Today’s FAA Volleyball Tournament final features the same two teams that faced each other for the title last season – Sacred Heart Greenwich and King School.

Top-seeded Sacred Heart and second-seeded King each advanced into today’s FAA championship match with impressive semifinal-round victories on Wednesday, setting up today’s much-anticipated rematch.

Sacred Heart Greenwich earned a return appearance in the league finals by posting a 3-0 win over fifth-seeded Greenwich Country Day School. King, which defeated Sacred Heart in the 2022 FAA Tournament final, advanced by registering a 3-0 victory over third-seeded Greenwich Academy in Wednesday’s other semifinal.

Sacred Heart enters today’s 4:30 p.m. FAA championship match against rival King undefeated in the FAA so far this season, while sporting a sparkling overall record of 20-2. SHG won Wednesday’s FAA semifinals against Greenwich Country Day School by set scores of 25-17, 25-17, 25-20.

“It was so fun, I’m so proud of how our team played all together,” said Sacred Heart senior co-captain Kaitlin Robinson, who helped power the team’s offense with a number of well-placed kills. “Even when we went down we fought so hard to get back. It just shows how much we wanted it and how much we enjoy playing for each other.”

After winning the first set against GCDS, Sacred Heart fell behind, 4-1, in the second set, but kills from Robinson and senior Emerson Eckert knotted the score at 5-5. Later on, aces by Eckert and junior Grace Gapen put SHG ahead, 15-11. Robinson’s kill made it 22-17, putting the home team in prime position to close out the second game.

“It took a lot of communication, GCDS is a great serving team,” Gapen said. “Last game, we struggled a bit in serve receive, so we knew we had to communicate in serve receive.”

Greenwich Country Day School has displayed marked improvement this season by advancing to the FAA semifinals, qualifying for the NEPSAC Class B Tournament and earning a winning record.

“It’s exciting, because we are still such a new, young program,” Greenwich Country Day coach Morgan Withrow said. “We’ve only had a volleyball program for five years and this is only our second year of varsity. So, every year we’re trying to build on last year’s success.”

In the third game, GCDS held leads of 5-2 and 10-5, before SHG surged ahead. Sophomore setter Evangelyn Forte kept Sacred Heart’s offense moving, while Robinson and Gapen paced the squad in the hitting department. Senior libero/co-captain Emilia Bernal helped lead the victors’ defense.

“Our setter was so great at putting the ball exactly where are hitters needed it and our hitters are amazing at making smart plays, whether it’s swinging away or tipping to a spot,” Bernal noted. “It’s always super fun playing against GCDS. They’re a great team, we have so much respect for them – they have amazing players. Words can’t express how proud I am of this team. We’ve come a long way since the beginning of the season to go to the finals.”

Junior libero Caroline Cabrera led Greenwich Country Day School’s defensive effort, while senior setter/captain Savannah Hill sparked the offense. Hill and junior middle blocker Willa Ball are Greenwich Country Day’s captains.

“This is an unbelievably awesome group of kids to train and compete with,” noted Withrow, whose team was edged by SHG, 3-2, during the regular season. “We’re really young overall, so these moments are exciting for our program. It was beneficial for them to see what it’s like to play volleyball at this stage, but also to go back to the gym next week and for New Englands and be ready to compete.”

“I’m so proud of them,” GCDS coach Withrow continued. “Last year, we lost in the quarterfinals and squeaked our way into the playoffs. This year, we have been trying to build on making smarter decisions at crunch time and learning from our mistakes. In that third set we were still competing and we didn’t give up.”

Sacred Heart has shown a knack for keeping the momentum in its favor in almost every one of its matches so far its fall. It’s gotten them back to the FAA Tournament final and led it to an outstanding record. They have won 17 straight matches.

“I was so happy with our team’s energy and focus,” SHG coach Beth Wilson-Jordan said. “I’m super impressed with our defense. The serve receive was good and our defense was good. They played with such poise.”

Said Bernal: “It’s always super fun playing against GCDS. They’re a great team, we have so much respect for them and they have amazing players. Words can’t express how proud I am of this team. We’ve come a long way since the beginning of the season to go to the finals.”

Sacred Heart was a 3-1 winner against rival King during the regular season on Sept. 27.

“It will be such a fun game, it’s so exciting,” Robinson said. “It’s another opportunity to play together, I’m really proud of how well we worked together. It’s really good to see all our hard work come together.”

Said Gapen: “It feels great, to continue. We’ve improved so much from the beginning of the season and we can’t wait to play in the finals. I think this is one of our best years. As a team we are working great together. Our team chemistry is amazing.”

Indeed, it’s been a spectacular season for Sacred Heart sports. Besides the school’s varsity volleyball team playing in today’s FAA final, the varsity field hockey and soccer squads are also playing in the FAA championship game. The field hockey team hosts rival Greenwich Academy at 2 p.m., while the soccer team plays Greens Farms Academy in the title game, also at 2 p.m.

“Senior year, that’s the best thing I could possibly ask for, having an electric environment at school – all the athletes hyping each other up and supporting each other,” Bernal said. “It says something about Sacred Heart’s athletic program. We’re ready to play our game and come out strong, bringing our best energy and our hearts.”