The Kahuku girls volleyball team's quick offense made quick work of Mililani in the quarterfinals of the state tournament last night.

Second seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Kahuku defeated OIA counterpart Mililani, 25-18, 25-13, 25-22, in the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division I State Championships at McKinley High School gym.

Kahuku (17-0) plays Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Punahou (18-3) in the semifinals tonight at 7 at McKinley.

"One of the things we tried to incorporate was a quicker offense," Kahuku coach Uila Vendiola said. "We were making things happen on offense."

After a warmup that left much to be desired to Vendiola, Kahuku trailed for much of the first set. The Red Raiders nudged ahead 18-15 after a 7-1 run with the help of two kills by Kahuku senior outside hitter Nile Teo. Mililani tied it at 18, but Kahuku responded with a 7-0 finishing run that was ended by a kill by senior middle blocker Jovan Falemalu, who put the ball down on a Mililani overpass.

"We struggled in the beginning because our passing wasn't there," Teo said. "We were nervous because it was the state tournament. Coach Uila told us to calm down, and once we started playing, we were able to."

The second set began with six ties before Kahuku took the lead for good at 11-10 on a block by Falemalu and junior middle blocker Amanda Tonga. The Red Raiders were in control the rest of the way, allowing only three points by while scoring 14, led by four Te'o kills and three by Tonga. Sophomore outside hitter Hoonani Apo served eight straight points, including two aces.

"We just needed to execute our hitting," Mililani coach Val Crabbe said. "It was kind of all over.

"They ran a quick offense and our blocking wasn't there. We couldn't adjust. They ran a lot of stuff. They did well. They are the No. 1 team coming out of the OIA. You can't take that away from them."

Kahuku asserted itself early in the third set, taking a 14-7 lead behind three kills apiece by Teo and Apo. Mililani rallied and closed to 20-19 on a hitting error by a Kahuku player, but the Red Raiders were able to hold off the Trojans, outscoring them 5-3 down the final stretch. Kahuku won the match on a net violation by the Trojans.

Teo, who finished with a team-high nine kills, said it took most of the regular season for the Red Raiders to adjust to the new offense that was incorporated this season.

"We were used to high sets," Teo said. "At first we struggled, but coach Uila told us to stay with it. It's better for us because with our quicker offense it's harder to stop us. With three attackers in the front row, they don't know who the setter is going to set."

Mililani senior outside hitter Candace Soares had a match-high 10 kills.

PUNAHOU TOPS WAIAKEA

Punahou defeated third-seeded Waiakea, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, 25-20, 27-25, 23-25, 25-10, handing the Warriors (16-1) their first loss of the season.

With the score tied at 16 in the first set, the Buffanblu scored four straight to take a 20-16 lead on a service ace by freshman outside hitter Tai Manu-Olevao. The Warriors closed to 23-20 on a Punahou service error, but the Buffanblu scored the final two points — capped by Manu-Olevao's kill.

The Buffanblu needed three set points before closing out the second set. They went up 24-23 on a kill by senior outside hitter/setter Anuhea Keanini, but the Warriors tied it on a kill by junior outside hitter Chelsey Buyuan. Punahou went up 25-24 on a hitting error by the Warriors, who tied it again on a four-hit call on the Buffanblu.

Punahou took the lead for good on a kill by junior outside hitter Lahela Williams and ended it on a double block by Williams and junior middle blocker Juliana Behrens.

In the third set, Waiakea led 24-20, then allowed three straight points before a back-row attack by the Buffanblu won it for the Warriors.

Punahou raced ahead to an 11-1 lead in the fourth set behind the serving of sophomore setter Shannan McCready. The Buffanblu won the match on a kill by Manu-Olevao.

Keanini had a match-high 23 kills, and Manu-Olevao added 14 for the Buffanblu. Buyuan led Waiakea with 18 kills.