Cardinals girls tennis team tops Fairfield Warde, Darien, advances to CIAC Class LL Tournament semifinals

By David Fierro on June 1, 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by David Fierro**: Shining Sun won her matches at first singles against Darien and Fairfield Warde in the opening and quarterfinal round matches of the CIAC Class LL Tournament.

After winning the FCIAC Tournament championship for the second straight season, Greenwich High School’s varsity girls tennis team is halfway to reaching their next big goal of their 2026 campaign.

The top-seeded, undefeated Cardinals have reached the semifinal-round of the CIAC Class LL State Tournament by earning victories against Fairfield Warde and Darien. Greenwich, which has a record of 20-0, defeated Darien in today’s CIAC Class LL quarterfinals, 4-0.

The host Cardinals received victories from Shining Sun at first singles and all three of their doubles teams in their victory against ninth-seeded Darien. Greenwich hosts fifth-seeded Fairfield Ludlowe tomorrow (June 2) in the Class LL semifinals at 1:45 p.m.

In today’s Class LL quarterfinal versus Darien, Sun was a 6-0, 6-1 winner for Greenwich against Scarlett O’Malley at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 singles, GHS senior Caitlin Mahoney lost the first set of her match against Darien’s Emma Nichols, 6-1, then Mahoney was ahead in the second set, 4-2, when the Cardinals clinched the overall match.

**Photo by David Fierro:** Greenwich’s Olivia Popp and Bella Barban, pictured here playing against Staples in the FCIAC Tournament final, were victorious in their matches against Fairfield Warde and Darien in the Class LL Tournament.

Avery Li, a Greenwich junior, took the opening set of her match at third singles versus Giovanna Pistone, 6-1, and was leading 1-0 when the Cards clinched the match. Freshman Chloe Culver was victorious in the first set of her No. 4 singles match for Greenwich, 6-1 and the second set was just underway when the hosts won the match.

Greenwich’s doubles teams each won in straight sets to send the squad into the semifinals once again. Senior Maddy Wilber and freshman Sofia Rodriguez Guerrero continued their standout season at No. 1 doubles for the Cardinals, topping Sara Droogan and Sydney Johnson of the Blue Wave, 6-0, 6-1.

In the No. 2 doubles match the sensational duo of seniors Bella Barban and Oliva Popp gave GHS a decisive 6-0, 6-1 win against Luli Escajadillo/Hannah Perkins. Senior Clara Sibley and freshman Priya Gupta posted another impressive victory at third doubles for Greenwich, defeating Winnie Bluestein/Ava Mohr, 6-2, 6-1.

Photo by David Fierro: Greenwich senior Caitlin Mahoney won her match against Fairfield Warde in the Class LL Tournament’s opening round in straight sets.

Greenwich began the Class LL tourney with a 4-1 victory over No. 16 Fairfield Warde in the opening round on May 30th. Sun swept to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Warde’s Emerson Mannello at first singles and Mahoney won her match, 6-0, 6-0 against Diya Krishnan at the No. 2 singles spot.

Culver was also perfect in her match at No. 4 singles, winning 6-0, 6-0. Popp/Barban were victorious in their match at second doubles, 6-1, 6-1. Wilber and Rodriguez Guerrero were ahead in their match at No. 1 doubles, 6-0, 5-0 and Li was leading her match at third singles, 6-1, 4-1.

Greenwich enters its Class LL Tournament semifinal against Fairfield Ludlowe with a 20-0 record and a 46-0 mark dating back to the 2024 season. The Cardinals are going for their third straight Class LL Tournament championship.

Photo by David Fierro: Cardinals freshman Chloe Culver was victorious in her first two state tournament matches.

In the other CIAC Class LL Tournament semifinal tomorrow, second-seeded Staples hosts sixth-seeded New Canaan. Staples defeated Wilton in the quarterfinals, 6-1 and New Canaan was victorious versus Hall, 5-2.