Capping a so-called "rebuilding year" with its best performance of the season, Kamehameha swept past Punahou, 25-11, 25-16, 25-18, last night to capture its fourth straight New City Nissan/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Girls Volleyball Division I Championship.

A vocal crowd of 2,599 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Warriors finish 20-2 in the regular and postseason, after losing five graduated seniors now playing for NCAA Division I programs.

"This is one is so much sweeter," said senior outside hitter Whitney Viveiros, a reserve in 2006 and 2007 who had a match-high nine kills and 10 digs last night. "I'm really excited, I don't think there's any words that can describe how it feels."

The performance was so dominant, Kamehameha coach Chris Blake did not use a timeout in any of the three sets.

"They played great, they played like state champs," said Punahou coach Jim Iams, whose team finished 19-4 with all four losses coming to the Warriors. "They came out fast and never took their foot off the accelerator."

Kamehameha dominated the first set, jumping to a 5-0 lead behind the serving of Koala Matsuoka (three aces) and building it to 19-7 after Viveiros served six straight points. Punahou finally ended the streak with a kill by Juliana Behrens, but the Buffanblu gave it right back with a hitting error, one of eight they committed during the set.

Punahou's hitting percentage in the first set was minus-0.69.

And even when the Buffanblu did get quality swings, it seemed like a Warrior was there for the dig. Kamehameha had 13 digs in the first set, compared to seven for Punahou.

The Buffanblu took an 8-7 lead in the second set, but a serving error and back-to-back solo blocks by freshman Misty Ma'a sparked a 6-1 run to put the Warriors up, 13-9.

Punahou closed to 13-11 after a kill and block by Charlotte Fonua, but a tip kill by Alex Akana started Kamehameha on another 6-1 run to make it 19-12. The Buffanblu got as close as 20-15, but three more hitting errors stalled any hopes of a comeback as the Warriors closed out the set with a 5-1 run.

Punahou hit for a minus-.188 percentage in the second set.

The third set was much of the same.

Viveiros had two kills and a block as Kamehameha raced to a 9-3 lead, and after the Buffanblu closed to 9-6, Ma'a scored on a line shot and a Punahou kill attempt went into the antennae to make it 12-7.

The Buffanblu fought back to cut it to 16-14, but could get no closer. After Fonua's line shot brought Punahou to 22-18, the Warriors responded with Ma'a's kill off a block, a perfectly placed crosscourt shot by Taylor Akana and Alex Akana's tip that eluded a Buffanblu double-block and landed softly inside the right sideline.

"I'm so proud of the girls, they played so steady," Blake said. "Even after the few hiccups that we had, they came back so confident. It's a testament to the girls and the hard work ethic they had all year.

"They played their best match in the biggest match, and it all paid off. I really believe it was the team concept ... that's the reason they were able to do it."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on high school sports at preptalk.honadvblogs.com

THIRD PLACE

Nile Teo had seven kills as Kahuku swept Kamehameha-Maui, 25-17, 25-22, for third place.

Tialei Wesley added six kills for the Red Raiders (18-1, 2-1). Sage DeCosta and Ginger Long had five kills apiece for the Warriors (14-2, 1-2).

FIFTH PLACE

Carsen Mata and Lahela Kaili-Laroya tallied seven kills apiece as Moanalua defeated Mililani, 16-25, 25-20, 15-9, for fifth place.

Kaili-Laroya had three kills and Mata two in the decisive third game for Na Menehune (14-6, 2-1). Candace Soares scored a match-high 10 kills for the Trojans (12-7, 1-2).

CONSOLATION FINALS

Mele Samisoni had a match-high seven kills as 'Aiea swept Baldwin, 25-17, 25-16, in the consolation final.

Natasha Souza added five kills for Na Ali'i (15-4, 2-1). Tupusa Satele had five kills for the Bears (12-4, 1-2).