The Warriors, which received seven votes in this week's Advertiser poll, went on to defeat the Bears 25-13, 25-18, 25-18, remaining unbeaten in the Maui Interscholastic League girls volleyball ranks.

First-year Kamehameha Maui coach Bala Spencer gave his team credit for sticking to their game plan.

"They're taking care of the ball on our own side of the net,'' Spencer said to The Maui News. "We still need to work a little harder on that, but that's what we're trying to do.''

Shaw and Tua played big at the net for another block, combining for eight total in the match, but Baldwin (1-2) kept a 6-5 lead thanks to back-to-back aces from Tupusa Satele.

Satele recorded a total of four aces in addition to three blocks and four kills for the Bears, but it wasn't enough to give her team the edge.

"I think we need to work on our communication and defense,'' she said.

"They were just scared from the beginning,'' said Baldwin coach Kauila Houpo. "They're kind of afraid to play in the big games, so we've got to work on that.

"It's a mental part of the game we've got to work on.''

Kamehameha-Maui (4-0) didn't waste any time taking a convincing lead in the second game as Makana Rosete and Hulali DeLima slammed a kill a piece to start things off.

Shaw, the league's player of the year last season, came up with two kills of her own, finishing the night with 13 kills and four blocks.

"We made some adjustments as the game went on because we know a couple of the girls are pretty talented on Baldwin's team,'' said Spencer. "We make (those adjustments) not to take them out but to keep the ball in control on our side.''

However, adjustments or not, it was Baldwin that stormed to the front in the third game, capitalizing off a handful of Kamehameha-Maui mistakes and making some big plays of their own.

Kathy Satele got the Bears fired up with a kill, just one of nine she had in the match. But once again Baldwin faltered, letting the Warriors take back the lead.

"Everybody was nervous when they got on the court,'' Satele said. "We did good, we could've taken them but I don't know, nobody was talking — it was like the communication wasn't out there.''

DeLima shot one over the net to get the Warriors within one point of the lead. She followed it up with two more as well as a block to finish with 13 kills and two blocks, helping her team to a three-set sweep.

Their ability to regain their focus and battle back in late-game situations is key to the Warriors' overall success, said outside hitter Whitney Santos.

"We just settled down (when they took the lead) and focused and played our game,'' said Santos, who finished the night with nine kills and two aces. "That's our main goal — not to get off track and take it too easy, just take it one step at a time.''

St. Anthony 3, King Kekaulike 1

The St. Anthony High School girls volleyball team has won the first two five-set matches in Maui Interscholastic League history.

Trojans coach Albert Paschoal was thankful they didn't feel like doing it again yesterday.

St. Anthony used a shift in defensive philosophy and 22 kills from sophomore Kawehi Romero to beat King Kekaulike 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 at Kekaulike gym in Pukalani.

When senior Rosie-Lani Ruff traded her regular jersey for the libero's shirt to begin the second game, things started to change in the Trojans' (4-1) favor. Ruff finished with a match-high 28 digs and five aces.

"Our lineup is actually an ever-changing animal, if you want to call it that,'' Paschoal said to The Maui News. "We have a lot of girls that are versatile and a lot of them take turns having a rough time and other step up. That is what is so awesome about this team. Last week, that lineup we started with actually did very well in our last match against Lahainaluna. Rosie was 8-for-9 in kills. Tonight we just needed more ball control.''

It looked like another fifth game was on its way for St. Anthony when it trailed 13-5 in the fourth game. Ruff went to work on the serve after a hitting error put the ball in her hands at 13-6. She served four straight aces, wrapped around a Kekaulike (2-1) substitution violation, to make it 13-11.

Na Ali'i opened the lead back to 18-12 on an ace by Carlene DeCoite before it was Romero's turn to take over.

Romero had five kills in a six-point span and St. Anthony's Amara Kunishi had an ace on the other point in the run as the Trojans tied the final game at 18-18.

Another ace by Kunishi, the setter who finished with 38 assists, made it 19-18 Trojans. A kill by Kekaulike's Kalia Yasak tied the game for the final time at 19-19 before Tamra Takeshita rattled off three straight aces to put the Trojans in command 23-19.

A Toni Kalama kill brought on aloha ball and Romero, fittingly, finished things with an ace.

"We had a rough start, but it changed when Rosie changed to libero,'' Romero said. "She is our captain and she gives us good advice. I felt pumped. I really didn't want to go to a fifth game, not at all. We didn't want a fifth game again.''

Na Ali'i coach Kaipo Thomas tipped his cap to Romero, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter/middle blocker.

"They stuck with their foundation, passed well, served well, and you know, Kawehi is tough,'' Thomas said. "She is great.''

Na Ali'i was led by six kills from Tabatha Yuen, also a sophomore.

"We had some spurts,'' Thomas said. "We found a little bit in that first game, but we couldn't really find our game tonight. I don't know what it was, but hopefully we will find it soon because we play Friday at Lana'i. Hopefully we find it tomorrow.''

St. Anthony also has a tough assignment when they travel to The Barn to face Moloka'i (3-0) on Friday. He was just happy to leave Pukalani with the win.

"I told the girls, 'I already know we can win in five — we just don't have to prove it,' '' Paschoal said. "A win is a win. Right now, I'm very happy. They did a great job showing some heart.''