With shocking efficiency and precision, Iolani sliced through O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion and No. 2 seed Kahuku, 25-14, 25-16, in the semifinals of the HHSAA/NewCityNissan.com Girls Division I Volleyball State Championships last night.

The Raiders (19-2) will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champ and No. 1 seed Kamehameha (19-1) for the title tonight at the University of Hawai'i's Stan Sheriff Center. First serve is set for 8:30, and the match will be televised live statewide on OC-16.

Iolani, the ILH runner-up, was expecting a much tougher challenge from Kahuku (15-2) last night at the Kamehameha Schools' Kekuhaupi'o Fieldhouse but instead took early leads in both games and never trailed in either.

The Raiders led 7-2, 14-6 and 21-9 en route to winning the first game, then built leads of 11-5, 15-7 and 21-13 in the second.

"We wanted to come out strong and get the lead early and never get down," said Iolani junior setter Kapua Kamana'o, who quarterbacked a smooth, balanced offense led by sophomore outside hitter Lauren Minkel's seven kills. "We had to keep on track and stay on them."

Kahuku, which powered its way through the OIA regular season and playoffs, never seemed to find its rhythm and had few opportunities to show off its heavy hitting. Red Raiders coach Mona Ah-Hoy said Iolani's aggressive serving made it tough to start their offense, and her team seemed to lack its usual energy from the outset.

"We just couldn't get their serves," Ah-Hoy said. "I don't know what it was, but we looked relaxed. We looked good before the game in warm-ups, then that first whistle blew and we messed up that first pass, and we never could get our passing going."

Iolani coach Luis Ramirez said the tough serving was a planned necessity.

"We knew we had to serve tough, because they have too much team size," Ramirez said. "If we made it tough for them to pass, then we could isolate their key hitters and focus on them."

Defensively, Kahuku appeared to be a half-step behind on many Iolani attacks.

"We saw much quicker sets and much lower sets than usual, and that threw our defense off," Ah-Hoy said. "We were reading everything wrong. They have two good outsides (Minkel and Leinani Keanini) and a good middle (Megan Burton), but to me the difference was their setter (Kamana'o). She was awesome, very consistent. She was taking bad passes and turning them into perfect sets."

Kamana'o, whose sister Kanoe is an All-America setter at UH, darted around the court and fed Minkel, Keanini and Burton with quick, inviting jump sets throughout the match. But she said the Raiders can do even better, and will have to against Kamehameha.

"Our tempo tonight was medium — we could have run it a little faster," Kamana'o said. "We'll have to play even smarter tomorrow."

KAMEHAMEHA SWEEPS

Kanani Herring had 10 kills and Alexis Robins added six kills to lead Kamehameha to a 25-18, 25-15 sweep of Roosevelt (15-3).

The OIA runner-up Rough Riders stayed close in the first game and trailed 18-16 after a kill by Hoku Oleole. But the Warriors scored the next three points on a kill by Herring, Kea Kea's ace and a four-hit violation by Roosevelt. The Rough Riders could not get closer than five points the rest of the way.

Kamehameha never trailed in the second game and took leads of 10-4, 17-7 and 21-10 en route to the sweep.

"We knew Roosevelt was a scrappy team and they proved it tonight," Warriors coach Chris Blake said. "We had to work hard to make balls go down, and there are no easy points against them. We were lucky to get them into a few bad spots and make a couple runs, but they were right up there with us for most of the match."

Blake said "everybody we've played so far (in the state tournament) has brought their 'A' game," noting Moanalua stretched Kamehameha in Tuesday's 28-26, 25-21 quarterfinal victory. But Herring said the challenges have motivated the Warriors even more.

"We wanted it really bad (tonight) due to the fact that everybody's pushed us hard," said Herring, a 5-foot-9 sophomore outside hitter. "My teammates are working hard on the court and I love it. I feel wonderful, I'm so happy."

Roosevelt coach Bryan Camello said his team should feel the same way, despite the loss. It is the first time in his eight years with the program that the Rough Riders advanced to the state semifinals.

"I'm proud of my girls, they did a great job," Camello said. "I think we overachieved, and they should be proud about that. Nothing to hang their heads about. We went out swinging."

CONSOLATION

WAIPAHU DEF. WAIAKEA: Samantha Misa had 21 kills and Amanda Misa six blocks as the Marauders prevailed, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21. Corona Morris had 11 kills and Kelina Smith 13 digs for the Wildcats.

MOANALUA DEF. KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I: Kaleinani Kabalis had 22 kills and five blocks, and Shawna Kaiura added 11 digs as the Menehunes won, 16-25, 25-22, 25-18. Lia Enos had nine kills and Leonahenahe Aina 10 digs for the Warriors.

KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI DEF. KALANI: Sayble Bissen had seven kills and Kela Lau Hee 12 digs as the Warriors won, 25-21, 25-22. Charly Sampaga led the Falcons with eight kills and nine digs.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.