The quarterfinal-round of the FCIAC Tournament was a roadblock for the Greenwich High School girls volleyball team in 2023, yet the Cardinals successfully soared over the quarterfinal barrier this season.

Top-seeded Greenwich hosted eighth-seeded Westhill in the FCIAC Tournament on Friday and the conference’s No. 1 ranked team continued its undefeated record against its FCIAC foes.

Greenwich, which was eliminated from the conference tournament in the quarterfinals one season ago, advanced to the FCIAC semifinals, sweeping visiting Westhill, 3-0. The Cardinals, who sport an eye-opening overall record of 20-1 and are undefeated in FCIAC play, will face Fairfield Warde in Monday’s 5 p.m. FCIAC semifinals at Stamford High School. In the regular season matchup, the Cardinals topped Fairfield Warde, 3-0, at GHS.

“It means a lot, because last year we didn’t make it that far and I’m really happy that we won this time, because I really want to win the FCIAC Tournament,” Greenwich sophomore Heidi Zieme said of the team making it to the FCIAC semifinals. “It means a lot, because I know my team really wants it this year, because of last year. It’s a nice feeling to get there this time.”

In Friday’s 3-0 triumph versus Westhill, the GHS won by set scores of 25-11, 25-18, 25-20. Zieme registered 15 digs, nine kills, one block and one ace in the winning effort. Senior Talia Muir posted 13 digs and two kills, while Alina Sarkissian had eight kills, three blocks and one dig.

“I thought that they played better than the last time we played them,” GHS coach Marianna Linnehan said of Westhill. “They switched things up a little bit – a different lineup – I think we were adjusting well. We just tried to stay aggressive.”

Senior libero Joy Houdre notched 19 digs, two assists and two aces in leading the Cardinals’ defensive effort.

“At first at every beginning of the set we were going back and forth, but being able to manage and go on a serving run was one of the things that made us get momentum,” Houdre said.

After winning the opening game against the Vikings, 25-11, the Cardinals trailed, 6-2, but soon rallied. A kill by sophomore setter Victoria Sullivan tied the set at 10-10, then solid serving by Houdre helped the hosts take the lead for good on their way to taking the second set.

“Our aggressiveness on the offense was key and I just think at the end of the day we pulled it off,” Houdre noted. “It was a little rocky, but we did it.”

Sullivan tallied 30 assists, nine kills, six digs and one ace for the victors, who have won 19 of their 20 matches by a 3-0 score.

Sullivan started at setter in place of senior Sarah Bernann, who is expecting to return to action for Monday’s semifinals.

“It was a little bit nerve-wracking,” Sullivan said. “Sarah is such a good mentor and I had big shoes to fill. But we all have a great chemistry within the team so it’s easy for me to step in when she needs me to.”

Kayah Armstrong, a sophomore, had seven kills, four blocks and two digs for GHS.

“The offense was great, we got a lot of great kills from everybody up front,” Sullivan said.

Several kills by Armstrong enabled Greenwich to seize the lead and play from in front of the Vikings in the third and clinching set.

“It feels great, we are so close and we really think we can do it,” Sarkissian said. “We just need to push through and play our best in these games no matter what.”

“Victoria (Sullivan) did really good, she was mixing it up on offense and overall, we did great,” Sarkissian continued.

Greenwich last won the FCIAC Tournament championship when it defeated Darien for the title in 2021. Should the Cardinals beat Fairfield Warde in Monday’s semifinals, it will compete in the FCIAC final Wednesday at Stamford High School at 6 p.m.

“We haven’t had a record like this good since our freshman year, so we’re just so happy,” Houdre said. “It’s amazing. I’m looking forward to it, we’re going to be fully on fire on Monday.”

“It’s really exciting, last year we were eliminated this round, so it’s really exciting we get to move on this year,” Sarkissian noted.

“This is my first year on varsity so it’s so cool to see our team go undefeated in the FCIAC,” Sullivan said.