Punahou's Larry Tuileta spikes the ball through a Kamehameha double block. Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou's Micah Ma'a sets the ball for Noah Hayashida for an uncontested kill in the third set against Kamehameha Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou served notice to Kamehameha that there will be more meetings to come.

The Buffanblu's serving hampered the Warriors' usually effective passing game in Punahou's 25-22, 13-25, 25-17 win Tuesday night in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I boys' volleyball at Kekuhaupi'o Gym.

It was a crucial victory for Punahou (7-1), which pulled into a first-place tie with Kamehameha (7-1) with two matches left in regular-season action. Should they remain tied for first, they will playoff for the regular-season title and a state berth.

"They just out-served us," Kamehameha coach Kainoa Downing said. "That put us into trouble more often than we put them into trouble. When we served good in the second game, they had trouble. They just served the third game like the way they did in the first game. That's trouble."

Punahou had just two aces, but its serves were tough for Kamehameha's passers to handle. The Buffanblu varies their serves, showing power and change of speeds.

"Sometimes, different things are available to hit and when they're not, you need to change up where how you place it," Downing said. "You can hit it hard, chip it. It's all part of the game."

It was a big win for Punahou, which lost the first time around to Kamehameha, 2-1, at Hemmeter Fieldhouse. A Warriors' win would've put them two games up on the Buffanblu. All Kamehameha would've had to do was win one of its next two matches to clinch the regular-season title.

"I'm really happy we pulled this one out," said Punahou's Larry Tuileta, who led with 13 kills. "We can come back to qualify for the state tournament. All the boys are really happy. They worked hard and deserved it."

Punahou stormed out in front, 6-0, in the first set behind the serving of Micah Ma'a. The Warriors would eventually tie the set at 11 and again at 12. But the Buffanblu converted more digs than the Warriors and pulled ahead 24-20. A slight protest by Kamehameha on blocks by Azariah Distajo and Nick Ng pulled it to 24-22 before Kupono Fey closed out the first set with a spike.

The second set belonged to the Warriors, whose serving gave the Buffanblu fits. With Nick Ng serving, the Warriors jumped to a 5-0 lead. Later, with Cody Wong serving, the Warriors pulled out to a commanding 17-4 lead. Cullen Mosher led the way with four kills in the 25-13 decision for the Warriors.

"We still have to try to fix coming out in the second set," Tuileta said. "We've always struggled with the second set throughout the year."

"They took it to us in the second set in a certain rotation where we got stuck," Punahou coach Rick Tune said. "We need to get better in having some different options for that and executing those options, one of which you saw in the third set."

Behind Tuileta's serving, the Buffanblu opened with a 6-1 lead. He served four consecutive points, which included an ace. But half the scoring in that run were from double blocks by Noah Hayashida and Trent Thompson.

The Warriors would pull to within 11-8, but Punahou went on a 6-0 run highlighted by blocks by Hayashita (twice), Tuileta and Ma'a. Hayashida would be in on two more blocks later in the set en route to a 25-17 match clincher.

"We were fortunate tonight," Tune said. "Kamehameha played a great match. We were just lucky to get a few more plays than they did."