Tiyana Hallums had a game-high 22 kills for Kamehameha in a five set win over Punahou. Evan Asato | SL

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Kamehameha (15-0) prevailed over Punahou (12-3) in five sets, 25-23, 22-25, 27-25, 18-25, 15-12 at Hemmeter Fieldhouse on Thursday night to end the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season with a bang. The Warriors finished undefeated to claim the ILH championship and a seeded berth and both teams will play in the 2014 New City Nissan Girls Volleyball Championships starting next week. 

"We were proud of our girls for stepping up and how they did it and we have a lot of big tests coming up for the rest of the season. We're lucky to have time to enjoy this and get back into the gym to work out some things. We're very proud with what we did with that because Punahou is well-coached and to come back like that shows resilience and we train hard and we're built for this and understood what their jobs were," said Kamehameha coach Chris Blake. 

"I was definitely pleased with them and we're a different team from a month ago and I'm proud of the effort they put out and they were competitive, worked hard, but we came out short," said Punahou coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson. 

Tiyana Hallums had a game-high 22 kills and Kayla Afoa added 13 kills for the Warriors. McKenna Granato led Punahou with 18 kills, Kiana Peroff added 12 kills and Lillie Klemmer had eight kills and seven blocks. 

"This has been a good season for us, it's not about me and it's always a team effort. I'm proud of everyone, setters get me the ball and the passers give the setters and easier time so it's an overall team effort," said Hallums.

"She's been a rock for us and is one of our captains. All what she does on offensively and little things makes sure that we stay together. She talks to the girls in timeouts and gets them going and it was a great team win for us and lots of girls stepped up for us," said Blake, on Hallums.

Hallums was aggressive early in the first set as she recorded 10 kills to set the tone. The Warriors took an early, 5-1 lead, however the Buffanblu tied it at 14 after a Warriors' side out. The Buffanblu managed to cut it to 1, 18-17 after a kill from Peroff. The Warriors went on a 4-0 run to make it, 22-17 and held off a late Punahou rally and won the first set, 25-23. 

"This team is unlike any I've played for and our depth is phenomenal and we practice resiliency," said Hallums. 

In the second set, the Buffanblu came out firing and took an 8-4 lead after a Kamehameha net violation. Punahou's largest lead of the set was 7, after Kiana Peroff's kill to make it, 18-11 and the Warriors called a timeout. Following the timeout, the Warriors were able to chip away at the deficit and went on an 11-5 run to cut it to 1, 23-22 after Afoa and Kamalani Akeo combined for a block. Granato had a kill and Afoa hit it out to give the second set to Punahou. 

"We were making sure we were taking care of the ball with our passing and making sure nothing hits the floor without a body. We were constantly attacking the net, blockers were doing their job at the net, and never-say-die defense," said Fuamatu-Anderson, on the success in the second and fourth sets.

The Warriors trailed for most of the third set, before rallying late. It was a back-and-forth as the Buffanblu kept the lead at 2 throughout the set. Kamehameha went on a 4-1 run late in the set as they tied it at 23 after a Punahou error. Afoa's kill gave the Warriors their first lead of the set, 26-25 and Hana Lishman's hitting error gave Kamehameha the third set, 27-25. 

In the fourth set, the Buffanblu jumped out to a quick lead, but the Warriors tied it up at 7 after Brooke Kaawa's block. However, Punahou went on a 4-1 run after Granato's kill. Hallums added another kill to give the Warriors a, 13-12 lead and Punahou called a timeout. The Buffanblu went on a 8-4 run after a Kamehameha side out to make it, 21-16. Akeo went down with a leg injury and the gym went quiet after Punahou took a 23-17 lead. 

"When Kama got hurt, everyone was mad and we played for her and made sure it wasn't in vain and we didn't want her to go down for nothing," said Hallums, as the Warriors rallied around their fallen teammate.

"For us going through that adversity, I'm proud of our team how they stepped up and Kama has been a key for our success for us this season and Leila Holt come off the bench and to get things settled and in a tough situation after sitting on the bench in four sets, came in to get things going in set four and when she got things going in set five, she helped us get that win. She did a lot of big things for us," said Blake, on Holt for stepping up. 

Punahou closed out the set and won, 25-18 to force a fifth set as Granato and Klemmer combined for 11 kills. 

"These guys are prepared for us and they know each others tendencies. McKenna's one of the toughest hitters to defend, but those girls can be relentless on defense. McKenna's a stud and she's going to keep attacking," said Fuamatu-Anderson, on Granato.

In the fifth, Punahou took a brief lead until Afoa's kill tied the game at 11 and a Punahou error gave Kamehameha the lead as the Buffanblu called a timeout. Kamehameha went on a 3-1 run as Hallums and Sarah Lau notched kills and a Punahou hitting error allowed the Warriors to claim the set and the match. 

"We expect everybody's best match every time we step on the court. Punahou played us tough every match and I'm proud of our girls and coaching staff for the changes we made and it was a great team win tonight," said Blake, as they focus on states next week. 

"I feel like the momentum will carry next week, but we have to make sure we have to stay together as a team and I'm extremely stoked for states," said Hallums. 

"A lot of confidence," said Fuamatu-Anderson, knowing that her team can compete with the best. "We're all competitors, but nonetheless, they see the growth, the consistency and fire to compete with a good team like this and they are fired up for next week."