The Buffanblu remained undefeated at 8-0 in part to nine aces, four by junior Aneli Otineru. The Warriors (8-1) suffered their first loss partly because they struggled with seven service errors.

"Punahou did a good job of exploiting our servicing and forcing us into bad plays," Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said. "When they get that ball up, we're (usually) a real good side-out team, but we couldn't pass today. It was mainly because of a lot of things. Punahou was a lot responsible for that."

Because there is still a second round, Punahou coach Scott Rigg viewed this meeting as a scouting report. The next time they meet might be for the ILH title and the league's top seed for the state tournament. Unless Iolani (7-1) has something to say about that; the Warriors play the Raiders on Thursday.

"For both teams, it was just the ability to see how we match up," Rigg said. "We haven't seen each other play that much at all. They got a couple documents on us. We got a couple documents (on them). We'll get to see each other play more in the second round."

Blake said the loss gives his players a chance to see where they need to improve.

"Most of the time, you learn a lot from a loss," Blake said. "It's a good way for us to re-evaluate a lot of things, get these (girls) working hard. Punahou did a lot of good things. I'm not taking anything away from what they did."

Otineru led all players with 12 kills, followed by Kaui Robello's six. Spenser Rigg's 12 digs helped set up Punahou's attacks.

After losing the first game, the Warriors looked primed to even the match. Leading 9-7, the Warriors opened their margin with four unanswered points on three of Makana Recca's team-leading six kills.

But the Buffanblu chipped away eventually pulling to 20-18. With Otineru serving, the Buffanblu took the lead 23-20. Two kills in that span were generated by freshman Elizabeth Ka'aihue, sister of the baseball-playing brothers, Kila and Kala.

"She's a real seasoned freshman," coach Rigg said of Ka'aihue. "She's a real gamer."

After a block by Anuhea Friel pulled Kamehameha to 23-21, the Buffanblu finished the match with successive points.

"It showed we could come through (after a deficit)," Otineru said.

Kamehameha's Recca said her team made mistakes because it was too "anxious."

"We lost our focus as a team," she said.

Punahou doesn't have much time to dwell on its victory; it plays host to Hanalani at 6:30 tonight.

• Warrior boys win: Adam Tuifagu had 13 kills and Ikaika Shelton had four blocks as Kamehameha held off Punahou, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, in boys action at the Hemmeter Field House.

The Warriors stayed undefeated at 8-0, while the Buffanblu dropped to 6-2.

Michael China led Punahou with 11 kills, followed by Spencer McLachlin's 10. McLachlin and Kealii Frank each had five blocks.

Idle Iolani (8-0) also is undefeated.