Three-time defending boys volleyball state champion Punahou swept arch rival 'Iolani last night for the second time this season, 25-17, 25-23, but each team came away with important new lessons.

For Punahou — ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media — the lesson was "there's a big difference between playing to win and playing not to lose," Buffanblu coach Rick Tune said.

For No. 2 'Iolani, which was swept at Punahou 25-17, 25-21 two weeks ago, the Raiders and their vocal home crowd of about 950 learned the Buffanblu may not be as invincible as they sometimes appear.

Punahou, which won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's first round and improved to 11-0 in ILH play, has already secured the league's first state tournament berth. 'Iolani fell to 9-2, but the Raiders have something to build on after rallying from a 21-10 second-game deficit last night to close it to 24-23 before Maddison McKibbin and Jeremy Kaimikaua combined on a block of Brad Lawson to end it.

"They really fought back on us, so we had to come together as a team," said Kaimikaua, who finished with a team-high eight kills. "We were really struggling with our passing, and some balls didn't drop in, but you can't get them all to fall in. We needed a team effort."

The Buffanblu appeared to be clicking throughout most of the match, grabbing the lead at 12-11 in the first game and not letting go. Three consecutive hitting errors by 'Iolani helped Punahou go on an 8-1 run to lead 21-13.

Lawson, a 6-foot-6 outside hitter who was the league's Player of the Year last season, did not start the match after missing several practices while healing injuries to his right (hitting) wrist and knees. He entered with the Raiders trailing, 7-5.

"It was a game-time decision (whether he would play)," 'Iolani coach Mike Among said.

Lawson, who has signed a national letter of intent to play for Stanford next year, had three straight kills to help the Raiders tie it at 10-10.

The Buffanblu used an efficient, balanced attack to steadily build leads of 7-3, 10-5, 12-6 and 14-7 in the second game, then went on a 7-2 run to make it 21-10. But that's when a kill by Tyler Greenhill started 'Iolani on its improbable comeback.

A Raiders hitting error put Punahou up, 22-13, but the Buffanblu gave it right back on their own error. Taylor Crabbe's kill made it 23-14, but Lawson had a kill and a block to help 'Iolani close it to 23-19.

Kaimikaua scored on a kill down the middle off a quick set to set up match point, but Lawson answered with two straight kills and Punahou hit two balls wide to make it 24-23, bringing much of the Raiders' cheering section to its feet.

But after Lawson elevated on the left side for another spike, Kaimikaua and McKibbin were there for the block to finally end it.

Lawson finished with a match-high 15 kills. McKibbin and Erik Shoji each added five kills for the Buffanblu.

In other ILH matches last night, Damien defeated Saint Louis 25-21, 25-16, and Kamehameha swept Mid-Pacific, 25-18, 25-19.

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