Kamehameha head coach Chris Blake has his team one step closer to a fifth straight state title.

The unseeded Warriors advanced to the semifinal round of the New City Nissan Division I Girls Volleyball State Championships with a 25-14, 25-16, 26-24 win over third-seeded Waiäkea last night at Radford's Jim Alegre Gymnasium.

Kamehameha (18-3), the Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up, will play No. 2 seed Kahuku (16-1) tonight at 7 at Radford.

Waiäkea (16-1), the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, will play Mililani in a consolation match at 5.

"I think we played really well," Kamehameha outside hitter Misty Maa said. "Everyone did their jobs, we all contributed equally and we pulled it off."

Kamehameha got a balanced attack as five players recorded at least six kills, led by Maa's 10. The lean and lanky 6-foot-1 sophomore hitter hit over, around and between the Waiäkea block and sophomore setter Kelci Renshaw generously allocated sets among the Warriors' various weapons.

Amanda Wasko and Talia Jardin put away nine kills apiece, Nicole Sniffen had seven and Taylor Akana six.

"Kelci distributed the ball really well," Maa said. "Everyone got their sets; she did a good job."

Kamehameha seized a quick lead in the opening set, but Waiäkea closed to 11-10 after three straight points following a timeout. However, Kamehameha went on a 12-2 run to make it 23-12. Kamehameha committed back-to-back errors, but Jardin put down a quick middle attack to make it 24-14 and Wasko ended it with her third kill.

Kamehameha controlled the second set from the start.

Maa's second kill of the set made it 4-0 and, following a double-contact violation on Waiäkea, Akana made it 6-0 with an ace. She finished with a match-high three aces.

Waiäkea scored following a timeout, but Kamehameha went on a 5-0 run to extend its lead to 11-1. Later in the set, a lift call gave Kamehameha its 24th point and Sniffen's tip shot ended the set.

The lead went back and forth in the third set, before Kamehameha took a 25-24 lead on a Waiäkea hitting error and sealed it on a block by Wasko and Jardin.

"It was a great team win for us, but we'll have to play better (today)," Blake said of the impending clash with Kahuku. "As the tournament continues to progress, we have to make sure that we continue to improve."

Chelsea Buyuan led Waiäkea with 11 kills and 12 digs.

KAHUKU DEF. MILILANI, 25-16, 25-8, 25-18

Amanda Tonga slammed 13 kills and hit .632 as Kahuku swept Mililani in the first quarterfinal at Radford.

Kahuku (16-1) hit .404 and outdug Mililani (11-7) 47-27.

"This wasn't our best match," Kahuku coach Uila Fotu Vendiola said. "I thought we looked a little comfortable at times, but I'm happy with the end result."

After taking the opening set, Kahuku completely dominated the second. The Red Raiders raced to a 10-4 lead, leading to a Mililani timeout. Kahuku scored eight of the next 10 points to force another timeout by the Trojans. It didn't slow the Red Raiders, who had 15 kills against one error to hit .538. Mililani was held to negative .172 mark.

Mililani took a 1-0 lead on a Kahuku error to open the third set, but it was all Red Raiders after that. Kahuku scored the next four points and slowly pulled away.

Elizabeth Blake added 21 assists, 10 digs and seven kills for Kahuku. Shyanne Cossey led Mililani with 12 kills.