Punahou has that pass-set-kill thing down pretty well.

And it all starts with the Buffanblu's smallest player.

Sydney Yogi, a 5-foot-2 senior libero, is adept at keeping volleyballs off the floor and sending them accurately to the setter.

Yogi had 14 digs and was the primary passer in Punahou's 25-17, 25-13 victory over visiting Hawai'i Baptist last night in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu match.

"She's certainly very good," Punahou coach Jim Iams said. "She takes care of her side of the court. It's a comforting thing for everybody to know that at least half and maybe more than half the court are taken care of."

"Very good" might be an understatement when describing Yogi, who will attend the University of Texas next fall.

She spent this past summer with the USA youth national team at an international tournament in Mexico.

"It helped me a lot because I was forced to cover a lot of court up there," Yogi said. "We ran a two-person serve-receive. It gave me confidence."

Kamehameha senior outside hitter Kanani Herring also was a member of U.S. team, which finished 10th with a 3-5 record.

"We didn't finish very high, but it was a great experience. Every game was close," Yogi said.

Last night against Hawai'i Baptist, Punahou setter Pihana Kea was the recipient of Yogi's passing.

Charlotte Fonua and Anuhea Keanini had eight kills apiece for the Buffanblu, who had 24 kills.

"The kill comes really from the pass, and Sydney Yogi does a really good job getting her passes up for the sets," Fonua said.

Punahou (3-0) led 14-6 in the first game, but the Eagles responded with a 6-0 run to get within two. Hawai'i Baptist (1-2) had only one kill, and the Buffanblu committed four hitting errors and a double contact during the rally.

"We had kind of a wake-up call," Yogi said. "We were having a bad rotation and not able to put the ball away on the first attempt."

Fonua's kill ended the rally, and Diana Hiromoto served five in a row to put Punahou up 20-12.

The second game was tied at 2 and 4, but Punahou pulled away by scoring nine in a row with Kea serving.

The Buffanblu finished with seven aces and the Eagles didn't have any blocks.

"Punahou just played steady," Hawai'i Baptist coach Myles Shioji said. "They have great middles, great outsides, great athletes, and their coaching really prepares them."

He added Hawai'i Baptist, an ILH Division II member, will benefit from playing DI teams such as Punahou, which is ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's poll.

"To be playing great competition like Punahou, 'Iolani and Kamehameha, it's always a great thing," Shioji said.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.