Greg Yamamoto | SL

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The Buffanblu had themselves a block party Tuesday night. 

Punahou's girls volleyball train reaffirmed their spot atop the ScoringLive Power Rankings with a hard-fought five-set win over third-ranked Iolani Tuesday night. 

The rivals went back and forth exchanging sets before a crowd of about 70 fans at the Raiders' lower gym, but a big factor in the end result was the Buffanblu's play at the net, specifically on the block. 

Punahou recorded 17 total team blocks, including five solo blocks — four of them by Lucky-Rose Williams. 

"Every week we start practice with blocking and that has been the key in our game plan against Iolani, even Kamehameha, in these past weeks, so that's something we've been working really hard on," senior setter Jaclyn Matias said. 

Six different players had a hand in the Buffanblu's block party. Grace Fiaseu recorded seven block assists and one solo block, along with her match-high 17 kills. Belle Iosua notched five block assists, to go with her 14 kills and two aces, and Williams had three block assists and 14 kills along with her four solo blocks. 

"Blocking was critical and we did a good job just lining up and pressing low and tight," Punahou coach Tita Ahuna said. 

Sophomore outside hitters Lulu Uluave (three block assists, 10 kills, ace) and Haumea Marumoto (two block assists, five kills) also contributed to the cause, as did Matias, who chipped in with four block assists, to go with her 50 assists, three kills and an ace. 

"It's just who came out with the best energy that set and the will to win it," Matias said. "I mean, it's always a tough win in our league and we just gotta come in every day wanting it more than the other team."

The Raiders were held to five team blocks, including two solo roofs by Haley Goto, but were unable to overcome 24 hitting errors despite only three service errors. 

Much of that can be traced to the Buffanblu's tough serving. They tallied only four aces against eight service errors, however, they kept Iolani out of system often with due to errant first touches that sent setter Mokihana Tufono chasing down tough-to-handle passes. 

"We've been practicing our (serves to) area ones (back left) and fives (back right), like, every day this season and I think if we just keep continuing to work on that then our serves will only get better from there," Iosua said. 

Punahou's own back row players were key to allowing Matias to utilize her numerous weapons in pin hitters Williams, Uluave and Marumoto, along with middles Fiaseu and Iosua. 

"Getting those middles open, it allowed the outside hitters to be open, which opened the net up more and just got everybody in the game," said Iosua. 

Six different players recorded at least three kills and four of them were in the double digits. Matias says the Buffanblu are still just scratching the surface of their full potential.

"I think we have yet to play our best game in this season, so that's just something we keep working to every week, getting there in practice and doing our best," said the University of Hawaii-commit. 

It was a team effort, to be sure, and a team win, without question. 

"I think just all of us playing together as a team tonight just really helped us come together with everything in that positive mindset instead of forgetting the mistakes that we made and just looking toward the positive side," Iosua said.

"We've been practicing our energy, both on and off the court and I think that's what really pushed us as a team together to get this (win)."

The win Tuesday secured one of the ILH's two allotted berths in the Division I state tournament for the Buffanblu, who reached the state championship match in 2019, but lost to Kamehameha. They took the first set of the match, but the Warriors claimed the next three to deny Punahou its first state crown since 2014. 

Iosua, Matias and co. are looking to change that this fall. 

"Our sophomore year we were in states and I think one thing that really brought us downhill was our energy and that's something we're really focusing on this year and I think if we just stay consistent with this energy and unite as a team then I think we'll do better and just keep going up from there," Iosua said. 

Matias, a senior like Iosua, said the process has been one in the making, forged through intense daily practices at Hemmeter Fieldhouse. 

"As a program we've really improved upon building our culture and focusing on our key pillars and I mean, every day in the gym in practice you can see everyone working really hard and even just our whole bench, their energy really helps everyone down the road," Matias said. 

And they're not done yet. 

"We're just so excited to keep working from here," Iosua added. "We're ready to fight."

Punahou will be the top seed in the four-team ILH double-elimination tournament and will play fourth-seeded Mid-Pacific on Nov. 9.