Punahou's Riley Haine puts up a tip shot past the Kamehameha block in an ILH Division I match at Kekuhaupio Gym Wednesday night. Michael Lasquero | SL

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KAPALAMA HEIGHTS — Two weights were lifted off the Punahou boys volleyball team Wednesday night.

The Buffanblu not only secured their trip to the state tournament, but they also don't have to deal with the pressure of maintaining an improbable streak anymore.

Top-ranked Punahou bested No. 2 Kamehameha for the second time this season with a four-set road win in an ILH Division I match at Kekuhaupio Gym.

It was the Buffanblu's toughest contest so far in league play as every set was decided by two points with scores of 27-25, 25-23, 24-26 and 28-26.

The loss in the third stanza was the first time Punahou (9-0) dropped a set against an ILH opponent this season. Buffanblu coach Rick Tune was perfectly fine with the outcome.

"Best thing to ever happen to us," Tune said. "Now that whole pressure is done. That was the first thing I said to them because they don't losing sets. I said 'look you guys put that unrealistic pressure on yourselves, high standards are good, but now that's done and we keep playing.'"

The Buffanblu got it done behind a three-headed attack at the pins. Riley Haine was the top attacker with 20 kills, with seven of them coming in a pivotal second set. Keau Tavares Thompson added 18 kills with two aces while Aidan Tune finished with 16 kills and did a little bit of everything and had a pair of out-of-system assists.

"This win means a lot and we can't wait for states. We're super stoked. Just proud of how the boys played," said Haine.

Composure was everything for Punahou in its road win against Kamehameha, which was also televised. The Warriors (6-3) were the first team to reach 20 points in the first three sets, but the Buffanblu stuck with it and were able to rally to win the first two frames.

Coach Tune noted that his main three pin hitters, alongside setter Keegan Au Yuen (50 assists) and middles Teke Bower and Brighton Yap, were on the Spike and Serve club team that won the USA Volleyball Boys Junior 17U National Championship last Summer.

"They've played in big time moments, that can't be replicated," Tune said of his squad. "They're confident, they know what to do and the pressure doesn't get to them. They just keep playing."

Kamehameha coach Sava Agpoon also credited Punahou's consistency against his team.

"Nothing kind of dampered their spirits or anything," Agpoon said. "No matter what, they just moved onto the next point. That's what makes them so difficult (to face). They just keep coming at it."

Agpoon added that his team needs to get better at closing sets. Kamehameha took a 24-23 lead off a scramble play in the opening set only to let Punahou back into the game with a service error on the next point. The Buffanblu went on to win set one on a bad set by the Warriors' libero, leading to a net violation.

The Warriors held a 20-17 lead in the second set, but allowed the Buffanblu to climb back after a return error and a hitting error tied it at 22.

"Just little errors that happened at the end game got to us," said Agpoon. "Because it's so close to the end and they're just kind of unsure of themselves, it leads to small errors at the end game."

Kamehameha edged Punahou on the block however, with the Warriors totaling 12 blocks to the Buffanblu's six.

Kainoa Wade led the Warriors in the loss with a match-high 22 kills with three total blocks (two solo). Sio Bartley added 12 kills with four blocks and Laiakea Hirahara had 11 kills to round out the top attackers for the Warriors.