For a while, top-seeded ‘Iolani and OIA runner-up Kalaheo rocked like an old-school, Marvin Hagler-Tommy Hearns slugfest.

The two-way haymakers subsided, though, and ‘Iolani dominated like Hagler after a close first set for a 25-19, 25-7, 25-18 sweep on Friday afternoon at Moanalua gym. ‘Iolani (13-4) will go after its first state title since 2008 when it meets Punahou in the final of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships at Blaisdell Center.

The crucial stretch came early in the second set when ‘Iolani’s Kupono Browne sparked his team to a 10-1 lead.

“When our servers get on a roll, it’s hard to score points against us, I think. We try to side out at a very high clip, so that makes it difficult for teams to come back,” ‘Iolani coach Jordan Inafuku said.

Browne, a 6-foot-4 junior, has one of the toughest jump serves in the state.

“There was a little adrenaline. As a server, I made less errors in the second set. I think I was more focused. If I kept my serve in, I could help my team and allow them to do their job,” he said. “We kept putting pressure on (Kalaheo).”

The Raiders, champions of the ILH, look like they’re peaking at the right time.

“I hope we’re getting better with every match,” Inafuku said. “We expect them to play their best match in the next match. We’re in the right place going into tomorrow.”

‘Iolani’s balanced attack left the Mustangs back row sprawled across the floor again and again. Senior setter Shane Harimoto dished 37 assists to outside hitters Browne (11 kills, two aces) and Kawika Lee (11 kills), and middles Makani Hiltner (six kills) and Kilo Scanlan (five).

Carter Kamana was vital to the Raiders’ block against Kalaheo standouts Liam York and Tyler Wemple. Kamana had two blocks to go with five kills, while Jarin Simon and Ty Heely led the Raiders’ back row.

York had 12 kills and Wemple added six to pace OIA runner-up Kalaheo (14-3).

‘Iolani clung to a two-point lead before going on a 6-2 run late in the first set. Leading 16-14, Hiltner roofed Wemple twice in a row and Browne dropped in a jump-serve ace. After Kamana roofed Wemple, ‘Iolani led 22-16 and took the set.

“From the get-go, Kupono’s serve run got us separation,” Lee said. “After that, we executed side out. It’s the same thing we’ve practiced all year.”

Then came a dominant run in the second set with Browne at serve. His first ace upped ‘Iolani’s lead to 6-1, and the Raiders didn’t lose momentum until they had a 13-point lead. Browne had a back-row kill, while Lee and Hiltner drilled kills. After Lee had his first roof, ‘Iolani led 14-1 and coasted to a 2-0 lead in the match.

York was scintillating in the opening set with six kills and an ace, but had only six more in the rest of the match. Wemple had just one kill after the first game.

“It wasn’t necessarily targeting them. We wanted to knock them off the net so we could just focus on them on defense,” Inafuku said.

Kalaheo stayed much closer in the third set, leading 4-3 after Jordan Neufeldt roofed Browne. ‘Iolani’s consistency in serve-receive was too much to overcome, however, setting up Lee for six kills in the third.