McKenna Granato led her team with a game-high 23 kill performance - including the match point kill - to win the state title for Punahou over Kamehameha. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Punahou girls volleyball team celebrates on the court after McKenna Granato's kill for match point against Kamehameha to win the HHSAA Division I state tournament title since 2012. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Accurate serving and a 23-kill performance by McKenna Granato helped Punahou stun previously unbeaten Kamehameha, 25-21, 25-15, 20-25, 25-21, Saturday night to capture the New City Nissan Division I state girls' volleyball championship at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

The Buffanblu (16-3), whose only losses were to the Warriors (17-1), won their first crown since 2012 and ninth overall. It was the 15th time the Interscholastic League of Honolulu rivals have met for the championship, but only the sixth win for Punahou.

"It definitely feels amazing and that all our hard work paid off," Granato said. "We just mentally brought it together and realized what we needed to do and we just trust each other and do it."

The Warriors had won all three ILH meetings, including a five-set match in the second round.

"We were able to pull it together just at the right time," Punahou coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson said. "We were training really hard from our last meeting with them, knowing that we still needed to get better even though we went five (sets) the last meeting. We knew we just had to attack from all facets of the game. It didn't matter if it was offense or defense, we knew he had to be sharp and stay sharp. We can be sharp up five points, but with Kamehameha, they're relentless."

The Buffanblu directed the majority of their serves to the Warriors' best two hitters: Tiyana Hallum and Kayla Afoa. They led the Warriors with 14 and 12 kills, respectively. They tried that tactic in previous matches, but not with the same precision.

"We knew that Tiyana and Kayla are definitely their key hitters, so we had to somehow tire out Tiyana by serving her every ball," Fuamatu-Anderson said. "Now she has to do two things instead or worrying about hitting.

"We did (try to serve Hallums in previous matches), but I don't think our serves were as on-point as tonight."

Added Markwith: "Tonight, we served it a little bit harder."

Punahou, meanwhile, was able to make effective digs off Kamehameha's serves. Libero Brandee Markwith and a match-high 29 digs. The Buffanblu were able to keep balls alive and help setter Kiani Tuileta, who had 48 of the team's 49 assists.

"She dug a million balls for us," Fuamatu-Anderson said. "I'm so proud of her."

The Buffanblu stormed out early, taking the first two set. They rallied from an 18-11 deficit in the first set. But after a Granato kill gave Punahou the sideout,  Markwith served up nine consecutive points, which included her only ace and six hitting errors by the Warriors.

Punahou dominated the second set with Granato opening with three kills in the team's 6-0 run after Kamehameha took a 1-0 lead. Punahou never came closer than within five points.

The Buffanblu saw the Warriors' resolve that Fuamatu-Anderson referred to in the third set. It was a tight match that was tied four times. Trailing 17-14, the Warriors reeled off eight consecutive points, seven coming with Mia Heirakuji serving and Shiloh Perlaris delivering three of her five kills.

The fourth set was the tightest as the teams were tied 16 times, the last at 21-all after a hitting error by Kamehameha. But Punahou scored the final four points, two by kills from Granato, one from a hitting error and another from a net violation. The set also featured two rare rotation violation calls on Kamehameha. It was that kind of match for the Warriors.

"Punahou played a tough match today," said Kamehameha coach Chris Blake, who is one title shy of becoming the winningest coach in the state tournament. "We got pressed into some tough positions, but I'm proud of our girls and how they played."

NEW CITY NISSAN HHSAA DIVISION I ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

Most Outstanding Player: Kiani Tuileta, Punahou (12)

OH - McKenna Granato, Punahou (12)
OH - Tiyana Hallums, Kamehameha (12)
MB - Silerolia Gaogao, Moanalua (12)
MB - Vonica Malufau, Punahou (11)
MB - Kiana Peroff, Punahou (11)
S - Sarah Lau, Kamehameha (12)
DS/L - Brandee Markwith, Punahou (11)