One celebration waved off, 'Iolani pulled together for one more swing at a win and a chance to celebrate — again.

In a tense and emotional finish, No. 4 'Iolani toppled No. 1 Kamehameha, 27-25, 23-25, 28-26, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls volleyball match yesterday afternoon at Kekuhaupi'o Gym.

Both teams returned this week after playing in last weekend's Durango Classic in Las Vegas, and yesterday's result left both teams tied for first in the ILH with 10-1 records.

Alissa Youart had 11 kills for the visiting Raiders, Chelsea Hardin had nine, and Mahina Haina and I'ishah Keliikoa added eight each.

Whitney Viveiros led the three-time defending state champion Warriors with 14 kills, Alex Akana had 11, and Talia Jardin and Taylor Akana added seven each.

"We had to put the ball down and we did," Youart said of the closing stretch. "We couldn't have done it without our passing; they did their part and (setter) Malie (Yoon) did awesome."

In the third set, Hardin erased Kamehameha's first match point when her kill cut the deficit to 24-23. A Kamehameha hitting error tied it 24.

Youart's kill put the Raiders up 25-24 and on their first match point, the Raiders blocked Alex Akana's kill attempt, setting off a loud celebration from 'Iolani players who thought they won the match.

But Hardin was called for a net violation, and Kamehameha was given the point — tying the score at 25.

"I thought we had it," Youart said. "It made us even more mad, we wanted to win after that."

Alex Akana hit the ball out on the next play, but the linesperson signaled that 'Iolani blockers touched the ball. After the head official talked to the linesperson and ruled there was no touch, Kamehameha's Taylor Akana pushed the ball over the 'Iolani block. The ball dropped, the score was tied at 26 and an 'Iolani player appeared to toss the ball over the net and into the backcourt.

The head official then called both team captains over for a talk.

Kamehameha's Cara Rosehill then served the ball into the net. Keliikoa's kill on a step-out ended the match.

This time, the Raiders' celebration wouldn't be waved off.

"Energy-wise, we were really pumped up for this game," Keliikoa said. "We were practicing all week for it."

In the second set, the Warriors rallied from a 21-16 deficit and then scored the final six points to take the set. Jardin's solo block cut the 'Iolani lead to 23-22, and Hardin was called for a lift on the next play, tying the score at 23. Kills from Viveiros and Jardin ended the set.

"We came together and told each other that we believed in each other and knew we could do it," said Kamehameha senior setter Caitlin Andrade. "We just had to come together as a team and play with heart."

In the first set, the Raiders rallied from a 19-16 deficit and tied it at 19 on Kellikoa's ace. The set was then tied at 20, 21 and 23 before Viveiros' kill gave the Warriors a 24-23 lead.

Hardin's kill tied it at 24 and 'Iolani went up 25-24 after Taylor Akana's kill attempt touched the antenna.

Kamehameha called a timeout and tied it at 25 on Viveiros' kill. A scramble on the next play forced Viveiros to bump the ball out, and Youart's kill ended the set.

"Kamehameha is such a great team, that just because we beat them this one time, they can come back again," Keliikoa said. "We need to be prepared mentally and physically."