Four-time defending state champion Kamehameha got a taste of first-round state tournament action for the first time since 2004 last night, regrouping in time to hold off 'Aiea, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21, at Radford's Jim Alegre Gym.

The Warriors, Interscholastic League of Honolulu runners-up, improved to 17-3 and will face No. 3 seed and Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Waiäkea (16-0) in today's 7 p.m. quarterfinal at Radford.

'Aiea, the OIA's fourth-place team, fell to 14-3.

Kamehameha had won the previous four ILH titles and earned the accompanying first-round byes in the state tournament. But this time the Warriors jumped right into first-day action and were promptly met by an inspired Nä Ali'i team that took a surprising 15-9 lead in the first set.

'Aiea still led 20-17 before a hitting error, Taylor Akana's block and a block by Nicole Sniffen tied it at 20-20. Talia Jardin then had a kill down the middle to break a 23-23 tie and then a solo block to give Kamehameha a 1-0 match lead.

"I think we just had to settle down and play our game," said Jardin, a 6-foot junior middle blocker who finished with a match-high 10 kills and added six blocks. "We took this as an opportunity to fight back and prove we could win."

The Warriors carried their momentum over to the second set, when they raced to a 10-2 lead. Nä Ali'i could not get closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Kamehameha started strong again in the third set, going up, 11-3. 'Aiea fought back to close it to 13-9, but kills by Misty Ma'a and Cara Rosehill, and Akana's ace sparked a 5-1 run that pushed the lead to 18-10.

Nä Ali'i made one last rally to close to 24-21, but a serving error ended it.

"If we won that first set, it might have been a different match," 'Aiea coach Blythe Yamamoto said. "But Kamehameha is a great team, and it came down to who made the least amount of errors."

MILILANI DEF. BALDWIN 25-15, 25-20, 25-17

Shyanne Cossey had 15 kills and seven digs and the Trojans served nine aces in a sweep of the Bears at Radford.

Mililani, which finished fifth in the OIA, improved to 11-6 and will face OIA champ and No. 2 seed Kahuku (15-1) in today's 5 p.m. quarterfinal at Radford.

Baldwin, the Maui Interscholastic League runner-up, fell to 9-4.

Mililani burst out of the gates to a 12-1 lead in the first set, and the Bears never really recovered.

"We're a young team, and only three of our girls played in a state tournament before," Baldwin coach Kauila Houpo. "For the others, this is their first time experiencing something like this."

The Bears took a 16-15 lead in the second set, but Mililani immediately tied it on Janine Orosco's block and two Baldwin errors helped the Trojans start a 7-2 run that made it 23-18.

Pomai Grube-Hose's ace broke a 2-2 tie in the third set, and Mililani never looked back. The Trojans proceeded to slowly but surely pull away, stretching a 6-5 lead to 13-7, then going on a 6-1 run after Baldwin closed it to 17-15.

Tupusa Satele, a 5-7 senor outside hitter, had a match-high 22 kills to lead the Bears.

MOANALUA DEF. KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 22-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21

Gabby Matautia had 19 kills, eight digs and seven aces and Erin Perez added 10 kills as Nä Menehune rallied past the Warriors at McKinley's Student Council Gym.

Moanalua, the OIA runner-up, improved to 16-3 and will face No. 4 seed Kamehameha-Maui (12-0) in today's 5 p.m. quarterfinal at McKinley.

The match will be televised live statewide on OC16.

Hi'i Evans-Bautista had a match-high 27 kills for BIIF runner-up Kamehameha-Hawai'i (16-4).

FARRINGTON DEF. ROOSEVELT 25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 25-15

Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo had 18 kills and 17 digs and Fenumiai Tofilau added 15 kills and 17 digs as the Governors held off the Rough Riders at McKinley.

Farrington, the OIA's third-place team, will face No. 1 seed and ILH champion Punahou (19-0) in today's 7 p.m. quarterfinal at McKinley. The match will be televised live statewide on OC16.

Roosevelt, the OIA's sixth-place team, fell to 5-12.

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