The difference between good players and great players is the great ones come through in crunch time even though everyone knows they're going to get the ball.

Kanani Herring and Jordan Meredith have been great all season and it continued last night in a 25-16, 20-25, 25-22 victory over visiting Moanalua at Kekuhaupi'o gym.

Herring had 15 kills and Meredith added 12 as top seeded and defending state champion Kamehameha advanced to the final of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships.

Meredith had eight kills in the third game with only one error, and also had a key ace that made it 23-20. Herring had six kills and one error in the final game for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champions.

"Both of those players have been rock solid for us on the outside, being able to terminate," Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said. "Everyone in the gym knows where the ball is going to go and for them to keep on doing what they were doing under the circumstances in a tight match, it just goes to show the work ethic and effort they both have."

Kamehameha (19-1) will play ILH rival Punahou for the title tonight at 7:30 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"We're very excited, we're finally in the state finals," Herring said. "We have so much adrenaline, I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight."

Moanalua, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association runner-up, led the third game 7-2, but the Warriors caught Na Menehune at 10. There were six more ties with the final one at 19-19.

Moanalua (15-3) got within 23-22, but a kill by Kea Kea, and a triple block by Herring, Alex Akana and Kea ended it.

"It was so close and we just fought for each other, and that's what it came down to," Meredith said.

Brianna Amian had 12 kills, and Melanie Manutai and Kaleinani Kabalis added 10 apiece for Moanalua.

"All we wanted to do was be competitive in that match," Moanalua coach Tommy Lake said. "We made some mistakes, but we did a lot of great things, too."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.