Iolani junior OH Elena Oglivie fires a kill against Punahou in the second set. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 1 of 43

Iolani freshman Mokihana Tufono attempts a kill from the right side against Punahou Tuesday night. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 2 of 43

Elena Oglivie dives after a ball in the second set against Punahou. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 3 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 4 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 5 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 6 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 7 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 8 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 9 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 10 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 11 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 12 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 13 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 14 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 15 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 16 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 17 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 18 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 19 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 20 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 21 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 22 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 23 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 24 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 25 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 26 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 27 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 28 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 29 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 30 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 31 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 32 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 33 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 34 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 35 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 36 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 37 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 38 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 39 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 40 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 41 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 42 of 43

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 43 of 43

When the match got tight, the Iolani Raiders kept up the fight.

No. 2 Iolani fended off No. 3 Punahou in straight sets for a 25-20, 25-22, 25-19 win in an ILH Division I contest at Lower Gymnasium Tuesday night.

It was the Raiders' second win over the Buffanblu of the season as Iolani improved to 4-1 in league play with the victory.

Junior outside hitter Elena Oglivie had a match-high 16 kills with eight digs to lead Iolani. Senior Izzy Sakoda, who had the Raiders' final three kills of the match, added nine kills off the bench and freshman Mokihana Tufono put down six more kills, which included the game-winning points in the first two sets.

Kristen McDaniel dished out 35 assists with five kills and middles Cameryn Ann Nagaji and Sasha Petticord combined for six kills and six total blocks, with a solo block apiece.

The match was a classic seesaw battle all the way throughout the night, but the difference was in Iolani's ability to clutch up late in games to seal the deal.

"I was proud of our kids the way they battled and came out to play, definitely happy that we got the win," said Iolani coach Kainoa Obrey.

Experience in big moments ultimately proved to be be what gave the Raiders the edge. Iolani, who reached the D1 state final the past three years, lost just one player to graduation last season while the Bufffanblu (2-4) start two freshman and have many new faces in the rotation.

"It definitely helps to have seniors and kids that have played years before in these types of matches with big crowd on TV," said Obrey. "We're comfortable with who we have on the court and definitely (with) how they pass along the message to our younger players."

Oglivie added that the Raiders' got even tighter as a group after their participation in the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas this past weekend.

"We just got back from a long trip so we got to know each other a little bit better and that bond got stronger," she said. "It's just got to look next to you and see your best friend and have that comfort, and it's good to have that connection there."

Elena Oglivie dives after a ball in the second set against Punahou.

×

_18091926_IolaniPunahou_0484.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

While Iolani rode the momentum after Oglivie's hustle play, Punahou failed to steal it back. After going down 19-18, the Buffanblu committed three straight hitting errors that never got past the net. The match also ended on a Punahou attack that went wide.

"The kids obviously have shown that we can compete with the Iolani's and Kamehameha's," said Punahou coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson. "It's just our lack of discipline and our ability to stay in it and give ourselves a chance. We're the ones that are shooting ourselves in the foot. We're making the errors, not necessary them. We just have to be better."

Sinalaulii Uluave had nine kills and 10 digs to lead Punahou in the loss. Madisyn Beirne and Isabelle Iosua added five kills each and libero Lauren Asato had a match-high 16 digs to keep the Buffanblu in the contest.