The Interscholastic League of Honolulu has won girls volleyball state championships in 24 of the past 25 years.

But both ILH teams in this week's Division I state tournament are taking nothing for granted as action begins tonight at Kamehameha's Kekuhaupi'o Fieldhouse and McKinley's Student Council Gym.

At Kekuhaupi'o, Kahuku (11-4) faces Kealakehe (10-6) at 6, followed by 'Aiea (12-2) vs. Moanalua (13-2) at 7:30.

At Student Council Gym, Kalani (9-6) plays Maui (11-1) at 6, followed by the 7:30 meeting between McKinley (4-10) and Punahou (16-3). Both matches will be televised live on OC-16.

"We really have to take it one day at a time, so I'm not looking past McKinley," said Jim Iams, who coached Punahou to a runner-up finish in the ILH. "We haven't seen McKinley, and it would be nice to know who they have and what they like to do."

Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said his team will face challenges as the No. 1 seed and defending state champ.

"We know we have a bulls'-eye on our back and everybody will be coming at us hard," said Blake, whose Warriors won their second straight ILH title 10 days ago. "I don't expect anything less than everybody's best."

Though Kamehameha has a first-round bye and is at home for the quarterfinals, it also is in the same bracket as O'ahu Interscholastic Association powers Kahuku and Moanalua.

Kahuku, which finished third in the OIA after starting the season slowly with a couple of key injuries, is playing its best volleyball now and could be a tournament sleeper. Outside hitters Leilani Tafuna and Nile Te'o are constant threats.

"Mona and Irwin (Ah-Hoy) are great coaches, and in the preseason I saw that they had a team with great athletic ability," Blake said. "I knew they would get them prepped for this."

OIA runner-up Moanalua features 2005 Advertiser All-State opposite Kaleinani Kabalis and other strong front row players in Bri Amian, Sarah Robinson and Melanie Manutai.

Kamehameha (16-1) returns outside hitter Kanani Herring, The Advertiser's reigning State Player of the Year, plus setter Kea Kea, the 2005 ILH Player of the Year. But the Warriors graduated three starters after last season and then suffered another loss when starting outside hitter Alexis Robins tore an anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during the summer. She has not played all season.

"It's been a tough road," Blake said. "It took time for everybody to establish their roles."

Punahou suffered a bad break last week when middle blocker Shaena-Lyn Kuehu suffered a leg injury during practice. Her playing status is doubtful.

"She was getting better every time out there, so she'll be sorely missed," Iams said. "But Alexa Untermann has stepped in and done a good job."

The Buffanblu are coming off a trying three-week stretch in which they played 'Iolani three times and Kamehameha once. All three teams have been ranked in the nation's Top 50 by PrepVolleyball.com

"It's been mentally and physically grueling," Iams said. "We couldn't do much in practices because we were always trying to rest for the next match."

Punahou presents matchup problems with three outstanding front-row players in middle blocker Shawna-Lei Kuehu and outside hitters Larissa Nordyke and Liz Ka'aihue.

"Punahou is refined, and when we played them in the preseason, we came out with a lot of respect for them and I think it affected our girls," said Roosevelt coach Bryan Camello, whose Rough Riders won the OIA championship Thursday and are the No. 2 seed this week. "But as soon as we settled down, we started to catch up. It was more of a mental thing; I think we can play with anybody."

Roosevelt, led by setter/outside hitter Hoku Oleole and outisde hitters Kahea Pupuhi and Emily Maeda, has only one player over 5 feet 7 but plays excellent team defense and likes to serve aggressively.

"They're real scrappy and always hustle," Blake said. "They're relentless."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.