Revenge is sweet. The past week has been a trip to a chocolate factory for the Greenwich High volleyball team.

Wins over FCIAC rival Danbury and Fairfield, teams that had beaten Greenwich earlier in the season (Fairfield less than a week prior), lifted the fledgling Greenwich program to its first-ever state tournament berth.

At 7-5, 7-4 in the FCIAC, Greenwich, in its third season of varsity play, assured itself a berth in the Class L tournament and still has hopes of securing an FCIAC tournament berth.

"I'm thrilled," said senior co-cpatain Dan Schreff, the only player who has been with the program since its inception. "My freshman year, it was great to be a part of the first team - and now, to be a part of the first

Greenwich High co-captain Dan Schreff serves in a game against Fairfield (co-op) last week. (GREENWICH CITIZEN photo / Amy Mortensen)
team to qualify for the state tournament is a big thrill for me."

The Cardinals, less than a week after losing, 3-1, to Fairfield, swept the Mustangs (25-23, 25-23, 25-22) Monday at GHS. Schreff, who is headed to Harvard, had 15 kills, and ace and two digs. Senior co-captain Cody Gifford, bound for USC, had 14 kills and a block. Junior Matt Brown added 30 assists for the Cardinals, while junior Owen Davis had four kills and four blocks and junior Biran Leeds added eight kills and a pair

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of digs.

"Greenwich is peaking at the right time," Coach Nelson Kwok said. "Except for a 5-minute lapse, the boys were all mentally focused and relaxed."

That Greenwich was able to maintain its focus throughout the match is a hurdle cleared for the Cardinals. Mental lapses have been the difference in many of the Cardinals close losses this season.

"(Fairfield) was a testament to our maintaining focus," said Schreff. "We made a big push to finish off all three games, which is the most difficult thing to do. Are heads are where they need to be right now."

With its focus sharp and its game in gear, Greenwich has hopes for securing one of the four berths for the FCIAC Tournament, which begins May 20. Ironically, It is fighting with Danbury and Fairfield for the final spot. Staples, Darien and Ridgefield have all but locked up the top three spots.

"This group has progressed by leaps and bounds," Schreff said. "The five losses aren't indicative of where we are as a team right now. Now, it's a festive atmosphere when we play and it is so much fun. We're not satisfied with just qualifying for the state tournament. We want more: a state championship."