Rick Tune doesn't want to hear anything about his Punahou squad being the best in the land.

They are, though, truly unmatched, as Hawaii Baptist learned last night. The Buffanblu used a balanced attack and a ferocious blue wall led by Austin Ako, Ben Lam and Josh Taylor to sweep HBA 25-15, 25-15 in a matchup of the state's top two teams.

Top-ranked Punahou improved to 6-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, posting its third win since returning from a victorious trip to the elite Best of the West tournament last week. Punahou beat the top two squads in the nation and rose to No. 1 in ESPN Rise's Fab 50, but Tune is long past that feat.

“;We never talk about that ranking,”; he said. “;It's nothing if we don't take care of business. We have to embrace it right. We need to clean things up. Our defense isn't where it needs to be.”;

The defending Division I state champions got six kills from Taylor, a 6-foot-7 junior, and a team-high eight spikes from senior Taylor Crabb.

Ryan Leung, a 6-4 outside hitter, led the young Eagles (4-1) with eight kills, but faced trouble all night.

“;They're so talented and well coached. Coach Rick does an excellent job. We were hoping they'd be flat,”; HBA coach Teoni Obrey said. “;When they put three up and two up on Ryan, it's really tough for us.”;

The Buffanblu were prepared for Leung.

'”;We always do a scouting report,”; Lam said. “;Our passing was on and our setting was perfect.”;

With Punahou setters Tyler Kubota and Lowell Tong distributing the ball to every spot on the floor, HBA had to pick its poison defensively. Lam and Henry Cassiday added four kills each as Punahou had a remarkable .500 hitting percentage. The Buffanblu had just four hitting errors.

HBA struggled to a .228 hitting mark (six hitting errors), though 6-5 freshman Michael Fisher tallied seven kills for the defending D-II state champions.

“;We can't let this loss affect us. We have a match tomorrow,”; Obrey added. “;Our young guys, this is our first match we've been tested. It's growing pains and we have to get used to matches like this.”;

The Buffanblu back row was stellar. Libero Noah Hammond made a believer out of Obrey.

“;Their libero passed way better than we've seen on film,”; he said.

Taylor wasn't surprised.

“;I don't know what film he's seen, but (Hammond) has been money,”; he said.

Hammond didn't let HBA's D-II status factor into the match.

“;They're Division I caliber guys,”; he said.

Punahou was precise at serve, as well, with two aces and just two errors. HBA had one ace and four errors.

It didn't take long for Punahou to establish control. Five errors by the visitors allowed Punahou to seize a 10-4 lead at the start, and blocks by Ako, Lam and Taylor stymied the Eagles, who got no closer than five points the rest of the set.

Tong replaced Kubota between sets and the Buffanblu offense continued to run fluidly. HBA stayed close early in the second set, getting a kill by middle Nathan Le on a quick set from West Hatae and a block by Leung. Punahou led 8-6 before going on a 12-4 run as Crabb, Taylor and Cassiday hammered away. Tune began emptying his bench midway through and reserve Jared Altenhof's kill put Punahou ahead 20-10.

ILH
Yesterday
Boys
'Iolani def. University 25-7, 25-11
Maryknoll def. Lanakila Baptist 25-12, 25-5
Mid Pacific def. Hawaiian Mission, 25-12, 25-19
Damien def. Christian Academy 25-15, 25-17
Saint Louis def. Hanalani 27-25, 25-18

ILH BASEBALL

Mid-Pacific 5, Damien 0

Kurt Okita, Jordan Doi (6), Marcus Doi (7) and Dane Fujinaka. DJ Dudoit, Riley Perry (7) and Alan Mohika. W—Okita. L—Dudoit.
Leading hitters—MPI: Doi 2-3, 2 2bs, run; Fujinaka HR. Dam: Jordan Murai 2-4, 2b.