Missing its starting middle blocker, Kamehameha needed someone to fill the void.

Rather than a particular player stepping up, the entire squad contributed.

Middles Shiloh Peleras and Brooke Kaawa combined for 11 kills, the beneficiaries of their team’s good passes, in No. 1 Kamehameha’s 25-22, 25-16 win over No. 2 Punahou at Kekuhaupio Gymnasium on Saturday.

Kamehameha’s back row, anchored by libero Mia Heirakuji, delivered good passes for their setters to run the offense. That made for myriad connections to the middles.

"Today, the sets were especially good," said Peleras, who had seven kills and four blocks. "We were together … we came up with good passes."

Lynzi Akeo finished with 21 assists for the Warriors, who improved to 9-0 in ILH Division I play. McKenna Granato had six kills and Kiana Peroff had five for the Buffanblu (7-2). Both of those losses were to Kamehameha.

"We definitely passed well," said Kamehameha coach Chris Blake. "The last time we played them, they put us into some bad passing spots. We passed pretty well today and for Shiloh, she did really well."

Blake said it was a good team win, with the Warriors’ passing and players filling in for Kealani Browne, who was out with an illness. Kayla Afoa had eight kills and Tiyana Hallums had five in the win. Sarah Lau added four kills and four blocks.

"We always want to make sure the next person steps up and does the job," Blake said. "Shiloh did a great job, Brooke did a great job. But it all comes down to the passing."

Peleras and Kaawa helped Kamehameha develop an early lead in Set 2 that gradually expanded. Peleras’ kill gave the Warriors an 18-7 lead that would seem insurmountable to most teams.

But not Punahou. When these two teams meet, it’s usually competitive and dramatic. Kamehameha beat Punahou 24-26, 26-24, 25-21 in their previous meeting on Sept. 25.

The Buffanblu rallied behind Kiani Tuileta’s serve that created two aces and bad passes. Granato’s kill cut the deficit to 17-14 and forced Kamehameha to call a timeout.

"We expect everybody’s best match," Blake said. "Punahou is a well-coached team, they have players who can play. For us, we had to settle down because we know they’re going to come at us hard. We began to settle down and do the little things we needed to win."

Kamehameha responded with three consecutive kills that led to a Punahou timeout. Kaawa had a kill and a block in the closing stretch.

"It’s great competition," Peleras said. "They’re a really good team. We need to work on serving and playing together."

Kamehameha led 24-20 in Set 1 after Lau’s kill. Punahou then scored the next two points on a kill by Peroff and Vae Malufau’s block that forced Kamehameha to call a timeout. Punahou’s hitting error ended the set.

"For us, executing in end game is something we try to do and try to make sure we improve on that," Blake said. "We needed to settle down and execute to finish Game 1."