For the second night in a row, the Punahou girls volleyball team dispatched an undefeated league champion, this time sweeping Kahuku to advance to the state Division I championship for the fifth time in six years.

The scores in the New City Nissan/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association semifinal at McKinley were 25-12, 25-18, 25-20.

"It wasn't our best, but it was still a pretty high level of what we wanted to attain," Buffanblu senior captain Anuhea Keanini said. "Our setters and passers did well and our hitters were getting their swings. It's what we wanted to do."

Punahou advances to tonight's championship game against three-time defending state champion Kamehameha at 8 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"We'd love the opportunity to play (Kamehameha) again," Punahou coach Jim Iams said. "They are a great team.

"We just wanted to get back to the state finals."

Punahou (19-3) handed second-seeded Kahuku (17-1) of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association its first loss after knocking off third-seeded Waiakea, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, Thursday night.

A 4-0 run for the Buffanblu that made it 9-5 was the first time either team scored consecutive points in the first set. The Buffanblu extended their lead to 19-10 behind the serving of senior libero Courtney Lelepali, and made it 22-12 on a kill by junior middle blocker Juliana Behrens. A kill by senior right side hitter Lani Fonua, a hitting error on the Red Raiders and a service ace by sophomore outside hitter Ali Santi ended the set.

"The match started out with both teams playing a very high level," Iams said.

Kahuku surpassed its point total from the first set when it tied the second set at 13 on a block by junior middle blocker Amanda Tonga. It would be the last tie of the set, with the Buffanblu taking the lead for good on a kill by Tai Manu-Olevao.

Punahou ended the set on a 6-0 run with Keanini serving, who induced a Kahuku hitting error for the final point.

"I think we played as a team; we fed off each other's energy and we had fun," Manu-Olevao said. She led the team in kills with 11 on a night that Keanini, an All-State member, was held to four.

"I just needed to help my team; I was very happy," Manu-Olevao said.

The Red Raiders opened the third set with a 9-4 run, but the Buffanblu tied it at 16 on a kill by Santi, and took the lead on a kill by Keanini. It was the start of a run that gave Punahou a 20-16 lead that it never relinquished.

The Buffanblu gained match point on a service error by the Red Raiders and won it all on a kill by sophomore middle blocker Brigitte Russo.

"(The Red Raiders) extended their good play and hung with us longer," Iams said. "The third set they came out strong and we fell asleep a bit. They played very well."

Kahuku senior outside hitter Nile Teo had a team-high six kills.

"They are a tough team, the toughest team we've seen all season," Kahuku coach Uila Vendiola said of the Buffanblu. "We had some critical errors. I think in the second set we counted something like 14 errors. Aside from the errors, our execution on offense and defense was good and I'm really proud of the girls. They played with heart."