The road has been kind to the Punahou Buffanblu.

For a second time in as many matches, the Punahou volleyball team spoiled the host's party. This time, the Buffanblu ruined 'Iolani's senior night and captured a key 25-10, 25-20 victory.

“;Friday's match (at Hawaii Baptist) was a nice prelude to this,”; Punahou coach Jim Iams said, referring to a key win over the Eagles before a big homecoming crowd. “;We played the way I'd like us to play. Nothing fancy to it. I'm proud of them. It was a big match for a lot of reasons.”;

Last night's heavily anticipated match was over in just 48 minutes, stunning a near-capacity home crowd of about 700.

The win pushed Punahou to 13-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Kamehameha, which defeated Mid-Pacific last night, is also 13-1. 'Iolani, the only team to beat Kamehameha, dropped to 12-2.

The first round ends Saturday, and if Punahou and Kamehameha win their matches, the teams face off in a playoff for the first-round title and an automatic state-tournament berth. There are only two state berths for the ILH.

Anuhea Keanini sparked No. 3 Punahou with five kills and nine assists. Malia Patterson delivered several key assists and finished with nine in all, and also had eight digs. Lahela Williams had two aces and eight digs, and Brigette Russo added three kills and three of her team's five blocks.

“;My team just gets really excited when we need to upset someone,”; Keanini said. “;We watched 'Iolani play Kamehameha. We knew 'Iolani's an awesome team.”;

Chelsea Hardin led 'Iolani with five kills.

“;We normally play better at home, but we were nervous,”; she said. “;Punahou had way more energy than us.”;

Like Kamehameha and Punahou, 'Iolani has played some of its best volleyball on the road, including an upset of Kamehameha two weeks ago at Kekuhaupio Gym. This time 'Iolani struggled against a tough Punahou serve and never got into a groove until late in the second set.

Though Punahou hit just .145 against 'Iolani's tall block, the Raiders committed 10 hitting errors, hitting at a .074 clip.

'Iolani had six serving errors and only two aces. Jana Tokuhama hustled for eight digs.

The Buffanblu came out swinging from the start. An ace by Ali Santi and two blocks by Russo triggered a 9-0 run to begin the first set.

The lack of sideouts deprived Hardin, a hard-hitting senior who will play at Cal Poly Pomona next fall. She didn't get a swing on the left side until 'Iolani was down 12-1. The Raiders got the margin no closer than 12 points, and four of Punahou's final five points came on 'Iolani mistakes.

'Iolani led briefly in the second game with an ace by Ashlee Asada and kills from I'isha Keliikoa and Mahina Haina. However, Russo had a pair of kills and a block, and Kristin Keeno's serve helped Punahou score six unanswered points for an 11-5 lead.

The Raiders pulled within 13-9 after a kill by Hardin, but Juliana Behrens and Tai Manu-Olevao answered with kills. After Williams fired aces to each corner of 'Iolani's back row, Punahou had a 17-9 lead.

'Iolani rallied to within 21-18, but Punahou closed out the match with a 4-2 run.

“;Now we've got to make sure we don't have a letdown,”; Iams said.

Girls volleyball Top 10

The Top 10 high school girls volleyball teams in Hawaii as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc. Not including last night's results.

» Also receiving votes: McKinley 9, Pearl City 5, Sacred Hearts 5, Farrington 4, Kamehameha-Maui 3, Mililani 2, Kailua 1, Kapolei 1, Molokai 1.