Kahuku did what it's done all season.

Now comes the real challenge.

Nile Te'o led a balanced Red Raiders offense with nine kills and Elizabeth Blake had 28 assists as second-seeded Kahuku knocked off unseeded Mililani 25-18, 25-13, 25-22 last night in the quarterfinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships at McKinley.

Four different starters had at least six kills for Kahuku (17-0), which will play Punahou in the semifinals at 7 tonight at McKinley.

“;We had kind of a slow start, but were about to turn things around at the end of the first set,”; Kahuku coach Uila Fotu Vendiola said. “;This is what we've been preparing for all season.”;

Candace Soares had 10 kills to lead the Trojans, who hung with Kahuku early, tying the first set at 18. But a net violation by Mililani sparked the Red Raiders on a 7-0 run to end Set 1 as the Trojans faltered with three hitting errors down the stretch.

“;We needed to get that first set,”; Mililani coach Val Crabbe said. “;(Kahuku) runs a really quick offense and we couldn't adjust to that.”;

Once the Red Raiders took the first set, it was smooth sailing the rest of the way as Mililani had no answer for Kahuku's multi-dimensional attack. Jovan Falemalu and Amanda Tonga each had seven kills as the Red Raiders hit .304 for the match to Mililani's .160.

“;We didn't want to come here and lose in our first game,”; Te'o said. “;Our offense was on and we connected with our setter real well and I think that was the difference.”;

Soares led the Trojans in kills for the second straight night, but didn't get the help she had in Mililani's first-round victory over Baldwin. Nalani I was held to six kills and hit negative for the match.

“;Tonight, our girls that struggled last night played well tonight, and the girls that were on last night struggled,”; Crabbe said.

Hoonani Apo had three of Kahuku's seven aces, while Mililani finished with four, even though serving has been the Trojans' strength all season.

With their undefeated streak still intact, the Red Raiders will face their toughest opponent of the season tonight when they take on a Punahou team that hasn't lost outside of the ILH. All three Buffanblu losses this year have come to three-time defending state champion and No. 1 seed Kamehameha.

“;The best part about this is that the competition brings out the best in everyone,”; Vendiola said.

Added Te'o: “;It's going to be a real challenge for us. We've been waiting all year to test ourselves against the ILH.”;

Punahou 3, Waiakea 1

The Buffanblu dropped their first set of the tournament, but came back to win behind 23 kills from Anuhea Keanini.

Keanini also led the team with 23 assists, while Shar Manu-Olevao chipped in 14 kills in a 25-20, 27-25, 23-25, 25-10 win over the Warriors.

Chelsey Buyuan led the Warriors with 18 kills. Waiakea tied the second set at 25 before a kill by Lahela Williams and a block by Williams and Juliana Behrens ended the set.

It would have been big, as Waiakea took Set 3, before losing in four. Punahou outhit Waiakea .352 to .203.

State girls volleyball

Division I

Seeds: 1. Kamehameha (ILH); 2. Kahuku (OIA); 3. Waiakea (BIIF); 4. Kamehameha-Maui (MIL)

Yesterday

Consolation bracket

Match 5: Aiea def. Kamehameha-Hawaii 25-16, 26-24

6: Baldwin def. McKinley 25-23, 25-20

Championship bracket quarterfinals

7: Kamehameha-Maui def. Moanalua 28-26, 14-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-12

8: Kamehameha def Farrington 25-16, 26-24, 25-9

9: Kahuku def. Mililani 25-18, 25-13, 25-22

10: Punahou def. Waiakea 25-20, 27-25, 23-25, 25-10

Today

Consolation bracket

11: Moanalua vs. Farrington at Kamehameha, 5 p.m.

12: Mililani vs. Waiakea at McKinley, 5 p.m.

Championship bracket semifinals

13: Kamehameha vs. Kamehameha-Maui at Kamehameha, 7 p.m.

14: Kahuku vs. Punahou at McKinley, 7 p.m.

Tomorrow

All matches at Stan Sheriff Center

Consolation championship: Aiea vs. Baldwin, noon

Fifth place: Match 11 and 12 winners, 1:30 p.m.

Third place: Semifinal losers, 4:30 p.m.

Championship: Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.