After a recent history of failing to close out matches, the Mililani girls volleyball team made sure to finish strong against Baldwin last night.

The Trojans defeated the Bears, 25-18, 24-26, 25-15, 25-12, in the first round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division I State Championships at McKinley High School gym.

In the late match, Punahou made quick work of McKinley, sweeping the Tigers, 25-14, 25-18, 25-21.

Mililani (12-5), the fourth seed out of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, plays OIA champion and second-seeded Kahuku (16-0) today at 5 p.m. in one quarterfinal match at McKinley. In the other quarterfinal, Punahou (17-3) will play No. 3 seed and Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Waiakea at 7.

In two recent matches, both in the OIA tournament, Mililani was up 2-0 before dropping the final three sets.

"They pretty much gotta want it," Mililani coach Val Crabbe said. "Once one person drops their face, they all drop their faces.

"They had to focus on talking to each other. Once they start communicating, it gets better. Only they can pick each other up."

In an error-filled first set, the Trojans jumped to a 12-4 lead behind seven Bears errors. Baldwin (11-3) tied it at 15 on much of the same from the Trojans, who committed four errors in that span.

The Trojans then went on a 5-0 run to take a 20-15 lead before winning the set on a kill by junior outside hitter Pomai Grube-Hose.

"We started kind of slow because we didn't know what to expect because we never played Baldwin before," said Mililani senior outside hitter Candace Soares, who finished with a match-high 20 kills to go with 10 digs and two service aces.

The teams exchanged the lead throughout the second set, with the Bears earning set point at 24-23 on a kill by junior outside hitter Tupusa Satele. The Trojans tied it at 24 on a hitting error by Baldwin.

The Bears gained their second set point at 25-24 on kill by senior outside hitter Nicole Calubaquib and won it on a net violation by the Trojans to even the match.

The Trojans took control in the third set, scoring the final seven points to win handily. The set-ending run included two blocks, and one kill apiece from Soares, senior outside hitter Nalani I, Grube-Hose and sophomore middle/outside hitter Shyanne Cossey.

"I think in the second set we relaxed a bit," said Soares, who said the loss woke up the team. "It made us push more, to have more intensity to get the job done."

The Trojans continued their hot play in the fourth set, behind long serving runs by Soares and libero Nicole Namoca, who each had 6-0 runs. Namoca, who closed out the match, had two service aces in her run.

"It's harder for us, as an outer island team," Baldwin coach Kauila Houpo said. "The OIA, (Interscholastic League of Honolulu), they are used to this competition every day. These kinds of games, you can't make mistakes. Today, it was one step forward, two steps back. But I'm proud of them."

Mililani's I contributed 10 kills and 12 digs. Satele led the Bears with 16 kills.

Senior outside hitter/setter Anuhea Keanini had a match-high 16 kills and freshman outside hitter Tai Manu-Olevao added 10 to lead Punahou's victory over McKinley.

Senior middle blocker Lita Melino paced the Tigers with eight kills.