The last time they met, there was finality.

This time, it might just be the beginning. Coming off a triumphant performance against the top boys volleyball teams in the nation, Punahou dug deep and escaped with a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24 win over Kamehameha last night at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

Coach Rick Tune's Buffanblu, ranked No. 1 in the Star-Bulletin Boys Volleyball Top 10, improved to 4-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Kamehameha, ranked No. 4, slipped to 2-1.

“;We're wobbly,”; said Punahou outside hitter Josh Taylor, who had a team-high 13 kills. “;Kamehameha proved they're a huge contender in the state. We have to work out the kinks in our game.”;

Those kinks weren't as obvious when Punahou topped the nation's top two teams to win the Best of the West tourney last weekend.

“;We're definitely still excited about it. It's a great thing,”; Taylor said. “;But we have to focus on the ILH season and come out much better than we did.”;

The two powerhouses met for the state title 10 months ago, a match Punahou dominated with a three-set sweep.

This time, Kamehameha stepped up.

Despite offensive inconsistency (.164 hitting percentage), Kamehameha dominated the second game and rallied in the final set to tie it at 24-all on a sneaky tip for a kill by setter Carlson Aki (16 assists).

Taylor answered with a kill from the right side, and after key stops on hard swings by Kamehameha's Micah Christenson and Cullen Mosher, Punahou's Henry Cassiday put the match away with a kill from the left.

Taylor (13 kills), Cassiday (10 kills) and Taylor Crabb (seven) paced the Buffanblu attack. Taylor, a 6-foot-7 junior, was efficient most of the night from the right side (.524) and Cassiday (.429) shared left-side duties with Crabb.

Crabb, named MVP of the Best of the West tourney, still showed signs of an ankle injury that has lingered since basketball season. He was long on many of his swings (.050), but came through in the final set with five kills. Tyler Kubota (18 assists) and Lowell Tong (14) shared setting duties.

Christenson finished with 14 kills after a slow start.

“;We can get so much better,”; Christenson said. “;There's so much potential. We're so young; we've got a long way to go.”;

No other Warrior had more than three kills, but their back row played big. The undersized Warriors were led by Mike Wasko and Jaylen Reyes defensively.

“;We played well,”; Kamehameha coach Guy Kaniho said. “;Punahou's so disciplined, talented and well coached. The biggest thing was our defense was disciplined.”;

The Warriors rallied despite committing 12 service errors.

“;That hurt us,”; Kaniho said. “;Our guys got too excited and rushed stuff. It was a big crowd and a big game. Punahou's No. 1 in the nation.”;

Punahou was red-hot at the start and seemed prepared to sweep the visitors. Kamehameha didn't lead in the opening set and trailed 10-4 after a pair of aces by Taylor. The Warriors got within three, but Punahou exploded with an 8-1 run to take a 19-9 lead and wasn't threatened.

The second set was a combination of unforced errors by Punahou and crisper offense by Kamehameha. Christenson, who had just two kills in the first set, had three kills and a block on Taylor as the Warriors zoomed to an 11-4 lead. The 6-5 junior finished with six kills in the second as the Warriors seized momentum.

The last set included two lead changes and nine ties. A block by Aki on Cassiday knotted the score at 13-all. Three unanswered points by Punahou, including two kills by Crabb, gave Punahou the lead again. That mini rally included a brilliant pancake dig by Kekai Nu'uhiwa on another tip by Aki.

Aki's ace pulled the Warriors to within 17-16, but Punahou responded with a 6-0 run, including a key block by Austin Ako on Daylan Chock.

Kamehameha mustered another comeback, getting a block from Rhett Kane and an ace by Chock to tie the set at 24-all.

OIA BASEBALL
Waianae 8, Kapolei 4

Alan Ibanes pitched a complete game, giving up four runs on six hits on his way to picking up the win for the Seariders in their 8-4 victory over the Hurricanes.

Kalei Hensley helped get the Waianae offense going, driving in three runs on three hits with two doubles.

Brandon Damas tried to help his own cause by driving in two runs for Kapolei, but was saddled with the loss.