CRAIG KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Harvard-Westlake's Brittany Julian smacked the ball as Punahou's Emily Fukunaga, left, and Kaui Robello went up for the block. The Buffanblu defeated Harvard-Westlake 25-14, 25-13.

Punahou, Iolani
advance

For a second day in a row, a local powerhouse barely qualified for the championship round of the Ann Kang Invitational at Iolani School.

Defending state champion Punahou lost two sets to El Toro (Calif.) to start pool play in the morning. The Buffanblu then reeled off wins in their next six games to lock second place in Pool D, good for a spot in the championship round.

Punahou clinched its spot in the championship round by sweeping Los Osos 25-11, 25-11 in the final matchup of the day. Liz Kaaihue powered the Buffanblu attack, while Carly Hiramoto had four of her team's seven service aces in Game 1.

"I'm excited. I can't wait," Kaaihue said. "We're young. We lost a lot of seniors, but we're pulling together."

Championship-round qualifiers from yesterday's pool play are Rim of the World (Calif.) and host Iolani in addition to El Toro and Punahou. Along with Wednesday's qualifiers, are eight teams in all competing for the title.

In today's double-elimination championship round, Los Alamitos (Calif.) plays Punahou at 6 p.m. in the lower gym. In the upper gym, Kahuku meets Rim of the World. At 7:15 p.m., Redondo Union (Calif.) battles Iolani in the upper gym. Bakersfield (Calif.) will face El Toro in the lower gym.

The tournament concludes tomorrow, with matches beginning at 9 a.m. The championship final is set for 7 p.m.

Rim of the World, considered one of the tourney's stronger teams, split with Iolani to begin the day before finishing 7-1 to win Pool C.

Iolani and Word of Life battled for second place in the pool, splitting their two sets. The difference came when Rim of the World swept Word of Life. Iolani, with senior Megan Burton's deft touch in the middle, went 6-2. WLA was 5-3 and will begin consolation-round play this afternoon.

"They're all the size of Careena (Onosai)," Word of Life coach Leeann Satele said of Rim of the World, referring to her 5-foot-11 outside hitter/middle blocker.

Punahou was more fortunate, overcoming the early losses thanks to composure.

"Our serving was kind of off in the first game. Coach said we just needed to be patient," said Kaaihue, a junior. "We became more consistent."

With middle blocker Larissa Nordyke sidelined due to a fractured foot, Punahou's revamped lineup found its rhythm as the day progressed. Kaaihue's powerful swings gave the Buffanblu a big lift. Kaaihue and Kaui Robello also took turns at setter as Punahou adjusts to life without Star-Bulletin Player of the Year Pohai Nuuhiwa.

With Kaaihue and Robello able to take swings, Punahou's diversity could be a plus this fall. Robello, who can play just about any position on the floor, gives Punahou interesting options. She knows, though, that Kaaihue is her team's most powerful force outside.

"We really need Liz to hit," she said. "I was just trying to figure out what our hitters are comfortable with."

Kaaihue isn't looking past any team, but would love a rematch with El Toro.

"They have a good middle, but we want to see them again," she said.

Word of Life, a small private school, recently requested to play in Division I of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. That's where some of the state's top volleyball programs, like Punahou and Iolani, have been the elite teams.

The Firebrands would have it no other way, even after coming up just a little short yesterday in pool play.

"We accomplished what we wanted to do," Satele said. "All the girls we have are playing in club except one, and the elementary and intermediate teams are really doing well."

With Careena Onosai and Chanteal Satele pounding from the outside, WLA had a chance to sweep Iolani, but couldn't sustain momentum in Game 2.

"They just turned it out and got hot. We looked a little shocked," Satele said. "I just asked our girls to keep playing hard."