Kaia Dunford led the Buffanblu with 18 kills and added 11 digs, a block and two aces in a win over Kahuku. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 1 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 2 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 3 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 4 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 5 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 6 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 7 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 8 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 9 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 10 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 11 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 12 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 13 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 14 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 15 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 16 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 17 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 18 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 19 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 20 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 21 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 22 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 23 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 24 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 25 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 26 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 27 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 28 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 29 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 30 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 31 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 32 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 33 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 34 of 35

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 35 of 35

Led by Kaia Dunford's 18 kills, 11 digs and two aces, Punahou battled past Kahuku in the opening round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division I Championships.

The Buffanblu won both the first and second sets by an identical 25-19 count, then dropped the third to Kahuku by the same score, before posting a 25-21 win in the set four to take the match win.

There was not much separating the two teams in just about every statistical category, with the Buffanblu narrowly out hitting (53 to 52), out digging (57 to 55) and out blocking (16 to 14) the Red Raiders.

Savannah Taosoga put down a match-high 20 kills, Tylor Iosua 11 kills and Kalamela Liua nine for the Red Raiders in the loss. Halo-Elizabeth Yoshiki and Madisyn Beirne each added nine kills and Grace Fiaseu had eight kills and seven blocks for the Buffanblu.

Kahuku setter Keau Kamakeeaina poured in 42 assists, 11 digs and four blocks, and her counterpart Chloe Kaahanui notched 40 assists, nine digs and two blocks for Punahou. Both added two kills and an ace for good measure.

Next up for the Buffanblu is BIIF champion Kamehameha-Hawaii, in a match set for Thursday, Oct 24 at 5 p.m. at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium.