Despite losing four graduates who are now playing NCAA Division I women's volleyball, three-time defending state champion Kamehameha will be back to defend its crown.

The Warriors outlasted 'Iolani, 18-25, 27-25, 25-23, 19-25, 15-11, last night before a raucous crowd of about 900 at the Raiders' gym to clinch a state tournament berth and a third meeting with Punahou next week for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu second-round title.

That match, originally scheduled for Saturday at Kamehameha, had to be rescheduled because the Warriors' Kekuhaupi'o Gym is not available this weekend. ILH volleyball coordinator Deren Oshiro said it likely will be played Tuesday at Kamehameha, but the exact day and time still need to be confirmed.

If Punahou wins, it will be ILH champion because it won the first round. If Kamehameha wins, the teams will play again later in the week for the overall title.

Both teams have already secured the league's two state tournament berths. With last night's loss, 'Iolani — ranked No. 4 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media — saw its season end at 14-3.

"This is a good group of girls, and we rose up to the challenge," said Warriors senior Alex Akana, who had two kills and a block to help Kamehameha take a 5-0 lead in the fifth set. "(Making the state tournament) is a tradition, and there wasn't a doubt in my mind we could do it."

There was at least some doubt in the crowd who would win last night, since the teams went back-and-forth throughout the match.

'Iolani jumped to an 8-3 lead in the first set and never allowed the third-ranked Warriors (15-2) get closer than three points the rest of the way. The Raiders then served for set point twice in the second set, but Kamehameha fought them off both times and eventually won after an 'Iolani hitting error and Taylor Akana's kill down the right-side.

The Raiders came back from a 23-17 third-set deficit to close to 24-23, but Taylor Akana ended it again with a shot down the middle that ricocheted off two 'Iolani players and onto the court.

The Raiders rebounded and sprinted to a 6-0 lead in the fourth set, winning comfortably after the Warriors closed to 9-7.

Kamehameha then reversed the tide again, taking a 5-0 lead in the fifth set. It began with an 'Iolani serving error, then Alex Akana had back-to-back kills followed by a block. After a Raiders timeout, Whitney Viveiros' kill made it 5-0.

"It's ironic, because just before the fifth game I told our team that the first five points are going to be the toughest to get," 'Iolani coach Jenic Tumaneng said. "It can really set the tempo."

The Warriors stretched it to 7-1, 9-3 and 11-4 before the Raiders rallied to close it to 11-8 helped by Malie Yoon's two aces and a block by Chelsea Hardin.

Kamehameha was able to side out the rest of the way and ended it on Talia Jardin's kill down the middle.

"We have a lot of new people this year but I have the utmost faith in our staff and our program, and the girls stepped up when they needed to," Warriors coach Chris Blake said. "I give credit to the returnees we did have, for showing everybody else the way. We were put in that situation (a fifth set) with the season on the line, and everybody played their best. It was a great team effort."

Jardin and the two Akanas each had 15 kills to lead Kamehameha. 'Iolani's I'ishah Keli'ikoa had a match-high 16 kills and Mahina Haina added 15 kills.