volleyball these days. But it doesn't faze Hardimon, who continues to figure out how to make it work.

The next mystery to solve for Hardimon and her Silversword teammates comes today when No. 25 Chaminade hosts No. 14 Hawaii Pacific in a 2 p.m. nonconference match at McCabe Gym. The last meeting -- one that counted in the Pacific West Standings -- saw the Silverswords sweep the Sea Warriors for the first time since 1996.

Hardimon had a match-high 19 kills in the 31-29, 31-29, 30-26 victory at Blaisdell Arena. Chaminade was outblocked 10-2 but countered with an 8-4 edge in aces.

Today's match will figure heavily in the regional seedings that ultimately determine postseason fate. The top eight teams in the region advance to a regional; HPU and Chaminade swapped places this week, with the Sea Warriors now at No. 5 and the Silverswords at No. 6.

HPU (8-1) has already clinched a share of the PacWest title and can win it outright -- and the conference's automatic regional berth -- by defeating Hawaii-Hilo next Friday. A loss would mean the Sea Warriors would share the title with the Silverswords (8-2), who are pau with PacWest play but have a nonconference match at BYU-Hawaii next Thursday.

"It's a very important thing to keep the seeding in the region," said Hardimon, a two-sport all-star at Moanalua High. "We've got to win our next two games.

"We want to beat HPU just because they're HPU. They are the toughest team we face but also the most fun to play. There's a lot of motivation to get to the regional."

There's also motivation to win a national championship, which would be the first for Chaminade in any sport.

"We want to make history," Hardimon said. "Winning a national championship would be great. We are striving for that. We are saying, 'Let's make it this year. Let's not wait any longer.'"

Chaminade's hopes partly ride on the talent and heart of its undersized middle blocker. Hardimon is tied for second on the team in block average (0.56 bpg) with 6-2 sophomore Marijana Stanic; both trail 6-2 senior Amy Richelderfer (0.77 bpg).

"Patti is my hero," Richelderfer said. "She's so awesome to play with. Most people don't understand how much communication there is going on with middle blockers and we're always talking to each other, always helping and encouraging each other.

"She's an awesome athlete."

Hardimon had offers to play collegiate basketball and volleyball. She chose volleyball and chose to stay home.

"We wanted her but never thought we could get her," Silverswords coach Glennie Adams said. "She went on a couple of (mainland recruiting) visits and then we heard she didn't want to go away. So we went after her even harder.

"She is the complete package. She's bright -- the biology department loves her, she's been selected for a prestigious summer program. She's athletic. She's undersized but jumps out of the sky. And she has so much heart."

It makes up for size.

"I remember when I first got (to Chaminade), it was like, 'What is she doing in the middle?' " Hardimon said. "They list me at 5-9, but I'm really 5-7, 5-7 1/2 in shoes.

"But I've played middle ever since I started volleyball. I'm used to the quick sets. I got here and that's where I stayed. And when the other teams see me ... I like to surprise them."

Hardimon, the overwhelming choice for freshman of the year in the Pacific West Conference last season, doesn't sneak up on teams anymore. She is fourth in the PacWest in hitting percentage (.330), is second in kills for the Silverswords (3.34 kpg) and has 21 aces.

She continues to enjoy challenges, whether it's learning to get comfortable with the step-out move -- "Once I realized it was like a basketball layup, I started to love it" -- to working on her vertical. Her standing jump is 25 1/2, her approach jump is measured at 29 1/2 -- "I'm still trying to break 30."

Given her success at solving problems, it's only a matter of time before she figures that one out as well.