The ultra-close Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls volleyball race has fittingly been extended by another few days.

Kamehameha swept past visiting Punahou, 25-15, 25-22, 25-23, last night to force a winner-take-all rematch for the ILH title at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Warriors' Kekuhaupi'o Gym.

Last night's vocal crowd of about 1,000 at Kekuhaupi'o watched Kamehameha improve to 16-2 in winning the league's second round. Punahou, the first-round winner, also is 16-2.

The Warriors earned homecourt advantage for Saturday's overall title match because of a 2-1 record against the Buffanblu in head-to-head meetings.

Last night the Kamehameha band, cheerleaders and partially body-painted crowd were treated to an impressive display of focus and finishing power by the Warriors, who let a 23-18 third-set lead slip away in a home loss to Punahou on Oct. 14.

"Coming after that loss, we were hungrier, we really wanted this one," said Kamehameha senior outside hitter Whitney Viveiros, who had 11 kills last night, including the match-ender off a middle set from Caitlin Andrade. "We played with our hearts."

The Warriors certainly came out strong, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first set behind the serving of Koala Matsuoka and never trailing. After the Buffanblu closed to 12-10 on a Kamehameha error, Taylor Akana's kill started a 7-1 run to put the Warriors ahead 19-11.

The second set was much tighter, and Punahou took a 22-21 lead on a kill by Tai Manu-Olevao. But Talia Jardin answered with a kill to tie it, and Viveiros scored on a line shot off the block to put Kamehameha ahead, 23-22. A double-hit and hitting error by the Buffanblu then gave the Warriors a 2-0 set advantage.

"Kamehameha played well, and we weren't able to keep up with them," Punahou coach Jim Iams said. "We gave away too many easy points and we weren't able to put enough pressure on them."

The third set was also tight, but again Kamehameha finished strong.

The Buffanblu led 21-20, but Alex Akana tied it on a kill down the middle and Viveiros' off-speed kill eventually gave the Warriors a 24-22 lead. After Anuhea Keanini closed it to 24-23 on a crosscourt shot, Viveiros ended it with her spike down the middle.

"Our girls were focused, and everybody contributed," Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said.